– Get ready for a baby boomer sell-off Freddie Mac survey: There are a lot of baby boomers out there, and many plan to downsize or move soon – and that would add a lot of homes to the market. All condos need sprinklers or opt-out vote by Jan....
– NAR international survey: Sales down a bit this year High prices, a strong dollar and weaker economies made U.S. real estate investment challenging, but the Chinese spent more than the next four countries combined. Orlando Realtors support community, Pulse victims After the Pulse nightclub shooting, Orlando’s Realtors offered...
– Study: Gated community homes sell for more However, homes in gated communities may not command higher prices if related amenity costs, such as a clubhouse, make overall homeownership more expensive. ‘Jumbo’ mortgages now cheaper than smaller loans When it comes to mortgage rates, it’s cheaper loan-wise to buy...
– Quicken quietly offers 1% downpayment loans Quicken uses Freddie’s Home Possible mortgage program that requires 3% down, but it “grants” qualified buyers 2%, making the out-of-pocket downpayment only 1%. Mortgage rates in free fall since Brexit vote Skittish investors like long-term bonds, and those bonds back long-term mortgages....
– Have a lower credit score? Apply for a mortgage It seems illogical: Lenders say they’ll now approve loans to buyers with lower credit scores, but the average score of people actually approved continues to rise. CFPB: Mortgage servicer tech failures violate rules The nation’s consumer bureau says some...
– Commercial drone use set to take flight with release of FAA rule Just-released FAA rules create a clearer way for real estate pros to use drones for commercial purposes – “a win for the industry,” says NAR Pres. Tom Salomone. NAR: Existing-home sales up – highest pace in...
– Decade after housing peaked: Owners richer, renters hurting In the 10 years since the mortgage crisis, a growing number of U.S. renters are struggling to become owners, due to surging costs, rising home values and more. Study: Student loans don’t harm homeownership Study: It’s education that counts, not...
– Can anything be done about higher insurance costs? Homeowners’ attorneys, water restoration companies, insurance agents and public adjusters met yesterday to discuss the rising cost of Fla. property insurance. Leaders hope the discussion’s reasonable tone leads to some kind of consensus. HOA can’t just start enforcing waived rules...
– Technology: Realtors’ top five complaints What tech issues stress agents the most? Florida Realtors Tech Helpline put together the top five. Leading the list? A computer that’s too slow followed by viruses, malware and adware. Florida foreclosures decline by 41,435 in one year RealtyTrac: The state is still...
– 71% of student loan debtors say it delays ownership According to an NAR survey designed to gauge severity of the problem, half of those debtors think the delay will be at least five years, says VP Sherri Meadows. 40% of baby boomers are potential homebuyers Freddie Mac: About...
