Sales are down compared to a year ago, but the median sales price is still way up from 2021. Inventory has climbed dramatically since this year’s low in February. Sales have declined 17% to 3,324 compared to 3,999 a year earlier. Prices are up 18% over the same time period, rising from $320,000 to $377,750 […more]
Of 100 metros tracked by government-backed mortgages, 8 Fla. cities hold top-11 spots, with Sarasota-Bradenton (up 36.5%) and Cape Coral-Fort Myers (36.0%) at the top. WASHINGTON – It’s hard to underestimate the strength of Florida’s current home price increases in the second quarter of 2022 based on the Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index […more]
When you’re preparing to list your home for sale, there are a few simple steps you can take to make it as appealing as possible to potential buyers. First, you should clean your home thoroughly and take professional photographs. Second, remove any extra furniture or personal touches. This will help potential buyers imagine themselves living […more]
Mortgage bankers say a mortgage payment in the second quarter was 1.5 times higher than asking rent – but rents keep rising and buying locks in financial certainty. NEW YORK – The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that the median monthly mortgage payment was almost 1.5 times as much as the median monthly asking rent […more]
Do-it-yourselfers and remodelers now have their own sales-tax free Fla. holiday. From Sept. 2 to Sept. 9, there’s no state sales tax on tools, work gloves, etc. Florida’s first “tool time” sales-tax holiday on tools and other home-repair and construction items will kick off during the Labor Day weekend. The seven-day holiday, part of a wide-ranging […more]
As smart homes become more common, some homeowners are going beyond basics like smart bulbs and assistant hubs like Google Home and Amazon Echo. This can take a number of forms, from the addition of smart electronics and security systems to sensors throughout the house that can recognize when people walk into rooms and adjust […more]
Miami is slated to get almost 20K new apartments this year as multifamily construction cranks up. Also on the top 20 list for newly built units: Orlando and Tampa. NEW YORK – According to RentCafe, U.S. apartment construction is at a 50-year high, and new units debuting this year may offer some relief to tenants struggling […more]
If you have not shopped around for your homeowner’s insurance for a while, now may be the time to do so. Many insurers tend to raise their rates at renewal time, usually because of inflation or changes in the value of your home. By re-shopping your policy now, you’ll get a better deal on your […more]
Renovating your home is no small investment. Making structural changes can require changes in your home’s insurance policy as well. Check out this list of the most popular improvements before calling your agent: A new roof could lower your premium, especially when upgraded to the latest standards of protecting your home from natural disasters. Whenever […more]
The Orlando real estate market is shifting. Higher interest rates are having a significant impact on purchasing power. Buyers that were qualified to purchase a $500,000 home, may only qualify for $400,000 now. This drop in purchasing power has fueled a sharp decrease in sales, leading to a dramatic increase in inventory. In fact, sales […more]