Fed’s Bowman: Don’t See Any Rate Cuts for 2024

​ WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve will likely leave interest rates steady “for some time” in a bid to help corral “elevated” inflation in the U.S., Fed Governor Michelle Bowman said on Tuesday, adding that she does not expect the central bank to cut borrowing costs in 2024. At its most recent gathering earlier this […]

YouTubers Weigh in on Real Estate Marketing Videos

​ News & Media NEW YORK – Real-estate professionals who use YouTube can reach out to new audiences through unpaid and paid methods, but they must keep in mind that the venue is best suited to markets with longer sales cycles. Consider the following suggestions from YouTube pros: Short video content should contain the home […]

Home Flipping Activity, Profits Rise in Q1

​ NEW YORK – ATTOM has released its first-quarter 2024 U.S. Home Flipping Report showing that 67,817 single-family homes and condominiums in the United States were flipped in the first quarter. Those transactions represented 8.7%, or one of every 12 home sales nationwide, during the months running from January through March of 2024. The latest […]

FHFA House Price Index Up 0.2% in April

​ News & Media WASHINGTON – U.S. house prices rose in April, up 0.2% from March, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) seasonally adjusted monthly House Price Index (HPI). House prices rose 6.3% from April 2023 to April 2024. The previously reported 0.1% price increase in March was revised downward to 0.0 percent. […]

Average Rate on 30-Year Mortgage Eases

​ News & Media By Alex Viega LOS ANGELES — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage eased again this week, extending a welcome trend for prospective homebuyers facing record-high home prices. The rate fell to 6.86% from 6.87% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.71%. This […]

Sellers Cutting Prices in These Florida Cities

​ TAMPA, Fla. — With a rise in interest rates and empty homes on the market, home sellers across the country are feeling the pressure to reduce prices to attract buyers. Realtor.com said the number of homes rose to 34.2% this past May and spent an average of 44 days on market. “With greater inventory […]

U.S. Consumer Confidence Falls in June

​ NEW YORK – American consumers lost some confidence in June as expectations over the near-term future fell again. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell in June to 100.4 from 101.3 in May. The index’s decline was not quite as bad as analysts were expecting. The […]

Wetlands Fight to Continue for Months

​ TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — While Florida has sought to speed up the case, an appeals court battle about permitting authority for projects that affect wetlands likely will not be resolved until late this year – at the soonest. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Tuesday issued an order that […]

2024 Buyers Need to Earn 80% More Than in 2020

​ NEW YORK – Home prices have climbed 42% since 2020, as rising mortgage rates and borrowing costs are creating barriers to homeownership, a new study shows. A recent analysis by Zillow reveals that the housing market has become increasingly inaccessible for many Americans. To comfortably afford a home, prospective buyers need to earn 80% […]

Sellers Slashing Prices in These Florida Cities

​ TAMPA, Fla. — With a rise in interest rates and empty homes on the market, home sellers across the country are feeling the pressure to reduce prices to attract buyers. Realtor.com said the number of homes rose to 34.2% this past May and spent an average of 44 days on market. “With greater inventory […]

Report: 61% of Renters Can’t Afford Median Rent

​ NEW YORK – Due to inflation eating away at earnings and less supply of affordable housing, the majority of Americans today cannot afford median rent prices, according to a new report by the real estate company Redfin. The analysis comes as other reports indicate that both homeowners and renters are struggling with high housing […]

9 Tips (and Good Advice) for First-Time Renters

​ NEW YORK – When we saw that rent at our current apartment would go up by several hundred dollars if we re-signed our lease this summer, my roommates and I knew it was time to start searching for a new place to live. We knew what we could afford between the three of us, […]