Home Mortgage Lending Rebounds Nationwide

​ WASHINGTON – More than 1.5 million mortgages were issued in the U.S. during the second quarter, according to a new report released by ATTOM. The second-quarter 2024 U.S. Residential Property Mortgage Origination Report, which shows that 1.62 million mortgages secured by residential property (1 to 4 units) were issued in the United States during […]

What to Do if a Hurricane Damages Your Home

​ FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Question: With hurricane season heating up, I am concerned I will not know what to do if a storm damages our house. How can we be prepared and ensure that insurance will pay up? — Maritza Answer: From the legal perspective, dealing with hurricanes is similar to other casualty losses, […]

Doggone Great Florida Cities for Pups (and People)

​ TAMPA, Fla. – Parents want the best for their kids – and that’s true of dog parents, too. Insurify’s data science team analyzed the 100 most populous cities in the U.S. to find the most dog-friendly places. The 10 best cities for dog owners boast various amenities that increase the quality of pets’ lives, […]

Use Focus and Flexibility to Navigate Change

​ LOS ANGELES – Imagine you woke up on a remote tropical desert island. No one is around. No restaurants. No Starbucks. No Wi-Fi. Everything completely changed. In an instant. But here’s the thing: You’re still somewhere on planet Earth. It’s beautiful and you know how to operate here. Yes, your immediate future is vastly […]

‘Moody’ Home Design Trends Generating Buzz

​ CHICAGO – In stark contrast to the prevailing popularity of bright whites, light grays and airy interiors, a darker side of home design is being illuminated. Designers are calling it “dark” and “moody.” In fact, online searches for “moody living room” and “moody kitchen” have more than doubled compared to a year ago, according […]

Ultra-Luxury Home Sales to Set New Record

​ WASHINGTON – A $115 million purchase of a duplex high above New York’s Central Park in June ended a nearly two-year drought for the city’s ultra-luxury real estate market. The closing was ultimately a turning point. Less than a month later, a nearby five-story penthouse went for $135 million. With more than four months […]

Report: Corporate Investors Own 117K+ Fla. Homes

​ News & Media TAMPA, Fla. – A recent analysis by the Tampa Bay Times showed that corporate investors in Florida own over 117,000 single-family homes, which some say has led to higher prices and reduced affordability in the market for some potential home buyers. Others say it has allowed corporations to have greater control […]

Housing Payments at Lowest Level Since Jan.

​ SEATTLE – The median U.S. monthly housing payment fell to $2,534 during the four weeks ending September 1, the lowest level since January and down nearly $300 from April’s all-time high, according to a new report from Redfin. Housing payments are falling because even though home prices remain near record highs, weekly average mortgage […]

NAR Releases Guide for Veteran Buyers

​ News & Media By Amy Connolly WASHINGTON – The National Association of Realtors® shared another new Consumer Guide to help Realtors continue to build trust with inquiring buyers, this time with a focus on veterans. Links to /law-ethics/nar-settlement-sitzer-burnett-lawsuit The resources you need to do business in the post-NAR settlement real estate industry. The guide, […]

Long-Term Rates Hold Ahead of Expected Cut

​ WASHINGTON – The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. was flat this week ahead of an expected interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve later this month. The rate remained at 6.35% from last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.12%. Before last week, […]

Hurricane Season Forecast Eased

​ News & Media MIAMI – The meteorology company AccuWeather on Tuesday scaled back its forecast for this year’s hurricane season after the Atlantic Ocean was relatively quiet over the Labor Day weekend and had “limited” tropical activity in August. Though still projecting an above-average season, AccuWeather is now forecasting 16 to 20 named storms, […]

Helping the Self-Employed Tackle Mortgage Hurdles

​ LADERA RANCH, Calif. – With rising interest rates and increasingly stringent lending criteria, securing a mortgage has become more challenging for self-employed individuals. Truss Financial Group has explored recent trends and data to uncover increased mortgage rejections among self-employed Americans. Our findings highlight the connection between existing data, the difficulties faced by this group […]