– Housing economists: Mixed picture over coming year It’s murky: Some signs point to a strong real estate boom, said experts at a recent convention of real estate editors. But other signs suggest potential problems. What happens to a home when couples divorce? A divorcing couple’s home sale can...
– Downpayment assistance programs keep on giving With downpayment assistance, it’s not just about dollar value. By lowering the total mortgage amount, some Fla. owners can save $50K over the life of the loan. State flags assignment of benefits restrictions Fla.-owned Citizens was granted permission to limit Assignment of...
– Truth-in-lending disclosure to be tweaked in July New lending disclosures went into effect last year, and CFPB has informally solved issues as they crop up, but CFPB says it plans to make some changes official. Is tight credit another reason for fewer listings? Before the recession, many owners...
– Building laws go into effect July 1 Fla. bills effective July 1 revise some rules in Fla.’s building code, regulate private-residence elevators and authorize officials to create fumigation rules. Will interest rates go up this month? Friday’s weak job report was “concerning” to the Fed, but interest rates...
– In the buy vs. rent battle, ‘buy’ is winning The latest buy vs. rent analysis from Florida Atlantic and International universities finds that buying makes more financial sense in most metro areas. Fla.’s recent housing success? Thank baby boomers Clear Capital Index: Four Fla. cities made “Highest Performing...
– 1 in 10 home sales flipped in many Fla. metros RealtyTrac: Home flipping increased 20% in the first quarter, though the total number of flips was still 26% below its 2006 peak – and more flippers now pay cash. Smart homes? You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet Amazon’s Echo...
– Supreme Court sides with owners in wetlands case The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tue. that property owners can file a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers if they disagree with its land-use decisions. How will Fla.’s smaller insurers handle a crisis? Fitch Ratings: The state’s smaller...
– Banks rush to offer 3% downpayment loans If one major bank starts to offer 3% downpayment loans, others often follow. So far, Wells Fargo, Chase and BofA are offering non-FHA, low-downpayment products. Does your buyer qualify for special financing? Financial help is out there through programs offered by...
– NAR: Pending home sales at a 10-year high Consumers are buying homes. NAR’s monthly gauge of homes under contract rose for the third straight month in April to a level not seen since Feb. 2006. Single men’s home values increased more than women’s RealtyTrac: Homes owned by single...
– Credit score problems still haunt Americans The first thing buyers should do? Check credit scores. CFPB says that a lot of consumers still complain about mistakes and trouble with getting them corrected. Website accessibility: Not just about the law The DOJ has made it clear that “public accommodation”...
