Realtor News

Americans felt less confident in Aug. When the pandemic resurged, the confidence index fell to its lowest level since Feb – but it’s too soon to draw long-term conclusions.

In today’s hot market, buyers want to make their offer more appealing, and some consider the addition of “appraisal gap” language. But that can create unexpected problems – and it’s not one of the core elements included in Florida Realtors’ contracts.

A buyer insists on seeing the Seller’s Property Disclosure. Equally adamant, the seller refuses to fill one out. What happens next? The buyer’s Realtor calls Florida Realtors Legal Hotline to find out what they can – and cannot – demand.

Many times, buyers or sellers want to add specific language to their contracts that adds terms or changes the pre-printed language. While this may be doable sometimes, agents should use caution depending on the context of the changes.

UF: The Aug. index gauging Floridians’ attitudes fell 4.7 points, thanks in part to COVID-19. Still, it’s less than half the 10.9-point drop in a similar national study.

The Board of Directors met on the last day of the convention and confirmed Florida Realtors’ 2022 officers. Christina Pappas is 2022 president and Mike McGraw president-elect, with Gia Arvin confirmed as vice president, Tim Weisheyer as treasurer and Chuck Bonfiglio Jr. as secretary.

Americans felt less confident in Aug. When the pandemic resurged, the confidence index fell to its lowest level since Feb – but it’s too soon to draw long-term conclusions.

While housing price gains may be starting to slow, Case-Shiller’s June report found a year-to-year increase of almost 20%. One Case-Shiller analyst called the past few months “extraordinary not only in the level of price gains but in the consistency of gains across the country.”

The technology to visit, bid and close on homes existed pre-pandemic, and iBuyers now rely on it for more acquisitions – but it’s unclear how successful they’ll be.

Year-to-year contract signings declined 8.5%. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun says the market may be cooling a bit, but there’s still not enough supply to match demand – yet “inventory is slowly increasing” and buyers should “see more options in the coming months.”

Information should be hyper-local. Post about an upcoming event and include details. If attending, take video and post it – or spotlight local businesses.

Many renters didn’t take eviction seriously in the shadow of eviction-ban extensions. Some experts now expect a deluge, while others think it will be more of a trickle.

Many millennials saved a partial down payment and could visualize being a homeowner until rising rents and surging home prices kicked the ball farther away.

HUD, the Treasury and the U.S. Attorney General sent a letter to local and state governments, asking them to work with the courts and even consider a local eviction ban.

Larger condo units pay higher dues each month, but the board’s records show that one unit is bigger than it really is. How can the unit owner correct it?

An investigation found lenders still strongly favor white borrowers, but it raised a new question: What if a lender isn’t biased but its data, notably credit scores, is?

The all-time high cost of $1,700 for a thousand board feet has dropped to $500, but steel products are up 10.8% and gypsum (for drywall) is up almost 16% this year.

Buyers stressed by bidding wars and limited listings are often worn thin, and unprepared to handle the roster of “normal” things that can threaten to upend a transaction.

Neat Loans says COVID-19 created a new health risk for borrowers, and the credit is one way to lessen the chance that one of its loans will go into foreclosure.

The overheated market may be slowly cooling. Even if July numbers just reflect the usual summer slowdown, it could mean traditional patterns are starting to return.