‘I Wouldn’t Have This in My Kitchen’

​ WASHINGTON – When designing your kitchen, there are so many things to consider, from the colors and layout to the appliances and materials. A kitchen design should be thought of as a long-term investment, considering it’s one of the most expensive areas to renovate in a home. Yet, two-thirds of about 2,000 consumers recently […]

New Anti-Squatter Law Infographic Available

​ News & Media ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Realtors® created a new infographic to help Realtors® share important information about a new law that gives property owners more rights to remove squatters. House Bill 621, signed into law in March, allows property owners to request law enforcement remove an unauthorized person from their property. The […]

One-Third of Homes for Sale Are Newly Built

​ News & Media SEATTLE— One-third (33.4%) of single-family homes for sale in the U.S. in the first quarter were newly built, essentially unchanged from a year earlier but down from a record-high 34.5% two years earlier, according to a new report from the real estate brokerage Redfin, The portion of housing supply that’s newly […]

Staying Safe and Healthy in Natural Disasters

​ NEW YORK – As you’re making your emergency preparedness checklist, it’s also important to protect your heart and overall health in the wake of a hurricane, tornado or other natural disaster. The experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict an above-average Atlantic Ocean hurricane season for the seventh year in a row. […]

Can Tiny Homes Help the Housing Shortage?

​ NEW YORK – Nearly 90% of the one in three Americans who stayed in an alternative living space rental enjoyed their time there. Alternative living spaces include tiny homes, modular homes, container homes, and converted vans or RVs. While they’re more popular as a vacation novelty, recent Google Trends data shows searches for information […]

$100 Million Approved for HHHP

​ News & Media TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill revising 2023’s Live Local Act, providing an additional $100 million to the Hometown Heroes Housing Program (HHHP) for zero-interest downpayment and closing cost assistance home loans to fulltime employed Floridians who meet income requirements. The HHHP financial boost injects new funding into […]

Darker Colors Could Make You More Cash

​ NEW YORK – Want to sell your home for more? Pick your colors carefully. A 2023 Zillow paint color analysis study finds charcoal gray rooms can help a home sell for as much as $2,512 more. Color impacts people’s moods, mindsets, and buying decisions. Recent and prospective buyers offer more money for a home […]

Sustainable Spaces: The Bathroom

​ NEW YORK – It may come as no surprise that American households use most of their water in the bathroom. Approximately 24% of a household’s water use can be traced to the toilet alone, and another 20% goes down the shower drain. But water isn’t the only resource used in the bathroom. There’s electricity […]

New Florida Law Roils Condo Market

​ News & Media TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A recent state law to ensure condominiums meet structural safety standards has many condo associations levying special assessments for repairs and upgrades, leaving the condo owners – many on fixed incomes — to foot huge bills. Repairs that include roof replacements, façade waterproofing and others bring the buildings […]

Insurers Using Aerial Images to Review Risk

​ WASHINGTON – It’s a notice no homeowner wants to get: Your insurance company has decided not to renew your policy, effective in 30 days. The reason? Based on aerial photos of your home, your roof is in poor condition. Your first response might be outrage. Is your insurance company spying on you? Can it […]

New Construction Mortgage Lending Rebounds

​ WASHINGTON – Loan applications for the purchase of newly constructed homes rebounded strongly in April after a disappointing start to the spring home buying season, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. Volume was up 22.1% on a year-over-year basis and it increased by 2% compared to March, the monthly Builder Application Survey reported. In April […]

Florida Leads in Housing Boom to Ease Shortage

​ WASHINTON –The United States has added almost 5 million housing units since 2020, most heavily in the South and most of them single-family homes, making a housing shortage look conquerable in much of the nation. Still, even more homes need to be built, especially single-family homes, experts say, and continuing high interest rates are […]