News & Media By Melissa Dittmann Tracey WASHINGTON – More homes are for sale, yet home buyers don’t appear to be in a rush. Pending home sales fell 2.1% in May and are down nearly 7% from a year ago when home choices were much slimmer, according to the National Association of Realtors®’ newly […]
LOS ANGELES – Homebuilders who bucked the worst of last year’s housing slump may be seeing their luck run out. After showing signs of strengthening early this year, sales of new U.S. homes fell in April and May from a year earlier by 7.7% and 16.5%, respectively. Last month’s sales skidded to a seasonally […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Dozens of new laws passed during the most recent legislative session and approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis go into effect today, impacting homeowners across the state. They cover a wide range of issues, many championed by Florida Realtors® as a legislative priority. Additionally, a bill […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Homeowners insurance premium growth in Florida has slowed since the state implemented legal system abuse reforms in 2022, according to a Triple-I analysis. As shown in the chart below, average annual premiums climbed sharply after 2020. This was due in part to inflation spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war […]
WASHINGTON – Under practice changes that will take effect Aug. 17, real estate professionals will no longer be able to communicate offers of compensation in the MLS. However, offers of compensation will continue to be an option consumers can pursue off-MLS through negotiation and consultation with their real estate professionals. MLS policies have been […]
ORLANDO, Fla. – Dear Shannon: I’m a listing broker, and my website drives most of my business. My website is where I display my own listings and where I feature the listings of other brokers. I’m very careful not to present a misleading picture in my advertising, and that’s why I make sure to […]
ORLANDO, Fla. – What’s a defined term? While it’s always possible to look up a definition in a dictionary, it’s also possible to give a word a unique definition that applies only within the confines of a specific contract. Contract drafters usually identify a defined term by capitalizing an otherwise commonly used word to […]
News & Media By Gary M. Singer FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Question: Two years ago, we filled out the appropriate form with paint samples for the house, trim, and a new roof and submitted it to our community association, which the board approved. Recently, the new board president sent us a letter telling us […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the veto of SB 280 – Vacation Rentals late Thursday. The veto, which was a priority of Florida Realtors® since the close of the 2024 session, protects the property rights of owners who wish to rent their homes on a short-term basis, safeguards Florida’s economy and ensures […]
CHICAGO – Home designs are becoming a mishmash of many styles. On one end, there’s calming, Zen-like retreats in softer color palettes, while on the other end, it’s all about dark and moody colors that are bold and memorable. Home remodeling site Houzz identified the top emerging home design trends seeing an uptick in […]
WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve will likely leave interest rates steady “for some time” in a bid to help corral “elevated” inflation in the U.S., Fed Governor Michelle Bowman said on Tuesday, adding that she does not expect the central bank to cut borrowing costs in 2024. At its most recent gathering earlier this […]
News & Media NEW YORK – Real-estate professionals who use YouTube can reach out to new audiences through unpaid and paid methods, but they must keep in mind that the venue is best suited to markets with longer sales cycles. Consider the following suggestions from YouTube pros: Short video content should contain the home […]