NEW YORK – Scammers never take a break, and their tricks keep evolving. Lately, there are three scams making the rounds that you should be aware of: one targeting Social Security numbers, another impersonating Gmail alerts and a third aimed at Mac users through a fake driver update. I’ll explain what each scam is, […]
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Question: Our mother recently passed away in Florida. I live in another state, so the last year before she died, my brother moved in with her to be able to help. The house was owned for decades by both our parents, and our father passed away some time ago. My […]
NEW YORK – Annual spending on home improvements has been down in recent years, but that’s expected to change in 2025 with a 1.2% increase in renovation spending, according to a report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Making strategic improvements can substantially enhance your home’s value. If you don’t […]
News & Media WASHINGTON – Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has unexpectedly continued to deteriorate in the month of May, according to preliminary data released by the University of Michigan on Friday. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index dipped to 50.8 in May after slumping to 52.2 in April. Economists had […]
WASHINGTON – The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for April 2025 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases increased 5.3% compared from a year ago. Compared to March 2025, applications increased by 2%. This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns. “Despite the ongoing economic uncertainty and […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Realtors® is proud to introduce Sabal Sign, a new mobile-friendly digital signature solution in Form Simplicity, to streamline the transaction process for members and their customers. The new platform offers an intuitive, user-friendly interface that simplifies the signing experience, whether at a desk or on the go. While the current eSign is available for a […]
WASHINGTON – Economic uncertainty stemming from tariff issues, elevated mortgage rates and rising building material costs pushed single-family housing starts lower in April, the National Association of Home Builders reported. Overall housing starts increased 1.6% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.36 million units, according to a report from the U.S. […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Relocating to Florida from the northern U.S. brings sunshine, palm trees and an entirely different approach to apartment living. While the appeal of the Sunshine State is undeniable, many newcomers are surprised by how much the rental experience can differ, especially when it comes to weather-related risks, lease terms, utility billing […]
CHERRY HILL, N.J. — First-time homebuyers have strong confidence in the housing market and an eagerness to move forward with their homeownership plans despite challenges like affordability and high interest rates, according to TD Bank’s annual First-Time Homebuyer Pulse survey. As mortgage rates have recently started to decrease, as reported by the National Association […]
News & Media CHICAGO — For the second consecutive week, mortgage demand from prospective home buyers rose, showing signs of a livelier housing market unfolding this season. Mortgage loan application volume – a gauge of future homebuying activity – is indexing 18% higher than it was the same week one year ago, the Mortgage […]
News & Media By Tom Butler TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida House members returned to Tallahassee last week and voted to extend the potential end date of this year’s legislative session to as late as June 30. The Senate, however, did not return to Tallahassee and have not voted on a similar extension – yet. […]
NEW YORK – Real estate has long been touted as a worthy long-term investment. With that conventional wisdom in mind, young adults often make buying a home one of their first big-ticket purchases. Though real estate remains a potentially lucrative investment, the market for homes has been difficult to navigate for several years running. […]