News & Media By Amy Connolly NEW YORK — Compass announces the completion of the Anywhere Real Estate $1.6 billion acquisition Friday, forming the world’s largest real estate brokerage. The merger, approved by shareholders at both companies, creates a network of about 340,000 real estate professionals and affiliate broker-owners operating in every major U.S. […]
NEW YORK – Many people start the new year thinking about ways to improve their health, be more organized and manage their finances. Experts say there is one area that touches on each of those resolutions — home care. Early and routine home maintenance goes beyond fixing visible damage. It helps ensure a healthy […]
News & Media NEW YORK – House hacking — buying a property and renting part of it to offset the mortgage — was once considered a fast path to growing wealth for first-time home buyers. It allowed first-time buyers to build their home equity and pay off debt more quickly. Today, it is being […]
News & Media WASHINGTON — New residential construction in the U.S. saw a steep drop in the month of October, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Friday. The report said housing starts plunged by 4.6% to an annual rate of 1.246 million in October after jumping by 1.2% to an […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly ANN ARBOR, Mich. – U.S. consumer sentiment edged higher for a second straight month in January, reaching its highest level since September 2025, though overall confidence remains significantly lower than a year ago, according to the University of Michigan’s latest Surveys of Consumers. Improvements were driven largely by […]
ORLANDO, Fla. —Lower mortgage rates, gradually rising housing inventory and strong demographic demand are creating a more optimistic housing outlook, even as affordability challenges persist at the local level, according to Dr. Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors®. Speaking during a Florida Realtors® Live […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly ORLANDO, Fla. – From market outlooks to AI productivity hacks, Florida Realtors® is bringing the conversations agents want to hear to the screen today during a full day of live Q&A sessions with industry leaders. The Florida Realtors Live event at the Mid-Winter Business Meeting features 15-minute interviews […]
NEW YORK – Every January, we make promises to ourselves: move more, eat better, stress less. But what about the place where we spend most of our time: our home? If you’re a homeowner who plans to stay put (and enjoy it), 2026 is the perfect year to treat your house like the long-term […]
News & Media NEW YORK — Wealthy renters are increasingly customizing luxury rental homes, and many landlords are encouraging the practice to add long-term value to the property. Affluent tenants are investing in upgrades, such as lighting, home offices, built-ins and design finishes, at their own expense. These improvements are cost-neutral for property owners. […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida continues to attract new residents at a strong clip, according to the newly released 2025 U-Haul Growth Index, which tracks migration patterns based on one-way moving transactions. The Sunshine State is home to eight of the top 10 growth cities and 12 of the […]
WASHINGTON — The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged higher this week to just above its 2025 low. The average long-term mortgage rate rose to 6.16%, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. That’s up slightly from 6.15% last week, when the average rate dropped to its lowest level since October 3, 2024. […]
WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service is urging the public to take action now and start preparing for the 2026 tax filing season as new policy shifts, filing options and other major changes go into effect. “Tax planning is for everyone,” the IRS noted. “… Planning ahead can help you file an accurate return […]
