NEWS
A program that fights money laundering by banning anonymity for buyers in three S. Fla. counties was renewed and extended to metros in five more states.
A new digital marketing program, Local Expert, posts ads for agents or listings in places likely candidates tend to look, such as their Facebook news feed.
The 30-year FRM didn't change this week and remains at an almost 8-year high, though the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rose from last week's 4.33% to 4.36%.
Your texting broker may not be your broker. Someone is spoofing brokers' cell numbers so female agents who receive a text requesting a meeting think it's safe.
ConnectNow offers a geo-connected version of the Realtor pin that's also a panic button Realtors can use if they encounter trouble.
Agents give RentSpree a prospect tenant's email address and receive a completed rental application and tenant screening in return – request a free demo. https://floridarealtors.rentspree.com
The National Flood Insurance program expires again Nov. 30. According to NAR, about 1,300 home sales could be disrupted every day if so – 40,000 sales each month.
Many Panhandle Realtors, brokers and staff must rebuild lives, offices and homes. If you need help, ask for it. Apply today to Florida Realtors Disaster Relief Fund. (Link underlined to https://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/DisasterReliefFund/
The Platinum Global Achievement Program Award recognizes Florida Realtors' "exceptional commitment to building awareness of global opportunities."
Patent trolls buy a technology patent and then demand money from any company using software that seems to include that tech tool. But a troll lost its patent infringement case against realtor.com this week after the Supreme Court opted not to hear it.
A decade ago, homebuyers kept an eye on mortgage rates but feared waiting to buy, knowing that home prices would continue to go up. Some millennials that saw recession-era price drops, however, may be choosing a wait-and-see tactic.
Millennials still show a preference for conventional loans. In Sept., 68% of all loans were conventional; 27% FHA and 2% VA, reports Ellie Mae, which says the industry should "educate these buyers on the options... available to them."
Harvard report: Adults older than 50 own 50% of all U.S. homes, and many aren't financially ready to retire with inadequate savings after the recent recession. Many may be forced to sell, especially if they carry a mortgage and unexpected bills come in.
Criminals like real estate because many individual members have fairly insecure internet connections and, in some routers, easily hacked weaknesses.
Wall St. seems to expect a Dec. interest rate increase but fewer in 2019 as inflation and employment growth slows, plus tax-reform boosts seem to be stalling.
The GSEs went under government control during the recession, and while most experts agree that it must change, little has been done yet to fix the problem.
USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union scored highest but weren't included in rankings, which were topped by Quicken Loans and Fairway Independent Mortgage.
Many Realtors use iPad pros for their listing presentations, and Apple just released a "major" update. Is it worth investing in the latest version?
A fixer-upper also allows buyers to get the colors and styles they want, but proper planning before starting can save thousands of dollars and lots of stress.
Commercial is "on pace with the growing economy." There's "a slight decrease in transactions," but brokers cited improved markets and business activities.
There are ways to lower your 2018 tax bill, but a number of options must be completed by Dec. 31, giving you six weeks to do so.
A buyer who keys in "waterfront condos in Sarasota" will find you if you specialize. Also use keywords correctly and make blog entries cross-link to other pages.
According to the report, FHA's Capital Reserve Ratio remains above the minimum required by law – a problem spot when the nation was recovering from the recession.
The Fla.-owned insurer says the 3,189 claims filed so far ($142M in losses) will not impact its financial stability, and it has "ample surplus to pay claims."
It's still best to own a home mortgage-free in retirement since interest is rarely deductible and fixed incomes don't grow – but it's not always possible.
A 58K-square-foot Hillsboro Beach home was sold to the highest bidder last week. It's the latest example of an emerging trend: Auction sales for high-end homes.