– Caution urged as Hurricane Matthew nears It’s too soon to rule out a Fla. impact, but real estate closings could be delayed since many property insurers stop issuing new policies during storm threats. $2M grant will test for Fla. housing discrimination HUD awarded $234K to Fla. agencies for...
– 4 Fla. metros at top of ‘best cities to invest’ list Orlando ranked No. 1 as the best city in the U.S. to own investment property in a GOBankingRates survey, and Tampa came in second. Miami came in 10th and Jacksonville No. 13 in the top 15 list....
– Challenge remains for FHA condo financing HUD released rules on condo financing that could open up more Fla. units to first-time buyers, but NAR says a still-high owner-occupancy threshold needs work. Likelihood of home price declines? 4% and dropping A quarterly mortgage risk report finds only a 2%...
– U.S. consumer confidence hits post-Recession high The monthly survey found consumers generally more upbeat about current conditions and more optimistic about changes in the short-term future. HUD calls for protection of non-English buyers The new guidance specifically targets mortgage lenders and brokers for compliance. HUD says it became...
– How will Fla. grow? UF maps shows options A UF study projects about 15 million more people in 50 years, and interactive maps show potential population distribution under various smart-growth scenarios. Can the condo board change common areas? Legal QandA: Is it lawful to amend bylaws by a...
– Have a Yahoo email account? Change your password Information from at least 500M Yahoo accounts was stolen in 2014, making it easier for thieves to hack Realtors’ email and pull off a common closing scam. Should millennials delay ownership for student loans? An advice columnist for millennials suggests...
– EB-5 visa program set to expire Sept. 30 Without Congressional approval, the program that grants visas to foreigners who invest at least $500K in an American business that creates 10 jobs will expire. NAR: Tight inventory slows August existing-home sales Fla.’s housing sales, median prices rise in August...
– Fed keeps key rate unchanged, hints of coming hike The Fed held short-term interest rates steady yesterday but appears ready to hike them later this year. The Fed’s rates directly impact ARMs and, indirectly, FRMs. HUD expands rules protecting transgender access Transgender protections now extend to homeless shelters....
– Not enough construction in most Fla. metro areas NAR compared local employment gains to housing stock and found 80% of U.S. metros need more construction. In Fla., one city tops list; another ranks near bottom. Most real estate firms optimistic about the future NAR’s 2016 Profile of Real...
– U.S. homebuilder sentiment hits one-year high New-home builders have a rosy outlook about the future based on current trends and their projections for 2017. The monthly index rose 6 points to 65. Patent troll to stop seeking fees from RE Industry In what NAR calls a major victory,...
