Florida Cities Rank Among Best for Food

​ News & Media By Sara Filips TAMPA, Fla. – Food is truly to way to the hearts of Tampa residents. From trendy hotspots downtown to hole-in-the-wall staples, the city is no stranger to an array of tasty options, as restaurants cater to customers looking for local, high-quality choices when it comes to serving foodies. […]

Why Mortgage Rates Haven’t Fallen

​ NEW YORK – With the Federal Reserve reducing benchmark interest rates by 50 basis points, the expectation was that mortgage rates would fall as well, but they went up instead. One measure of mortgage rates did decline briefly, but pricing mortgages is complex and includes more than just Fed cuts. Some analysts have said […]

SBA Disaster Loan Funding at Risk

​ NEW YORK — The Small Business Administration could run out of money to fund disaster loans in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation. As is typical after a disaster, the government is offering aid to small businesses that were in Helene’s path. The SBA is offering disaster loans for small businesses in some counties […]

Florida Realtors CEO Named Smith Society Honoree

​ News & Media CHICAGO – Florida Realtors CEO Margy Grant was among the three National Association of Realtors® association executives nationwide inducted into the Dr. Almon R. (Bud) Smith, RCE, AE Leadership Society for their contributions to the industry and profession. Grant and the other recipients – Denver Metro Association of Realtors CEO Brendan […]

Credit Scores Matter

​ NEW YORK – Strictly speaking, you don’t need a credit score to buy a house. If you’re paying cash, for example, no one necessarily cares whether you have good credit. However, if – like most aspiring American homeowners – you’ll need financing, then your credit score is crucial. Your credit score is one of […]

Hurricane Milton: 1 Million Ordered to Evacuate

​ ORLANDO, Fla. – More than one million people are under evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Milton, as millions more prepare their homes and businesses for the massive storm. Milton is expected to make landfall on the west coast, possibly in the Tampa area, late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm with winds of 111-129 […]

Affordable Housing Disappearing Across the U.S.

​ LOS ANGELES — While Americans continue to struggle under unrelentingly high rents, as many as 223,000 affordable housing units across the U.S. could disappear in the next five years alone. It leaves low-income tenants facing protracted eviction battles, scrambling to pay a two-fold rent increase or more, or shunted back into a housing market […]

Boosting Agent Productivity, Well-Being

​ News & Media By Daniel Vollrath CHICAGO – You’re in a rewarding profession – helping people realize a significant life goal. But selling real estate comes with distinct challenges. While constantly working to fill your pipeline, manage client expectations, and achieve a sense of work-life balance, you’re likely to face moments of financial uncertainty, […]

Fernandina Beach Realtor Wins NAR Award

​ News & Media WASHINGTON – Realtor® Stacy Horst with Keller Williams Atlantic Partners in Fernandina Beach is one of five winners chosen as a 2024 recipient of the National Association of Realtors® Good Neighbor Awards. Celebrating its 25th year, these distinguished awards spotlight Realtors who are not only experts in their field but also […]

Condo Redevelopment Could Spark New Trend

​ FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – An aging condo on Fort Lauderdale’s barrier island ordered to evacuate because of an unsafe foundation could be among the first of a long line of condos in desperate need of long-delayed repairs, experts say. Nearly two weeks ago, unit owners at Springbrook Gardens – a former hospital turned condo […]

Declining Rates Benefit New Homebuyers in 2024

​ NEW YORK – Mortgage rates may be declining, which puts new homebuyers in a better position than just a year ago. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage hit a high of 7.79%n in late October 2023; now, we’re seeing this type of mortgage at an average of 6.38% (forecast for the fourth quarter of 2024). […]

Hurricane Milton Reaches Cat 5, Nears Florida

​ ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida’s on track for a one-two punch from the 2024 hurricane season as Hurricane Milton moves across the Gulf of Mexico, marking the second major storm targeting the state in as many weeks. Hurricane Milton became a Category 5 storm on Monday with winds greater than 157 mph. It was expected […]