Missing or invalid direct deposit details can temporarily freeze IRS refunds this year. Taxpayers must update bank info or request a paper check to release funds. WASHINGTON – Tax season is in full swing, and with the chance at “very large” refunds, you may feel inclined to file as quickly as possible. A small mistake, … Read more
Rates on 30-year mortgages were essentially flat this week at to 6.11%, while 15-year rates inched up to 5.5%, reinforcing stable conditions for buyers and sellers. WASHINGTON – The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate barely budged this week, staying close to 6% as the spring homebuying season nears. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate … Read more
Designers say staging increasingly highlights screen-free spaces, helping buyers picture rooms meant for rest, creativity and time offline. NEW YORK — Screen-free “analog rooms” are emerging as a design response to growing digital fatigue, with homeowners and designers carving out spaces intentionally free of smart technology and constant connectivity. Rather than optimizing homes for screens … Read more
Updated TVs, sound systems and lighting can boost an entertainment room’s appeal. Smart upgrades help buyers picture daily living and can strengthen a home’s showing. NEW YORK — Life in the twenty-first century can feel like it’s moving at breakneck speed. Perhaps nowhere is that feeling more pronounced than within the technology sector, where new … Read more
By skipping the perfect-home myth, first-time buyers can focus on budget, condition and location, and choose a home and neighborhood that truly fit how they live. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Question: My partner and I have been together for a few years and have been living in a rented house. It’s time for us to … Read more
The Fed left rates unchanged, citing solid growth and a steady job market. Officials want clearer progress on inflation before resuming cuts, likely later this year. WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve pushed the pause button on its interest rate cuts Wednesday, leaving its key rate unchanged at about 3.6% after lowering it three times last … Read more
Consumer sentiment climbed higher than first reported in early January, reflecting broad gains, though confidence remains well below last year amid inflation pressures. ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Revised data released by the University of Michigan on Friday showed consumer sentiment in the U.S. has improved much more than previously estimated in the month of January. … Read more
New prediction markets let users trade on where home prices are headed, sparking debate over whether crowd sentiment can meaningfully inform housing decisions. NEW YORK – Prospective home buyers and sellers traditionally rely on familiar signals — days on market, inventory levels and recent sale prices — to judge where prices may be headed. Now, … Read more
Nearly 1,000 Florida Realtors members met with lawmakers for GARD, hearing policy updates and advocating for the profession’s 2026 legislative priorities. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Nearly 1,000 Realtors® filled the halls and offices of the state Capitol last week for Great American Realtor Days, delivering one of the largest advocacy turnouts in recent years and signaling … Read more
A new study cites low business costs, strong workforce growth and high entrepreneurship rates as key factors behind Florida’s top ranking. TAMPA, Fla. — A combination of low corporate tax rates and a growing workforce made Florida the best state to start a new business so far in 2026, a WalletHub study found. The study … Read more
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