Vacation-home buyers face the same headwinds as other buyers, plus pandemic demand ended, and many have return-to-the-office orders, with loan rate locks down 50%. SEATTLE – Vacation homes were hot during the pandemic as workers freed from the office look for places where they could spread out. But that pace may have cannibalized current demand … Read more
MBA: Home loan applications fell 2.1% last week to the lowest level in 28 years, as low housing inventory and higher mortgage rates sidelined would-be buyers. LOS ANGELES (AP) – U.S. home loan applications are the lowest in decades as evidence mount that rising mortgage rates and home prices are shutting out many aspiring homeowners. … Read more
It’s too early to know. Nine out of 10 people will file a claim within the first 30 days, experts say, which is reported to the Fla. Office of Insurance Regulation. TAMPA, Fla. – Florida’s already troubled property insurance market faces another challenge: Hurricane Idalia. Now that the floodwaters have receded, the question is could Idalia impact … Read more
Americans’ confidence took two steps forward (June and July) and one step back. Higher prices had an impact along with less certainty about the job market. BOSTON – The August Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index declined in August to 106.1, from a downwardly revised 114.0 in July, reflecting a bit less optimism among Americans. The … Read more
Some discouraged buyers should stop looking for their “forever home” and start looking for their “get my foot in the door to start building equity” home. NEW YORK – The average rate on the standard 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 7.09%, according to Freddie Mac’s latest weekly survey. Some experts say that’s close to an … Read more
Buffet’s company spent $700M to buy DR Horton stock and lesser amounts for two other builders, suggesting the investment guru sees profits via the new-home industry. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Warren Buffett’s company appears to be betting on the housing market picking up because Berkshire Hathaway bought more than $700 million worth of homebuilder DR … Read more
If 9 out of 10 buyers start by typing “How do I buy a home?” into a search engine, it’s worth spending money to make sure your agency’s name is near the top. NEW YORK – With 90% of house hunters using the internet as a starting point, it makes sense for realty professionals to … Read more
Most buyers want move-in ready, but they’ll have a wider selection with fixer-uppers, and an FHA 203(k) loan can roll upgrade/repair costs into their first mortgage. NEW YORK – When you buy a home, there are usually a few repairs to pay for. Buyers who want to take on a real fixer-upper might be facing … Read more
NAR calls rent caps “putting a Band-Aid on a bleeding artery.” The increase cap could impact about 1 in 4 U.S. units that have Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac-backed mortgages. WASHINGTON – A coalition of 17 senators sent a letter to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on Monday requesting a way to limit rental increases in … Read more
Contrary to national numbers in July, Fla. sentiment fell 2.1 points as residents worried about the U.S. economy and planned to cut back on spending. GAINESVILLE, Fla. – July consumer sentiment among Floridians dropped 2.1 points to 66.8, a drop from a revised figure of 68.9 in June, according to the University of Florida’s monthly … Read more
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