Florida Realtors® News
- Scott vetoes condo sprinkler bill; cites London fire June 27, 2017The bill eased fire sprinkler mandates in Fla. condos and had almost unanimous support in the Legislature. But the London high-rise fire that killed 79 people "illustrates the importance of life safety protections," the governor said in his veto.
- NAHB: Lumber tariffs will increase cost of new homes June 27, 2017Proposed tariffs on Canadian lumber are "another tax" on builders and buyers, NAHB says, adding that the two proposals could cost "a whopping 27%" more.
- U.S. consumer confidence rose a bit in June June 27, 2017Overall, consumers have a rosier picture of their situation today (up 5.7 index points), but they're a bit less optimistic about the future (down 1.7 points).
- Fed court upholds photo copyright charge against Zillow June 26, 2017Using photos that you found on the Internet? Don't. A second court upheld a copyright charge last week against Zillow, though it lowered damages to $4M.
- Florida homestead law a 'debtor's haven'? Not always June 26, 2017In Fla., courts cannot seize a homesteaded property to pay judgments, making real estate attractive to out-of-staters who want to shield their assets. However, a court ruled that they must actually make an effort to live here.
- Survey: More lenders expected to ease credit standards June 26, 2017According to Fannie Mae's 2Q survey, more mortgage lenders say they've eased credit standards recently, and they expect further easing in the coming months.
- Self-driving cars will influence real estate demand June 26, 2017Just as some buyers want a smart home, many will want a smart city. Metros that adapt quickly to the technology could attract more residents and high-paying jobs.
- Rick Scott signs bill updating state building code June 26, 2017Fla. will no longer automatically update its building code using International Code Council standards as a baseline.
- Hey buyers: Securing a mortgage takes longer than you think June 23, 2017The mortgage process is complex. In addition to filling out a form, it requires documentation, third-party verifications and an independent appraisal process.
- Homeowners like Airbnb renting – but not if neighbors do it June 23, 2017A pair of dueling polls found that homeowners like to rent a home through Airbnb when they travel – but they don't want Airbnb renters in their neighborhood.