WASHINGTON – Pending home sales ascended in October – the third consecutive month of increases, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All four major U.S. regions experienced month-over-month gains in transactions, with the Northeast leading the way. Year-over-year, contract signings increased in all four U.S. regions, led by the West. The Pending Home […]
WASHINGTON – The Federal Housing Finance Agency is increasing the size of home loans that the government can guarantee against default as it takes into account rising housing prices. Beginning next year, mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be able to acquire loans of up to $806,500 on single-family homes in most […]
News & Media By Alex Veiga WASHINGTON – The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased this week, though it remains near 7% after mostly rising in recent weeks. The rate slipped to 6.81% from 6.84% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday. That’s still down from a year ago, […]
CHICAGO — Today, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri granted final approval of the National Association of Realtors®’ proposed settlement agreement to resolve class action claims related to broker commissions. The court heard from all parties as well as objectors and the Department of Justice. Once arguments concluded, the court […]
News & Media By Shannon Allen Dear Shannon: Our Grievance Committee and Professional Standards Committee members are looking for a simple way to refresh their knowledge of the Code of Ethics, but they also want me to make it fun. Can you help me give them a little Fun With The Code to test […]
ATLANTA — Black homebuyers are obstructed by systemic racism and economic factors like high interest rates and investor purchases. But speakers at the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) Black Wealth Summit were enthusiastic about the progress, insisting that the journey towards homeownership and generational wealth is worth pursuing. The summit at Clark […]
NEW YORK — With the holiday season upon us, it’s hard to avoid the constant barrage of seasonal decor ideas. Social media pages are constantly promoting the latest trends, while store aisles are covered in ornaments, wreaths, and other products. But how much decor do you really need? We called on design experts to […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Rent increases are forcing many Florida seniors to move, and they’re among the hardest hit in the country, a new survey suggests. The new survey from Retirement Living, an Oklahoma-based retirement planning company, used U.S. Census data to show more than 35% of seniors age 65 and older in Florida reported […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Predicted to be hyperactive, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season delivered a mighty punch to storm-weary Floridians. The hurricane season, which began June 1 and wraps at the end of the month, produced 18 named storms, including 11 turbocharged hurricanes. Despite some calm spells, both the number of storms and the number […]
News & Media By Chris Rugaber WASHINGTON — Americans’ outlook on the economy improved modestly in November, lifted by expectations for lower inflation and more hiring. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index ticked up to 111.7 from 109.6 in October. The small increase followed a large […]
WASHINGTON — Steadily rising mortgage rates coupled with ongoing affordability challenges kept many potential home buyers on the sidelines in October. Sales of newly built, single-family homes in October declined 17.3% to a 610,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the […]
News & Media By Joel Maxson ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Realtors® forms include an Exclusive Buyer Brokerage Agreement (EBBA) and Exclusive Right of Sale Listing Agreement (ERS). The EBBA recently had significant modifications, and one of those changes is that it now includes a conditional termination clause that’s much like the one we’ve had […]