WASHINGTON – The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for May 2025 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases decreased 4.5% compared from a year ago. Compared to April 2025, applications decreased by 9%. This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns. “Economic uncertainty, rising mortgage rates, and […]
WASHINGTON – A sharp decline in multifamily production pushed overall housing starts down in May while single-family output was essentially flat due to economic and tariff uncertainty along with elevated interest rates. Overall housing starts decreased 9.8% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.26 million units, according to a report from […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers closed the 2025 legislative session late Monday, ending an extended lawmaking period focused on key budget and policy issues. The outcome included a series of legislative wins for Realtors®, property owners and communities, from eliminating the business rent tax to allocating millions for home and condo hardening efforts. Lawmakers […]
News & Media NEW YORK – Did you know the number of smart devices worldwide has surged from 10 billion in 2019 to nearly 18.8 billion by the end of 2024. With this rapid growth in smart device usage, there’s a fair chance we all have at least one smart home device in our […]
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Scientists have confirmed that two of the world’s most destructive invasive termite species are not only spreading in the United States but also hybridizing — the process of two different species crossbreeding to produce a hybrid. This raises concerns about their potential to spread farther and cause even greater structural and […]
News & Media NEW YORK — Sellers are outnumbering buyers in housing markets across the United States, the biggest such gap in more than a decade, a Redfin analysis found. The number of homes for sale is on the rise, but buyers have not re-entered the market as expected, with about 500,000 more sellers […]
SEATTLE — New Zillow research finds that a dark olive green kitchen and a navy blue bedroom can boost a home’s sale price. Nearly one-third of all homeowners paint their home before listing it for sale, but sellers can earn top dollar when they pick the right colors. Zillow’s study finds recent and prospective […]
WASHINGTON — In a further sign of declining builder sentiment, the use of price incentives increased sharply in June as the housing market continues to soften. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes was 32 in June, down two points from May, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells […]
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage fell to 6.84% from 6.85% last week. Rates on 15-year mortgages declined to 5.97% from 5.99%.
If a divorce didn’t cover selling the home, a judge may decide how to split equity based on payments, upkeep and use, or the parties can try mediation.
Homeowners can boost joy by refreshing decor with simple, low-cost updates like painting, repurposing items or sprucing up gardens and furniture.
Faced with high prices and rates, first-time buyers are choosing smaller homes, prompting builders to scale down size and features to keep sales moving.