Realtors Net 13.5 Tons of Trash, Oddities
Nearly 1,200 Florida Realtors members and volunteers removed 13.5 tons of trash from 218 miles of waterways in July, finding items from a walker to a bottle of sake.
Homebuyer Optimism Increases in July
Housing sentiment inched up as Fannie Mae’s index rose to 71.8. Job loss fears fell, home price and mortgage rate outlooks improved, but buying conditions declined.
Hispanic Buyers Driving U.S. Homeownership Growth
Hispanic buyers make up over one-third of U.S. homeownership growth, with rising incomes, strong buying power and growing market influence.
2 in 3 Gen Z Fear They’ll Never Afford a Home
Two-thirds (66%) of Gen Z are more concerned about housing security than a year ago, and nearly 1 in 3 (30%) have considered squatting or living in their car.
Turning Green Into Gold With Lawn Care
A beautiful lawn can add serious value to your home, increasing your home’s price by 5%. Landscaping improvements often offer 100% or more ROI.
New Construction Price Premium Hits All-Time Low
Newly built homes are more plentiful nationwide and a better value on a per-square foot basis, particularly in the South, Realtor.com said.
Mortgage Rates at Lowest Level in Months
Rates on 30-year mortgages fell to 6.63%, the lowest since April, from 6.72% last week, while 15-year rates dropped to 5.75% from 5.85%.
Coastal Living Tied to Longer Life
New research shows people living within 30 miles of the ocean or gulf tend to live longer. Florida has the longest coastline in the continental U.S.
Hurricane Forecasts Hold Steady
Experts still expect a busier-than-usual hurricane season, though they’re less certain about the outlook. Warm ocean waters could lead to more storms ahead.
NAR Joins America’s Housing Comeback Initiative
The initiative promotes local policy solutions, infrastructure upgrades and partnerships to tackle housing supply and affordability challenges nationwide.