News & Media POLK COUNTY, Fla. – St. Petersburg-based developer Blue Sky Communities broke ground on a $23 million affordable housing development in Polk County, Florida, called Jersey Commons in Winter Haven. The community will have three buildings with 68 one- and two-bedroom units, with rents ranging from $402 per month to $964 per […]
News & Media TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Personas can help real estate professionals improve their ability to connect with ideal clients, making them feel seen and understood. These personas range from young professionals looking for their first home to others to retirees looking to downsize. Real estate professionals should create a VIP guest list that […]
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – A property appraisal is needed any time mortgage financing is used to purchase residential real estate. Often, an appraisal is ordered and everyone anxiously awaits the completed report since it may or may not support the already agreed-upon contract price. An individual appraiser’s local knowledge and experience contribute to the completed […]
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Sharp increases in what it costs to own a condominium in Florida are driving down prices that owners can get when they sell their condos in the state, according to a report released Tuesday by national real estate brokerage Redfin. The report, written by Redfin data journalist Dana Anderson, cited higher costs of insurance and […]
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. economy grew at a robust 3.2% annual pace from October through December, propelled by healthy consumer spending, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday in a slight downgrade from its initial estimate. The expansion in the nation’s gross domestic product – the economy’s total output of goods and services – slipped […]
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Consumer sentiment among Floridians increased for a fifth month in a row in February to 74.1, up 1.5 points from a revised figure of 72.6 in January, reinforcing the optimistic outlook set at the beginning of the year. “The last time consumer sentiment increased for five consecutive months was before the […]
News & Media TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. had about 1.164 million policies on Feb. 23, 2024, a total that was little changed from the end of January, according to data posted on its website. Citizens had nearly 1.166 million policies on Jan. 31. Citizens, which was created as an […]
News & Media CHICAGO – Social media and online interactions are the norm when it comes to building relationships with potential buyers. Gone are the days of distributing business cards at in-person networking and local events. Real estate professionals should serve their communities by offering tips and education on home selling markets and creating […]
News & Media LYNCHBURG, Va. – Companies with fully remote work policies have become as rare as masking in the office, according to a recent report by Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (JLL), a commercial real estate company. While last year saw the establishment of in-office policies, this year marks the adoption of these rules, […]
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Rising mortgage rates through much of 2023 kept many prospective homebuyers and sellers on the sidelines and the housing market in a deep slump. Homebuilders responded by lowering prices and offering incentives like mortgage rate buydowns to help buyers get over their affordability hump. The approach helped lift sales of new U.S. homes 4.2% over 2022, […]
IRVINE, Calif. – Attom has released its fourth-quarter 2023 U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report, which shows that 46.1% of mortgaged residential properties in the United States were considered equity-rich in the fourth quarter, meaning that the combined estimated amount of loan balances secured by those properties was no more than half of their estimated market […]
News & Media NEW YORK – American consumers are feeling less confident this month as concerns over a possible recession grew. Links to /news-media/news-articles/2024/02/when-will-housing-affordability-improve It’s going to take time, experts say: Expected interest rate cuts will have some impact on housing prices and mortgage rates, but more housing stock is needed. The Conference Board, […]