Florida Real Estate

Idalia Survivors Surprised by FEMA’s 50% Rule

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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

Shutdown Agreement Includes $16B for FEMA

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

Congress Extends Flood Ins. in Last-Minute Deal

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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

Core Inflation Prices Barely Budged in Aug

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

Buyers’ Tactics in the Face of High Mortgage Rates

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NEW YORK – Mortgage rates have risen to their highest levels in more than 20 years, making it harder to afford a home. And yet, out of necessity or desire, hundreds of thousands of people buy homes every month. With the 30-year fixed rate topping 7%, NerdWallet asked real estate agents and mortgage loan officers … Read more

Building Code Proven to Help During Storms

MIAMI – Florida leads the nation in strict building codes, and the decades of hard work have paid off in the increasing number of homes and buildings that survive each time a hurricane slashes the state. But a new report from Swiss Re, a major global re-insurance company, suggests that all those hard-won gains have … Read more

RE Diversity Groups Ban Together, Target Hate

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A diverse group of RE professionals – Asian, Hispanic, LGBTQ+ and women – say they will jointly oppose the “vocal minority” who fight against diversity. CHICAGO – Organizations representing Asian, Hispanic, LGBTQ+ and women professionals say persistent discrimination in housing must be stopped. Four major organizations representing diverse groups in the real estate profession have … Read more

HUD Clarifies RE Civil Rights Protections

HUD joined seven other agencies, saying that “Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits antisemitism, Islamophobia and related forms of discrimination.” WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and seven other agencies across the federal government – the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban … Read more

Mortgage Rates Hit 7.31% – a 23-Year High

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Last week, a 30-year, fixed-rate loan averaged 7.19%; a year ago, it was 6.70%. The last time rates were this high was in 2000 when home values weren’t going up. LOS ANGELES (AP) – Home loan borrowing costs climbed again this week, pushing the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate to its highest level in nearly … Read more

Shutdown Can Stop FEMA Funds for Hurricane Victims

WASHINGTON – With a government shutdown as few as two days away, the Biden administration has started to ration federal disaster aid, delaying the delivery of about $2.8 billion in grants so the money is available in the event of a crisis, according to state and federal officials and budget documents obtained by The Washington … Read more