Florida lawmakers appear to be keeping several key housing and real estate priorities intact as negotiations continue during the state’s 2026 Budget Special Session. Both the House and Senate are currently aligned on $50 million in new funding for the Hometown Heroes Housing Program, a Florida Realtors® legislative priority, along with full funding for […]
Florida lawmakers appear to be keeping several key housing and real estate priorities intact as negotiations continue during the state’s 2026 Budget Special Session. Both the House and Senate are currently aligned on $50 million in new funding for the Hometown Heroes Housing Program, a Florida Realtors® legislative priority, along with full funding for […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly New pending sales of single-family homes in Florida jumped 8% year over year in April, a sharp increase that could signal stronger housing activity heading into the summer market, according to Florida Realtors® Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor. The April gain was more than double the increases seen […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly Florida cities are leading the nation as top locations to launch a business, with five landing in the top 10 of a new analysis that evaluated startup conditions across 100 large U.S. cities. The study, by the personal finance site Wallethub, highlights Florida’s strong mix of business-friendly conditions, […]
Florida lawmakers appear to be keeping several key housing and real estate priorities intact as negotiations continue during the state’s 2026 Budget Special Session. Both the House and Senate are currently aligned on $50 million in new funding for the Hometown Heroes Housing Program, a Florida Realtors® legislative priority, along with full funding for […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly More young buyers are relying on outside help to buy a home, underscoring how affordability pressures are reshaping the path to homeownership and why conversations around down payment strategies, family contributions and assistance programs are becoming increasingly important. A new report from LendingTree found 40% of homeowners received […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly Florida’s housing market logged year-over-year closed sales gains for the eighth consecutive month in April, with condos and townhouses leading the charge, according to Florida Realtors®’ Research Department. Links to /media/5983 Florida’s April 2026 housing data shows eight consecutive months of rising sales, surging pending contracts, and tightening […]
Florida’s recent legal reforms tied to property insurance are showing measurable results, with litigation dropping sharply and insurance costs easing for homeowners and renters, according to new research from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. The group said homeowners insurance litigation in Florida has fallen nearly 50% in the 18 months since reforms took […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly After climbing the previous two weeks, mortgage rates edged slightly lower this week, offering a modest but potentially useful shift for buyers and Realtors® heading into the summer market. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage dipped to 6.36% from 6.37% last week, according to mortgage buyer […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly While home affordability in Florida remains challenging in many markets, a new national analysis suggests conditions may be beginning to improve in parts of the state. A study by ConsumerAffairs, a consumer advocacy and research website, found that several Florida metros became more affordable than in 2025. The […]
News & Media Say goodbye to boring room-by-room listing videos. Listing videos are becoming more personality-driven, with agents leaning into humor, music, storytelling and repeatable social formats to break through the scroll, and the payoff can be significant, the National Association of Realtors® reported. Take, for example, Sue “Pinky” Benson, who has capitalized on […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly Florida’s aging population may shape future inventory, downsizing and senior housing demand, but a new analysis suggests Realtors should not expect a sudden wave of baby boomer-owned homes to hit the market. A National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analysis found Florida dominates the nation’s rankings for households […]
