News & Media By Amy Connolly The first month on the market is no longer the listing warmup. It’s the pricing test. A new Realtor.com® report found that early activity can be a key test for sellers, especially in Florida markets where buyers have more homes to choose from than they did during the pandemic rush. […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced 14 changes to the Federal Housing Administration’s single-family mortgage insurance program, updating policies tied to appraisals, 203(k) rehabilitation loans, closings, lender requirements and loss mitigation. FHA financing already shows up in many first-time buyer and affordability conversations, and the […]
WASHINGTON — Housing providers have new federal guidance on emotional support animals, but the change does not necessarily end the legal questions around them. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued new guidance May 22 on how it will enforce emotional support animal complaints under the Fair Housing Act, according to the National […]
News & Media By Maria Marchante ORLANDO, Fla. — You are off to a listing appointment. There is nothing unusual about the property, but there is a Tenant living there and their lease extends through the end of the year (likely well past any closing date). The Seller informs you that they are not […]
ORLANDO, Fla. — A trial court and appellate court disagreed about what to do with a late escrow deposit and a contract that listed the escrow agent as “TBD”. Here’s an interesting case involving the Florida Realtors®/Florida Bar “AS IS” Contract for Purchase and Sale. It’s a 2024 case from the First District Court […]
Dear Shannon: I’ve been a Realtor® for many years, and I always attend the Realtors Legislative Meetings (RLM) in Washington D.C. by the National Association of Realtors®. Our advocacy efforts in D.C. are very important. In addition, I’ve served on our professional standards committee and grievance committee for years at the local association, so […]
News & Media Market disruption is creating new opportunities for agents who stay visible, sharpen their skills and keep relationships at the center of their business, Verl Workman said in Inman. Brokerage mergers, slower sales and continued consumer hesitation are prompting some agents to reassess their place in the market, especially those who treated […]
Florida renters remain under some of the nation’s heaviest housing pressure, even as apartment rents begin to cool in parts of the state, according to Harvard University’s latest State of the Nation’s Housing report and 2024 Census data. The numbers point to a large group of households that may be watching the market closely […]
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate edged higher this week, staying close to 6.5%, where it’s been the last six weeks. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.49% from 6.47% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.77%. When mortgage rates rise they […]
Florida remained the nation’s top state for residential investment property loan volume last year, a sign that investor demand is still part of the state’s housing story and may continue to shape competition for certain homes even with higher borrowing costs. Mortgage Research Network analyzed 2025 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data and found that […]
Congress passed the landmark 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act this week, advancing one of the most significant federal housing packages in nearly two decades at a time when Florida buyers, sellers and communities are wrestling with affordability and the need for more homes at prices families can manage. But the bill’s next step […]
Most everyone has heard it: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” This 100-year-old adage claims that a single still image is more effective than, say, a verbal description. Born in the U.S. press, the phrase is still used today and repeated in many languages. Consequently, it also suggests that one visual is more […]
