Bathrooms Over Countertops? COVID-19 Changed Home Listings
Listing agents prioritize descriptions that appeal to the most sellers, and a new analysis found bathrooms (privacy), garages and big closets (space) top today’s lists.
Owners with Non-Traditional Mortgages Get Federal Aid too
$10 billion worth of federal aid can be used by homeowners with all types of mortgages, including mobile home loans and even seniors with reverse mortgages.
How to Chop Remodeling Costs When Wood Prices Are High?
A $2K home repair in 2019 might cost $4K today, as homeowners struggle to find money-saving alternatives. Supply prices should eventually go down – but not right away.
Condo Q&A: Can We Replace a Disappointing Contractor?
Fla. doesn’t have a boilerplate construction contract, and HOAs can assume that a contract written by the outside contractor likely favors the firm over the HOA.
NAR: Drones, Cybersecurity Are Real Estate’s Top Emerging Technologies
The 2021 Technology Survey listed drones (37%) and cybersecurity (34%) as top trends, with 5G connections (31%) and virtual reality (30%) close behind. Top current tech tools include eSignature (78%), MLS apps (54%), social media (53%), lockboxes (48%) and video conferencing (39%).
NY Real Estate Giant Mandates Vaccines for Employees
At least one large brokerage has joined other big groups, such as Disney and the federal government, in making COVID vaccines a requirement for employment.
Biden Extends Eviction Ban for 60 Days
The Biden Administration announced a 60-day eviction ban extension. The new order is more limited than the old ban – it covers COVID hot spots only – but that still includes an estimated 90% of U.S. renters and seemingly all of Fla., which has seen rising numbers of cases in the past few weeks.
No New Onslaught of Eviction Cases Filed on Monday
The eviction ban ended last weekend, but S. Fla. courts saw less movement on Monday than they expected. Lawyers think some landlords might be holding off to make sure there isn’t another extension, and federal stimulus payments and rent aid have helped some at-risk families.
Home Sellers’ Profits – ROI – Take Surprising Turn
In 2Q 2021, home sellers’ average profit was up over the previous two quarters, but the profit margin (return on investment compared to original purchase) dropped a bit.
Sales of $1M-Plus Homes Soar
Some Americans did well during the pandemic, boosting demand for luxury housing – a segment that doesn’t face the same supply shortages as lower-priced homes.