Florida Real Estate

Florida Realtor Magazine to Debut Spanish Edition

The Spanish-language digital issue will launch in April 2026. Members can join a waitlist for email alerts. The print and online English formats will continue. ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Realtors® will launch the first Spanish-language digital edition of Florida Realtor magazine in April 2026, expanding its flagship publication to better reflect the state’s diverse membership … Read more

Florida’s First-Time Buyers Embrace Co-Buying

With home prices up, more buyers are partnering with friends to afford a home. Experts urge clear planning and legal agreements. MIAMI – Shared homeownership isn’t new, but who’s doing it is. As prices surge, more first-time buyers are turning to friends to afford a home. According to the National Association of Realtors®, home prices … Read more

Tips to Get Mortgage-Ready in 2026

First-time buyers in 2026 should focus on readiness, not rate timing. Pricing constraints remain, so early lender talks and clear budgets can help. NEW YORK — First-time home buyers preparing to enter the housing market in 2026 are being encouraged to prioritize readiness over waiting for ideal conditions, as affordability pressures and limited inventory persist. … Read more

FinCEN Reporting Rule Takes Effect March 1

The FinCEN rule requires reports on certain all-cash sales involving entities or trusts, adding compliance duties for title companies and closing agents in some cases. WASHINGTON – A new federal reporting rule from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) will take effect March 1, 2026, expanding national anti-money-laundering obligations into the U.S. residential real estate … Read more

Practical Ways Brokerages Are Using AI

AI tools are helping brokerages protect their brand, streamline operations and standardize onboarding, freeing agents and staff to focus on higher-value work. NEW YORK — Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption is increasingly focused on reducing friction rather than replacing people, as brokerages look for ways to improve consistency, protect their brand and free up staff time … Read more

IRS May Temporarily Freeze Some Tax Refunds

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

Mortgage Rates Signal Ongoing Stability

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

Home Design Shifts Toward Screen-Free Spaces

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

Entertainment Tech to Help a Home Stand Out

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

RE Q&A: What Should New Buyers Prioritize?

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