South Florida Real Estate

RE Q&A: Should Condo Assoc. Pay Electric Bill?

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A condo-wide A/C unit went down, and it gave residents a window unit while awaiting repairs. Should residents also get reimbursed for the cost of electricity? FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Question: Air conditioning is included in our condo’s monthly maintenance fees. The chiller that cools the entire building stopped working on July 20, and we … Read more

Broker Promising a 3% Mortgage in a 7% World

About 22% of U.S. mortgages are assumable from a seller to a buyer – largely federal ones, such as FHA loans – and a broker advertises that option to attract customers. NEW YORK – Roam, a real-estate company that launched Wednesday, says it can popularize an obscure workaround to help today’s homebuyers get their hands … Read more

Buyers Still Waive Appraisal Gap in Some Markets

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To secure a home, some U.S. buyers still agree to make up the difference when a mortgage appraisal comes in at less than the contract price – an often risky move. NEW YORK – Some buyers looking for a luxury home in a competitive market waive the so-called appraisal gap to entice a seller to … Read more

‘Go Green’ Costs Hurting Some Commercial Owners

Some cities expect commercial buildings to reduce emissions or pay a tax, but both options create extra stress on pandemic-harmed structures, such as office buildings. NEW YORK – Cities are toughening their climate standards and beginning to tax buildings that don’t meet the new requirements. That forces landlords to make a difficult choice: Pay for … Read more

20% of Buyers Waiting for Prices or Rates to Drop

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NAR: Buyer demand is stronger than it appears as 15%-27% of buyers (by ethnic group) wait for lower home prices and 18%-25% wait for lower mortgage rates. WASHINGTON – The current real estate market’s high home prices and mortgage rates, as well as limited inventory, are the top reasons that Realtors® and prospective homebuyers across … Read more

Idalia Victims Can Get Property Tax Help

Residential and commercial property owners have some post-hurricane property tax options, says Citrus County Property Appraiser Cregg Dalton. CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – If your residential or commercial property was damaged from Hurricane Idalia, there is a property tax law benefit you may be entitled to for relief. Property Appraiser Cregg Dalton said his office is … Read more

Vacation Home Demand Close to Seven-Year Low

Vacation-home buyers face the same headwinds as other buyers, plus pandemic demand ended, and many have return-to-the-office orders, with loan rate locks down 50%. SEATTLE – Vacation homes were hot during the pandemic as workers freed from the office look for places where they could spread out. But that pace may have cannibalized current demand … Read more

Latest Scam: Fake Grandson and Dead ‘Grandmother’

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TAMARAC, Fla. – A man posed as a dead woman’s grandson to steal her home, moving into her three-bedroom Tamarac residence, with plans to eventually sell it, the Broward Sheriff’s Office says. Braden Emdin, 38, is accused of gaining access to the home, squatting there, and then planning to flip the home for about a … Read more

Household Income Fell 8.8% as Home Prices Rose

U.S. households had 8.8% less to spend in 2022 (after taxes) than they did in 2021 due in part to 2021’s pandemic checks and expiring tax credits, such as some for childcare. WASHINGTON – Real median household income after taxes fell 8.8% to $64,240 from 2021 to 2022, according to a report from the U.S. … Read more

Small Biz: 1 in 4 Says Inflation Is Biggest Problem

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Independent businesses aren’t quite as optimistic about the next six months, and many hope to maximize profits now to prepare for any possible downturn. WASHINGTON – The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index decreased 0.6 of a point in August to 91.3, the 20th consecutive month below the 49-year average of … Read more