Florida Realtors’ legal experts urged Realtors to address issues early, document agreements, ask the right questions and use trusted sources to help prevent transaction problems. Some of the biggest legal problems in a real estate transaction can start with seemingly small details – an unsigned extension, an unanswered disclosure question or even the placement of … Read more
Florida home sales and pending sales continued to rise in July, suggesting buyers are moving forward even as the mortgage-rate advantage they had earlier this year fades. Florida buyers are on the move again, and increasingly, they’re doing it without waiting for mortgage rates to fall. Single-family closed sales rose just over 5% from a … Read more
Washington just handed Florida a bigger housing toolbox. Inside are new ways to build homes, finance buyers and help communities recover — but each tool comes with its own timeline. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law July 11. Its 60 sections touch nearly every corner of federal housing policy, from manufactured homes … Read more
Google Search Console now lets users connect social accounts and see which searches surface their posts and videos, giving agents new insight into what gets found online. Real estate professionals who use social media to market themselves now have a new way to see whether that content is reaching people through Google searches. Google expanded … Read more
Buyers may still qualify for a mortgage after bankruptcy, but they should connect with an experienced loan officer before the home search begins. A past bankruptcy does not automatically put homeownership out of reach, but buyers need the right lender, a realistic timeline and a preapproval before they begin touring homes. Chapter 7 and Chapter … Read more
Nearly two-thirds of young buyers said they would relocate to another city or state to afford a home, a new survey found. That opens the door to broader searches built around monthly costs, lifestyle and must-have features. Gen Z buyers are willing to cross neighborhood, city and even state lines to find the right home. … Read more
The average 30-year mortgage rate rose to 6.69%, its highest level in just over a year, further limiting buyers’ purchasing power. The 15-year rate slipped to 6.01%. The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose for a fifth consecutive week to its highest level in just over a year, marking the latest strain for prospective homebuyers … Read more
Florida Realtors General Counsel Juana Watkins warned that routine advertising, screening and customer communications can create lawsuits or ethics complaints even when they do not lead to regulatory discipline. She urged Realtors to understand overlapping rules and seek guidance before acting in legal gray areas. What might feel like a routine advertisement, rental screening decision … Read more
The Fed held rates steady as inflation and energy prices remain high, though growing expectations of a September hike could keep borrowing costs elevated. The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday despite persistently high inflation and a spike in energy prices caused by the Iran war. The Fed’s rate-setting committee reached the … Read more
Florida’s housing outlook showed encouraging progress, with supply gaps narrowing in several major metros and affordable listings making up a larger share of the markets studied. Homebuyers in Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville saw more affordable listings over the past year, while Miami and Jacksonville also made progress in reducing their housing shortages, according to … Read more
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