NEW YORK – In an era defined by skyrocketing housing prices and innovative financial strategies, a surprising trend is emerging: the use of gift cards as a means to navigate the landscape of homeownership. Traditionally reserved for birthdays and holidays, gift cards are now finding a new role as unconventional tools to help save […]
WASHINGTON – New single-family home construction and permits fell in March on higher-than-expected interest rates and stubborn inflation readings, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. Builders have also been stymied by higher supply-side costs and tighter lending conditions, the National Association of […]
WASHINGTON – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac said Monday they will not count buyer agent commissions as part of allowable interested party contributions (IPCs). The government-sponsored agencies (GSEs) said their guidance was not an update to their selling guidelines but a clarification to the treatment of seller-paid real estate agent fees. “Buyer agent fees […]
News & Media MIAMI – A nationwide Coldwell Banker Realty consumer survey found 56% of consumers prioritize price and 50% prioritize location when searching for a new home. Sixty percent of women prioritize price compared to 48% of men. Fifty-six percent of consumers also believe the real estate market will remain stable or improve […]
News & Media ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Division of Consumer Services finalized its rules that prohibit certain foreign principals from owning, having a controlling interest in or acquiring more than a de minimis indirect interest in Florida land classified as agricultural by the property appraiser for tax […]
NEW YORK — In recent years, home sellers have experienced record profits as the value of real estate has risen dramatically. Bankrate indicates the median home price across the United States is around $486,000. Flipping homes gained popularity prior to the spike in real estate prices, but that increase has led some novices to […]
WASHINGTON – Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes remained unchanged in April from the previous month when it hit its highest level since July 2023, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The builder confidence index remains at 51, breaking a four-month period […]
LOS ANGELES — Shop for a home now or hold out for the possibility of lower mortgage rates? That question is confronting many home shoppers this spring homebuying season. Lower rates give home shoppers more financial breathing room, so holding out for a more attractive rate can make a big difference, especially for first-time […]
News & Media TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Business owners will see an earlier-than-anticipated reduction to the state’s lease tax, beginning in June rather than July, state leaders said. Florida’s commercial lease sales tax rate, also known as the Business Rent Tax, will be reduced from 4.5% to 2.0%, providing Florida employers with at least an […]
NEW YORK — Business owners are diligent in strapping their companies with protection from potential hazards. Before developing your next emergency evacuation plan for a flood, consider what financial obligations you need to sort out first. There are many ways to financially prepare your business for a flood, and taking advantage of this list […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly CHICAGO – Realtor® Magazine, the magazine of the National Association of Realtors®, announced a 16-page digital supplement with valuable resources that help separate facts from fiction about the proposed $418 million settlement agreement to the Sitzer-Burnett verdict. The content debunks myths and helps explain the importance of a […]
MIAMI – If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, your payments will always stay the same, right? Wrong. Maybe you’ve heard the term PITI, which stands for the main components of a typical mortgage payment: principal, interest, taxes and insurance. And while the “P” and the first “I” won’t increase in a fixed-rate loan, the […]