‘Ingredients Are There’ for Busy Storm Season

​ TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With insurers, utilities and emergency-management officials bracing for the coming months, experts continue to predict a highly active hurricane season for Florida and other areas of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Echoing earlier predictions about the season that will start June 1, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday pointed […]

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Falls in May

​ ANN ARBOR – Sentiment fell back about 10% in May, a departure from three consecutive months of very little change in consumer views, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. Although consumers’ views about their personal finances were little changed this month, their outlook for short-run business conditions declined notably in May, […]

Affordable and Workforce Housing Barriers Continue

​ NEW YORK – David Dworkin doesn’t sugarcoat the housing situation currently facing too many American households. “Housing affordability is the worst it’s been in generations,” said Dworkin, president and CEO of the National Housing Conference (NHC), a Washington D.C.-based affordable housing advocacy group. He points to the chronic, ongoing lack of new affordable housing […]

Roofing Materials That Stand the Test of Time

​ MIAMI – Choosing the right roofing material is crucial for homeowners who value both aesthetics and functionality. Roofing materials not only need to complement the architectural style of a home but also withstand the elements to keep your home protected year-round. This review will explore various roofing materials, focusing on their durability, cost-effectiveness, and […]

April New Home Sales Decline

​ WASHINGTON – New home purchases dropped in April as buyers continued to be deterred by high mortgage rates and prices and a short supply. Sales of new single-family houses were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 634,000, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban […]

Policymakers See Longer Path to Rate Cuts

​ WASHINGTON — After several unexpectedly high inflation readings, Federal Reserve officials concluded at a meeting earlier this month that it would take longer than they previously thought for inflation to cool enough to justify reducing their key interest rate, now at a 23-year high. Minutes of the May 1 meeting, released Wednesday, showed that […]

Florida Insurers Cut or Hold Rates

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Long-Term Mortgage Rates Decline for a Third Week

​ LOS ANGELES — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage dipped this week to just below 7% for the first time since mid-April, a modest boost for home shoppers navigating a housing market dampened by rising prices and relatively few available properties. The rate fell to 6.94% from 7.02% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie […]

VA May Suspend Ban on Buyer Agent Payments

​ News & Media WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to temporarily lift its ban on buyers directly paying for professional real estate representation until the agency deems it necessary to engage in a formal rulemaking process, a VA official said Tuesday at a Mortgage Bankers Association conference in New York. Although not […]

Florida’s April Home Sales, Median Prices Rise

​ ORLANDO, Fla.– Florida’s housing market in April showed more closed sales, more for-sale inventory, more new listings and higher median prices compared to a year ago, according to Florida Realtors®’ latest housing data. “More active listings provide more options and more homeownership opportunities for buyers, which in turn helps encourage buyer demand,” said 2024 […]

Simple Solutions to Elevate Your Home’s Style

​ NEW YORK – We don’t all have the money or time to do a major overhaul of our homes but there are a few things you can do to freshen things up without blowing the budget. If you are handy on tools, why not have a crack at some of these ideas to breathe […]

VA Signals Suspension on Buyer Agent Payment Ban

​ News & Media WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to temporarily lift its ban on buyers directly paying for professional real estate representation until the agency deems it necessary to engage in a formal rulemaking process, a VA official said Tuesday at a Mortgage Bankers Association conference in New York. Although not […]