Florida Real Estate

Buyers Among Those Anxiously Awaiting Rate Cuts

The Fed is expected to play it safe when it meets later this week, keeping the benchmark interest rate unchanged as inflation has yet to meet the 2% target, experts say. WASHINGTON — Across the United States, many people are eagerly anticipating the Federal Reserve’s first cut to its benchmark interest rate this year: Prospective … Read more

Tips for Breaking Into the High-End Market

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Success in the luxury market isn’t just about confidence and who you know. The best agents understand the market and the industry. NEW YORK – Real estate professionals have their own networking and lead generation strategies, but most believe that they can “will” their luxury market success into being – whether that means following up … Read more

Helping Loved Ones from Home to Assisted Living

Selling a home before moving into an assisted living facility presents challenges not seen in other moves.  Family members can help navigate the process to make it run smoothly. NEW YORK – Families must make a number of important decisions when an aging relative decides the time is right to move into an assisted living … Read more

Americans Living Farther from Work in Bigger Homes

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A new study found American workers are living farther from their workplaces, likely due to remote work opportunities. As a result, people bought bigger homes with home offices. NEW YORK – Freed, perhaps, from a daily jaunt to the office, the average American worker now lives almost three times farther from their job than they … Read more

Best Practices for a Healthy Credit Score

NEW YORK – Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your financial life. It plays a crucial role in determining individuals’ access and eligibility for loans, credit cards, mortgages, rental applications, and more. However, it’s not a static number and requires continuous monitoring and maintenance by individuals. As data breaches rise, … Read more

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Ticks Down Slightly

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Consumer views remained mostly in a holding pattern in March, dipping slightly from the previous month. Sentiment is about halfway between its all-time low, which was reached in June 2022. WASHINGTON — Consumers became slightly less optimistic about the economy this month, though they continue to expect inflation to cool further, a potential sign that … Read more

NAR Agrees to Proposed Litigation Settlement

Florida Realtors President Gia Arvin said the state association “looks forward to continued opportunities for our members to provide their expertise and valued services.” ORLANDO – The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) announced a proposed $418 million settlement agreement to the Sitzer-Burnett verdict that would end litigation of claims brought by home sellers related to … Read more

Mortgage Rate Declines for Second Week

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Borrowing costs for average 30-year U.S. mortgages and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped Thursday to levels seen in early February. LOS ANGELES — Home loan borrowing costs fell for the second week in a row, pulling the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate to its lowest level since early February — good news for prospective home shoppers … Read more

All-Cash Buyers Surge to Decade High

Naples and the Cape Coral-Fort Myers areas are among the top 10 metros in the United States with the highest concentration of cash buyers in 2023, the National Association of Realtors® found. WASHINGTON – Home buyers who paid cash accounted for 32% of home sales in January, marking the highest rate since 2014, the National … Read more

Miami Seeks $2.5B for Affordable Housing

The Miami-Dade mayor said she will ask voters in November to approve $2.5 billion in property tax backed bonds to build much-needed affordable housing. MIAMI – Affordable housing in Miami is hard to find. Home prices rose 11% as of November 2023, according to CoreLogic, and a University of Florida housing analysis showed the Miami-Dade … Read more