News & Media ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Realtors announced it postponed its release of updated forms designed to help Realtors in daily transactions. This comes after the National Association of Realtors® extended its deadline for practice changes following the recent settlement. The new Florida Realtors forms, originally slated for May 31, will now be […]
NEW YORK – Buying a dream home is an exciting milestone in anyone’s life, but it’s also a decision that requires careful consideration. There are plenty of factors to weigh before making such a significant investment, including costs, location, and the home’s condition. Here are five key considerations for home buyers to keep in […]
NEW YORK – Real estate experts from around the world held a virtual seminar on Wednesday to discuss how to mitigate the impact of expanded work-from-home opportunities created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Volcker Alliance, a nonprofit think tank started in 2013 by former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul A, Volcker, hosted the event […]
News & Media NEW YORK – Conventional mortgage loans are one of the most popular options for financing a home, accounting for 77% of all mortgage loans issued in 2022, according to government data. Data show that Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans accounted for 14% of loans and U.S. Department of Agriculture and Veterans […]
MIAMI – After starting a career in engineering in Boynton Beach, Florida, Moisey Abdurakhmanov was renting a home with friends when he decided he wanted his own place. “I realized I was basically paying somebody else’s mortgage every month,” he recalls. So when the lease was up, he moved back home with his parents, […]
WASHINGTON – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) launched a public inquiry into mortgage “junk fees” to “understand why closing costs are increasing, who is benefiting and how costs for borrowers and lenders could be lowered.” The CFPB said the closing costs borrowers pay in connection with a mortgage have risen steeply in recent […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — With a potentially volatile hurricane season ready to start, the AM Best financial-rating agency released a report Thursday that said Florida’s property insurance market is showing signs of improvement — but that time will tell. The report said AM Best is “cautiously optimistic” about the Florida market, in part because of […]
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Question: We are in the process of purchasing an apartment. Our closing attorney received the report from the condominium association showing the monthly dues were current, and we were surprised to learn that a special assessment was pending because the sellers told us that none were. The contract also says […]
WASHINGTON – Nearly 90% of home buyers and sellers say they’d recommend their real estate agent, according to National Association of Realtors® data. Unfortunately, many never do it because they forget their agent’s name, says Shay Hata, team lead of The Buy Sell Love Chicago Team at BHHS Chicago. The reason? Instead of post-transaction […]
News & Media By Rachel Tucker TAMPA, Fla. — Florida’s annual Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday gives residents some relief as they get their storm kits together. On June 1, the first day of a projected very active Atlantic hurricane season, certain items like generators, batteries and pet supplies will be available for purchase […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law this week two bills that put new regulations on homeowners’ associations and one that requires residential property sellers to disclose flooding. HB 1049 — Flood Disclosure in the Sale of Real Property House Bill 1049 requires residential property sellers […]
ORLANDO, Fla. – Dear Shannon: I’m a licensed appraiser and also a commercial real estate broker. I was hired by a local commercial lender to do an appraisal on a 24-unit apartment building. The owner was contemplating a possible refinance to take advantage of a bit of equity on the place and had no […]