LOS ANGELES — Home shoppers hoping for more attractive mortgage rates next year may be disappointed. That’s the takeaway from several economists’ 2025 housing forecasts, most released over the past couple of weeks. Most of the eight forecasts call for the average rate on a 30-year mortgage to remain above 6% next year, with […]
News & Media TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida gained a net total of 126,000 residents from other states in 2023, marking the first major decline in net migration in a decade, the Florida Chamber Foundation reported in its latest migration report. The report attributes the shift to two key factors: rising housing costs and the […]
CHICAGO — Brokers and agents continue to adapt to the practice changes implemented as part of the National Association of Realtors®’s (NAR) settlement of litigation, which was granted final approval in late November. Florida agent Vanessa Franz Barnes, ABR, CIPS, recalled navigating the buyer-broker agreement with clients she’s worked with for more than 15 […]
WASHINGTON — Americans hoping for lower borrowing costs for homes, credit cards and cars may be disappointed after this week’s Federal Reserve meeting. The Fed’s policymakers are likely to signal fewer interest rate cuts next year than were previously expected. The officials are set to reduce their benchmark rate, which affects many consumer and […]
NEW YORK — You’ve likely been planning your upcoming trip for a while, whether you’re preparing to connect with loved ones over the holidays or getting ready for an extended vacation far from anyone you know. To give you peace of mind while you’re away, you’ll also need to make sure the home you’re […]
WASHINGTON — None of the country’s 50 largest housing markets offer affordable rent for workers who earn the federal minimum wage, says a new Clever Real Estate study. Buffalo, N.Y., has the most reasonable rent, although it takes 39% of a renter’s monthly income, far more than the commonly used 30% affordability threshold. Full-time […]
NEW YORK — Business expenses are the ordinary and necessary costs required to run a business. Any money spent in the name of doing business can be categorized as a business expense. Every company incurs expenses in the course of doing business. Common examples of business expenses include the cost of goods and services, […]
SEATTLE — Less than half (46.7%) of U.S. renters feel a sense of belonging in their neighborhood, compared with almost two-thirds (63.6%) of homeowners, according to a new survey from the real estate brokerage Redfin. Just 38.9% of renters feel they have things in common with their neighbors, compared with 58.5% of homeowners. And […]
News & Media By Jim Turner TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet could be poised to approve spending more than $318 million to buy conservation land and enter other deals that would shield rural properties from development. State staff members have recommended that DeSantis and the Cabinet approve 20 proposals […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Affordable housing remains a top concern nationwide, especially in Florida, where high interest rates, limited inventory and rising home prices have made the dream of homeownership a challenge for many. Recognizing this, Florida Realtors®, the state’s largest professional trade association, has been at the forefront of advocating for solutions that make […]
LONDON — After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom […]
NEW YORK — When 30-year conforming mortgage interest rates fell into the low 6% range in August/September of this year, the mortgage industry experienced a welcome burst of refinance activity, according to Intercontinental Exchange’s ICE Mortgage Trends data. As Andy Walden, ICE vice president of Research and Analysis explains, homeowners with loans originated in […]