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A Dab of Halloween Can Boost Social Media Posts

Realtor News - Wed, 10/20/2021 - 04:10
Halloween topics, like trick-or-treating safety tips, can boost posts but even a consistent fall theme can increase engagement and create a feeling of mutual celebration.

U.S. News & World Report: Fla. Has 8 of Top 10 ‘Best Retirement’ Metros

Realtor News - Wed, 10/20/2021 - 04:10
The magazine’s 2021 list ranks Fla. metros in the top four spots– Sarasota, Naples, Daytona Beach and Melbourne – but 7 other Fla. metros also made it into the top 20.

Sept. Single-Family Starts Flat – but Up So Far This Year

Realtor News - Tue, 10/19/2021 - 04:10
Starts dropped 1.6% overall, but single-family changed little with multifamily down 5%. Year-to-date, however, single-family starts are up 20.5% compared to last year.

First Street Outlines Flood Risk for Every U.S. Metro

Realtor News - Tue, 10/19/2021 - 04:10
The company that created realtor.com’s flood risk tab released a report by city and county. Fla. and Louisiana are top-risk states – but so are Kentucky and W. Virginia.

Vacation-Owners: The IRS Needs to Know Where You Live

Realtor News - Tue, 10/19/2021 - 04:10
Under U.S. tax law, payers can have only one official residence, and lockdowns may have changed the state a vacation owner calls “home.” But it’s also not that simple.

Remember QR Codes? They’re Back and Better

Realtor News - Tue, 10/19/2021 - 04:10
Most new phones make it easy for users to snap and go. A QR code on a for-sale sign, for example, can help pedestrians quickly secure listing info and the agent’s bio.

Zillow Puts Its iBuyer Program on Hiatus Until 2022

Realtor News - Tue, 10/19/2021 - 04:10
An iBuyer program can help homeowners willing to take a slightly lower price in exchange for a quick and easy sale. But sellers aren’t willing to come down too much, and Zillow may not have enough resources under current market conditions to essentially be a large-scale home flipper.

Cryptocurrency Uncertainty Leads Lender to Nix Pilot Program

Realtor News - Tue, 10/19/2021 - 04:10
United Wholesale Mortgage, the U.S.’s second-largest lender, decided it won’t be the first to accept bitcoin, citing its incremental costs and regulatory uncertainty.

NAR Research: Student Loan Debt Makes Home Buying Difficult

Realtor News - Mon, 10/18/2021 - 05:10
How much does student-loan debt impact buyers? A three-year NAR study calls for reform, noting that millennials are “drowning in student loan debt.”

Fannie Mae Changes Homeowner Education Requirements

Realtor News - Mon, 10/18/2021 - 04:10
Starting in 2022, homeowners with an affordable loan backed by Fannie Mae can fulfill the education requirement using a qualified third-party vendor.

Another Reason to Move to Fla.? Home Heating Prices

Realtor News - Mon, 10/18/2021 - 04:10
The usual move-to-Fla. reasons – sun, beaches and no income tax – omit one item: home-heating costs. A harsh NE winter this year could push natural gas prices 50% higher.

FHA- and VA-Loan Buyers Struggle to Compete for Homes

Realtor News - Mon, 10/18/2021 - 04:10
FHA, VA and other government-backed loans are often favored by first-time and low-income buyers. But in bidding wars, cash offers or conventional financing seem less problematic to sellers. As a result, low-income buyers face yet another hurdle if they hope to become owners.

New-Home Builders Doing Great Despite Challenges

Realtor News - Mon, 10/18/2021 - 04:10
The Oct. builder sentiment index rose 4 points higher to 80. Any 50-plus score indicates optimism, so today’s hot market still overshadows supply-chain worries.

Real Estate Analytics: Unlocking Value in Commercial Real Estate

Realtor News - Mon, 10/18/2021 - 04:10
Commercial brokers have always crunched data to make sure an investment makes financial sense. But high-tech analytics can take that analysis to a new level.

Commercial Real Estate: Opportunities and Challenges Abound

Realtor News - Fri, 10/15/2021 - 03:10
Florida Realtors economist: Real estate’s residential side has been on fire since summer 2020. How has the commercial side fared? It’s hot – and it’s not. It depends on where you look. The delta variant of COVID-19 slowed the office market even as it relit a fire under other commercial sectors.

Report: Fla. Closing Costs Are 2.32% of Home Price

Realtor News - Fri, 10/15/2021 - 03:10
In the U.S., closing costs, including taxes, were up 10.5% year-to-year, and almost $7K for an average price home. In Fla. it’s a bit higher: $8.5K for the average home.

Fla.-Owned Insurer’s CEO Cites ‘Sea of Red Ink’

Realtor News - Fri, 10/15/2021 - 03:10
The head of Citizens Property Insurance calls losses among all state insurers “absolutely staggering.” He blames the marketplace itself, saying it impacts every company.

White House Targets Economic Risks from Climate Change

Realtor News - Fri, 10/15/2021 - 02:10
A new 40-page report takes a broad view on steps being taken to mitigate risks, including possible HUD and VA buyer disclosures on flood and climate-related threats.

U.S. Funding More Multifamily in 2022 – 50% Must be Affordable

Realtor News - Fri, 10/15/2021 - 02:10
The U.S. will increase loan caps for multifamily housing by 11.4% next year, and 50% of the $156B total ($140B this year) must go to “mission-driven affordable housing.”

How Many Offers Did the Typical 2021 Buyer Make? Two

Realtor News - Fri, 10/15/2021 - 02:10
While stories about multiple offers and foregone inspections are pervasive, a study found that most buyers won by their second bid and 88% had a home inspection.
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