Florida Realtors® News

Citizens revamp bill passes Fla. House

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:21:52 +0500

Fla. Legislature: Lawmakers this week debated faster foreclosures for abandoned homes, lower tangible property taxes.

NAR: Commercial real estate vacancy rates improving, rents firming

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:29:23 +0500

Vacancy rates improving, rents firming and all major commercial real estate sectors see improved fundamentals.

Media campaign fights housing discrimination

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:18:05 +0500

HUD and NFHA roll out radio and print ads describing illegal actions that violate the Fair Housing Act.

FHFA House Price Index rises 1% in Nov.

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:23:14 +0500

Fed index that tracks same-house prices over time rose 1% from Oct. to Nov., and down only 1.8% compared to Nov. 2010.

NAR: Existing-home sales rise again in January, inventory down

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:43:31 +0500

Fla. housing market upbeat in Jan. 2012

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:46:45 +0500

Sales prices rose 5.3% for single family, 18.8% for condos, and inventory declined. NAR reports 4.3% sales increase.

Biggest U.S. mortgage lenders

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:05:47 +0500

MortgageDaily.com: In 4Q 2011, Wells Fargo ranked No. 1; Bank of America fell the most; U.S. Bancorp grew the fastest.

Six questions to ask when shopping for homeowners insurance

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:08:54 +0500

Homeowners need coverage, but how much? They should first collect some basic home info and then ask the right questions.

Housing affordability reaches record level

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:32:06 +0500

Homeownership is a relative bargain, but tight credit requirements deter buyers: Lakeland-Winter Haven No. 2 nationally.

Florida economy gained momentum in 2011

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:21:21 +0500

BMO: State doing better with lower unemployment, more construction and residents - but growth still slowed by housing.

Avatar Holdings becomes AV Homes

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:22:17 +0500

A Central Florida builder is changing its name to avoid comparisons to the blockbuster movie that overshadows it.

Reminder: 3.8% tax is not a transfer tax on real estate

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:25:20 +0500

NAR: A bizarre Internet rumor surfaced again, but it's not true: There is no real estate transfer tax starting in 2013.

Fed review for robo-signing extended

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:06:36 +0500

Ex-homeowners can submit their 2009-2010 foreclosure for federal review if done by one of 27 participating lenders.

NAR to Administration: Don't harm housing

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:24:21 +0500

Budget proposal has a cap on IRS mortgage interest deductions and impacts capital gains on some real estate investments.

Florida: Balmy breezes, sunsets and romance

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:28:37 +0500

In honor of Valentine's Day, Amazon listed the U.S.'s top 20 romantic cities, and Fla. has more than any other state.

HUD gives Fla. $49.6M for affordable housing

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:26:32 +0500

Nationwide, HUD granted a total of almost $1.8 billion, with the top amount, $321.5 million, going to New York.

Foreclosure settlement: Fla. to get $8.4 billion

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:54:39 +0500

About $170M for foreclosure victims, rest for underwater owners; will take up to 9 months to identify beneficiaries.

HUD: $7.5 million to fight housing discrimination

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:00:38 +0500

Only two Fla. enforcement groups received funds: Jacksonville and Broward County will split about $100,000.

Florida's existing home, condo sales up in 4Q 2011

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:16:39 +0500

Existing home sales rose 7%, condo sales 4%. Home prices down 1%, condos 4%. NAR: sales up 5.9%, prices down 4.2%.

SBA 504 loans hit record low interest rate for February

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:23:50 +0500

Interest rates for commercial investment or upgrades estimated at 4.7% or 3.81% for 10-year loans.

Realtor University Approved for Master of Real Estate degree program

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:31:17 +0500

The Master of Real Estate degree, available online, includes five areas of concentration. First course starts Feb. 27.

Trulia: 1 in 3 home searches cross state lines

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:26:54 +0500

Trulia analyzed users' locations and where they searched for a home. Of the top 10 desired locations, seven are in Fla.

Fannie Mae expands online offers for HomePath properties

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:28:47 +0500

An Orlando-area pilot program goes national. Realtors now submit offers online and track status through HomePath.com.

Aid for military families facing foreclosure

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:45:28 +0500

Hope Now, a private lender alliance, will start to focus on military families at risk of foreclosure.

NAHB: Nearly 100 house markets improving

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:04:56 +0500

Seven Fla. metro areas have shown consistent improvement for at least six months, with Miami new entrant on latest list.

Survey: Apartment industry continues recovery

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:07:06 +0500

Survey: Multi-family market continues upswing as developers play catch-up to growing consumer demand for rental housing.

Short sale sellers need to close in 2012

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:14:53 +0500

If lawmakers don't extend break and a bank nixes $100K in short sale debt, it could cost a taxpayer in 25% bracket $25K.

Baby boomers geared up to move

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:40:46 +0500

Mason-Dixon: Up to 1/3 of soon-to-be retirees could move out of state, with 18% of those to Fla.'s warm climate.

Florida Realtors to launch new data system soon

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:41:52 +0500

Jan. 2012 report to launch new housing market data system; includes only statewide numbers and not Realtor sales by MSA.

CoreLogic releases 2011 home price stats

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:44:08 +0500

Fla. better than nation overall with a 3.3% price drop compared to 4.7%; prices down only 0.9% without distressed sales.

VA loans have lowest delinquency rate

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:50:33 +0500

In its year-end report, VA says it backed 14% more loans last year; at the same time, its foreclosure rate dropped 28%.

UF: Fla. consumer confidence surges upward in January

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:56:05 +0500

U.S. consumers may be a tad gloomier, but Floridians' outlook surged 7 points; economic expectations rose 14 points.

Obama details broader housing refinance plan

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:57:46 +0500

NAR-supported plan faces uphill battle; but, if passed, could help underwater owners refinance at lower interest rates.

EEM mortgage rewards energy efficiency

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:56:27 +0500

If a home conserves energy, a buyer can qualify for a higher mortgage because it stretches the debt-to-income ratios.

HUD: Sexual identity a protected class

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:58:11 +0500

Starting in March, all HUD-run programs will ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, including FHA mortgages.

Consumer Confidence Index decreases slightly

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:59:16 +0500

The Conference Board says American's confidence rose in Dec., but it dropped back to Nov. levels in this month's survey.

St. Joe Company has new real estate strategy

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:01:01 +0500

It will cut back on current developments, including amenities, and possibly sell inventory at lower prices or in bulk.

NAR's Confidence Index shows upswing

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:03:06 +0500

Each month, Realtors' market outlook improves, says NAR. In Dec., the index was 31.6 compared to 24.5 one year earlier.

HUD: Can't use 'lead paint' to discriminate

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:35:54 +0500

A Mass. apartment owner didn't certify her units as lead paint free and used that to turn down families with children.

2011's foreclosures lowest in four years

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:43:06 +0500

RealtyTrac: Fla. seventh in number of owners facing foreclosure - 1 in 49 homes; process now takes 806 days to complete.

Fla. No. 5 nationally as 'best for business'

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:49:11 +0500

Tax Foundation: State ranks high for its business-friendly low tax burden in annual study based on dozens of provisions.

High downpayments: More harm than good?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:41:36 +0500

UNC study: A QRM rule that mandates a 20% downpayment would push 61% of creditworthy borrowers out of the market.

Pending home sales decline in Dec.; above year ago

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:42:34 +0500

Slight 3.5% monthly decline follows two strongest months of contract signings since the homebuyer tax credit expired.

Real estate agents opting for mobile office

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:04:00 +0500

In today's fast-pace world, consumers want fast responses, and agents need mobile offices to retain and attract clients.

Citizens backs off pricey replacement costs

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:35:57 +0500

In a win for Florida Realtors and state homeowners, insurer won't base costs exclusively on a single appraisal source.

FHA to limit seller help at closing

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:37:14 +0500

Tighter rules were announced for FHA lenders; new rules that lower the amount sellers can pay at closing are expected.

Casting call for HGTV' 'House Hunters'

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:43:34 +0500

Want 15 minutes of fame and national marketing? HGTV show auditions require three-minute videos and willing buyers.

Florida's housing sales activity higher as 2011 ends

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:46:09 +0500

Home sales rose 8%, condos 15% in 2011. Fla. home, condo Dec. median price up 1%, 4% respectively. National sales up 5%.

NAR: Dec. existing home sales show uptrend

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:47:38 +0500

Florida Legislature advances Realtor issues

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:08:33 +0500

Committees approved septic tank inspection changes, competitive property insurance rules and new homestead exemptions.