Florida Realtors® News
- Fed president: Good chance for no 2019 rate hikes February 20, 2019While most experts predict 1-2 Fed interest rate hikes this year, one Fed president says there might not be any at all if her economic predictions are correct.
- Study: What do home inspectors usually find? February 20, 2019An analysis of 50K home inspections finds "doors need adjusting" tops the list (estimated repair cost $254), though no top-10 defect costs more than $545 to repair. The most common expensive defect? Bad window seals ($1,008 to fix) in 20.8% of homes.
- NAHB: Headwinds to limit single-family gains in 2019 February 20, 2019Builders say they can't keep up with demand due to a lack of workers and buildable lots, onerous regulations, lumber tariffs and slow growth in loan activity.
- Fearful of scams, 51% of owners lost money not refinancing February 20, 2019Study: When mortgage rates dropped to all-time lows, many homeowners failed to refinance because they thought lower-payment ads sounded too good to be true.
- Florida Realtors: Scholarship deadline is March 4 February 20, 2019Florida Realtors Education Foundation Student Scholarships offer $1K or more to residents who plan to attend college full-time in the 2019-2020 academic year. Apply now.
- NAHB: Multifamily will start leveling off this year February 20, 2019Builders say multifamily starts last year came close to the sector's peak in 2015 – but they predict that stabilization in a range "considered normal" this year.
- Will a U.S. space program return to Florida? February 20, 2019A presidential directive will create a new "Space Force," and Gov. DeSantis says a Fla.-based "space combatant command" makes "a lot of strategic sense."
- New homes: Builders see spike in optimistic buyers February 19, 2019Lower interest rates and rising consumer confidence makes builders happy. This month's NAHB index reflects a 4-point spike in builder confidence.
- Are you picking the wrong money goals? February 19, 2019It's easy to say, "I want to sell 50 homes," but few people have only one goal, and a laser-focus on one impacts others. While "setting goals" sounds like the easy part of a total business plan, many people don't do it correctly.
- 3 outside-the-box ways to help homebuyers succeed February 19, 2019First-time buyers frustrated with a tight inventory of lower-priced homes? They have options if willing to consider less-common buying techniques.