South Florida Real Estate

It starts at the top with strong and involved leaders, but technology is also important, notably the tools that help keep everyone on a steady path to success. NEW YORK – Mosaik CEO Sheila Reddy offers a game plan to help real estate companies’ teams realize success through technology. “One of the most common attributes … Read more

Skittish investors keep nudging mortgage rates higher. Last week, a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.31%; a year ago, it was 6.66%. LOS ANGELES (AP) – The cost of financing a home surged again this week as the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed to its highest level since December 2000, further dimming the affordability outlook … Read more

The office market – challenged by inflation, more natural disasters and a drop in lease income – also faces insurance costs that have risen 7.6% each year since 2017. NEW YORK – Moody’s Analytics reports that commercial real estate insurance costs rose 7.6% annually, on average, since 2017. The rising cost of insurance piles onto … Read more

161 businesses in 25 Fla. counties hurt by Hurricane Idalia have received Fla. bridge loans as they await insurance or other help. Deadline to apply: Oct. 25. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis says more than $6.4 million has been approved through the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to small businesses impacted by … Read more

Impacted homes with more than 50% damage (home value only) must rebuild, and in some areas, one owner may just make repairs while a next-door neighbor must rebuild. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) –Between the flooding and the cleanup, Hurricane Idalia survivors have faced many hurdles. Now, a federal regulation, FEMA’s so-called “50% rule,” might cost them … Read more

The government continues routine operations, but a shutdown threat could occur again as Nov. 17 looms – but storm victims were also handed a lifeline. WASHINGTON (AP) – The threat of a federal government shutdown suddenly lifted late Saturday as President Joe Biden signed a temporary funding bill to keep agencies open with little time … Read more

Following a “Call for Action” issued by NAR Fri. night and shared by Florida Realtors Sat., Congress and the president extended government funding to Nov. 17. WASHINGTON – Flood insurance and transactions it might impact are safe for now after a down-to-the wire vote in the U.S. House that was soon passed by the Senate … Read more

While inflation rose 3.5% year-to-year in Aug. – still above the Fed’s 2% goal – it was only up 0.1% month-to-month after backing out higher gas prices. WASHINGTON (AP) – An inflation gauge closely tracked by the Federal Reserve rose in August, boosted mainly by higher gas prices. But measures of underlying inflation slowed in … Read more