News & Media WASHINGTON – The recent jump in the 10-year Treasury yield and the resulting rise in mortgage rates are expected to continue to weigh on existing home sales in the near future, likely keeping them at or near their lowest level since 1995, according to the January 2025 commentary from the Fannie […]
News & Media WASHINGTON — Mortgage interest rates have been headlining financial news segments for several years running. Much of that news has been met with less than open arms, as rates have risen in recent years. Data from the lender Freddie Mac indicates mortgage rates were still well below 4% on January 1, 2022. […]
WASHINGTON — A limited amount of existing inventory along with solid demand helped new home sales end the year on an up note, even as buyers continue to grapple with housing affordability challenges, the National Association of Home Builders said. Sales of newly built, single-family homes in December increased 3.6% to a 698,000 seasonally […]
News & Media By Maria Marchante ORLANDO, Fla. — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an order Friday postponing enforcement of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s (TCPA) one-to-one written consumer consent in order to redefine the meaning of “prior express written consent.” The new consent rules for robocalls and robotexts were expected to begin […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Realtors® released new and updated forms Monday to help Realtors® as they incorporate the practice changes required for the proposed National Association of Realtors® settlement agreement following the Sitzer-Burnett verdict. Updated forms: Qualifying Improvement Addendum to Contract – (QIC-1): Previously called PACE Addendum […]
ORLANDO, Fla. – As 2024 ended, Florida’s housing market continued to show more new listings for single-family homes and for condo-townhouse properties, increased for-sale inventory in both property categories and stabilizing median prices for single-family existing homes as well as condo-townhouse units, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Year End […]
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Question: My son is leasing a small condo. The lease includes “a sofa, TV, TV stand, table, 2 chairs, bed and mattress”. He did not want the mattress, and the owner’s brother removed it, leaving the used bedding behind. A few unwanted small appliances, pans, and dishes were left in […]
News & Media NEW YORK – The benchmark national average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is close to 7%, nowhere near the expected sub-6% predicted in early fall 2024. The rise is tied to concerns about accelerating inflation, fewer interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, and increases in long-term Treasury yields. Despite these headwinds, mortgage […]
NEW YORK – In the high-stakes world of cyber security, the term “hacking” often conjures up images of sophisticated cyber threats and data breaches orchestrated by skilled attackers. However, a lesser known but equally dangerous phenomenon is the rise of “fake hacking,” where individuals or groups deliberately misrepresent their abilities to infiltrate computer systems. […]
News & Media ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Consumer sentiment fell for the first time in six months, edging down 4% from December, according to the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index. While assessments of personal finances inched up for the fifth consecutive month, all other index components pulled back. Indeed, sentiment declines were broad […]
WASHINGTON – Existing-home sales climbed in December, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Sales advanced in three major U.S. regions and slipped in the Midwest. Year-over-year, sales accelerated in all four regions. On an annual basis, existing-home sales (4.06 million) declined to the lowest level since 1995, while the median price reached a […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission issued a warning to homeowners about scammers posing as mortgage lenders threatening foreclosure if they don’t pay up. Called the Green Mirage scam, fraudsters call a homeowner and pose as the homeowner’s mortgage provider, the FCC said. Often, the homeowner has previously […]
