GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After four consecutive months of increases, consumer sentiment among Floridians fell nine-tenths of a point in October, dropping to 77.4 from a revised figure of 78.3 in September. In contrast, national sentiment rose slightly for the third consecutive month. “The decline in consumer confidence is not surprising, as this month’s reading […]
NEW YORK — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. rose for the fifth straight week, returning to its highest level since early August. The rate rose to 6.72% from 6.54% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. That’s still down from a year ago, when the rate averaged 7.76%. […]
SEATTLE — Less than one-third (32.1%) of renter households pay under $1,000 in monthly rent—the lowest share on record, according to a new report from the real estate brokerage Redfin. That’s down from 35.2% in 2022 and 50.4% in 2012. The lion’s share (47.9%) of renter households pay between $1,000 and $1,999, while 14.4% […]
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After four consecutive months of increases, consumer sentiment among Floridians fell nine-tenths of a point in October, dropping to 77.4 from a revised figure of 78.3 in September. In contrast, national sentiment rose slightly for the third consecutive month. “The decline in consumer confidence is not surprising, as this month’s reading […]
TALLAHASSEE — A state program that provides critical backup coverage for property insurers could pay out an estimated $4.6 billion because of claims from hurricanes Milton and Helene, officials said Wednesday. If that preliminary estimate holds, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund would have adequate cash to cover its share of losses, leaders and a […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly WASHINGTON – Sellers now have a new tool to help them choose their ideal real estate agent. The National Association of Realtors®’ latest Consumer Guide provides ten essential questions for sellers to ask, aimed at helping them find a Realtor® whose expertise aligns with their needs. The guide, […]
LOS ANGELES — Homebuyers opted to make smaller down payments this summer as declining mortgage rates helped boost their purchasing power, though home shoppers’ upfront costs remain near their peak. The average down payment on a U.S. home as a percentage of the purchase price was 14.5% in the June-September period, down from 14.7% […]
NEW YORK — When you’re in the market for a business loan, it’s crucial to look beyond the advertised interest rate. Hidden costs and fees impact the total amount you end up paying. Here are four key costs you should consider before signing on the dotted line: 1. Annual percentage rate (APR) vs. interest […]
WASHINGTON – More people today are concerned about natural disasters and believe the likelihood they will experience a natural disaster will be higher five years from now, Freddie Mac found in a new survey. The analysis, published in Freddie Mac’s recent Economic, Housing and Mortgage Market Outlook, found that renters are more likely to […]
NEW YORK — The Federal Trade Commission received more than 330,000 reports of scammers impersonating businesses in 2023. Some of these scammers pretend to be major corporations like Amazon or Best Buy, the FTC says. But small businesses are at risk too, says Scott Taber, a cybersecurity awareness program specialist at the Michigan Small […]
WASHINGTON — Pending home sales rose in September, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All four major regions experienced month-over-month gains in transactions. Year-over-year, the Northeast and West registered increases while sales remained steady in the Midwest and South. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) – a forward-looking indicator of home sales based […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Amid long-running efforts to shift customers into the private market, the number of homeowners insured by the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. plunged last week. Citizens posted data online Monday that showed it had 1,035,534 policies as of Friday, down from 1,271,907 policies a week earlier and 1,268,738 policies two weeks […]