– Which listing price is better – $200K or $199K? FAU: In a study of actual sales, the $199K prices nets sellers more money overall, even though $200K sellers tend to get an offer that’s closer to asking price. NAR: Home-price gains unfettered in most metros during 2Q Fla....
– July marked a big month for housing It’s too soon to definitively say the market is back and real estate is great again, but several summer indicators suggest it might be true. Fannie, Freddie: The RE issue most people ignore It could be harder to get a mortgage...
– CFPB issues foreclosure-prevention guidelines The principles aren’t legally binding; instead, they create guidelines for the industry and lawmakers to follow after the federal foreclosure program (HAMP) ends. Student debt a bit more problematic in Florida How much of a burden is student loan debt to Fla. buyers? The...
– S. Fla. homebuyers frustrated by shortage of listings A lack of for-sale homes is rattling buyers, emboldening sellers and pushing prices higher. A normal supply is 6 months; on July 1, Broward had only 3.8 months. Floridians work 59 hours per month for a mortgage A state-by-state study...
– NAR: Pending home sales marginally rise in June NAR: Index inched 0.2% higher to 111.0 in June – 1% more than a year ago. Supply and affordability constraints hampered activity despite very low mortgage rates. Realtor safety: Prepare for worst-case scenarios Realtors can take safety precautions, but actual...
– HUD to investigate downpayment aid programs HUD switched direction. It now says it will look for cases where lenders failed to fully inform FHA buyers on loan terms, charged improper fees or used coercion. Airbnb sues its hometown over rental regulation Eventually, landlords, websites and local governments will...
– Housing is for everyone – no exceptions At NAR’s “Housing for All” symposium this week, NAR VP and Floridian Sherri Meadows said that while homelessness is down, “housing insecurity” is on the rise. Fla.’s housing market: Rising median prices in June Single-family home median price of $225,000 is...
– Green energy boost: FHA to back some PACE mortgages FHA says it will now approve purchase and refinance mortgage applications in states that treat clean-energy program (PACE) funding as a special assessment that homeowners pay like property taxes. Florida Realtors PAC announces supported candidates Over 400 candidates have...
– More homes at risk of storm surge CoreLogic: Fla. remains the state with the most homes (2.7M) at risk for hurricane storm surge and with the highest reconstruction cost ($535.6B) in the U.S. Housing ‘relief’ left scars for many Since 2010, thousands of homeowners contend they were cheated...
– Florida’s rent tax rankles more businesses Only one U.S. state charges a business-rent tax on rent and utility expenses: Florida. But momentum appears to be building to undo the long-time government fee. Half of Fla. Realtors at current firm only one year Fla. 2016 Member Profile: A typical...
