Fla. Continues to Struggle with Affordable Housing
A new report from Apartment List finds Fla. leads the nation in the percentage of renters (56%) who have to spend 30% or more of their income on housing.
Be Careful Using Emojis: Interpretations Vary
Study: Men and women often interpret emoji facial expressions differently. Men see the yellow thinking face as positive, for example; women not so much.
OK for Loan Programs to Address Systemic Racism
HUD legal opinion: Special Purpose Credit Programs – a type designed to correct past lending shortfalls to protected groups – are legal under the Fair Housing Act.
Mega Chinese Real Estate Firm May Be in Default
Evergrande had more than $300B in debt, and default causes a huge ripple in the global real estate funding pond – but its investors face the immediate risk.
NAR to Congress: Improve Veteran Buying Process
Every U.S. veteran should be able to “build wealth through homeownership,” NAR Pres. Rouda Smith testified to a House Veterans Affairs subcommittee.
Study: Snowiest States Have Pricier Homes
If homes cost more in snowy states and upkeep is harder, why live there? Home prices in the top 10 snow-belt states exceed ones in the 10 least-snowy states.
Gov. DeSantis’ Budget Includes Housing, Environment
The budget – a proposal to the Florida Legislature for the 2022 session – includes a number of Florida Realtors’ legislative priorities, such as affordable housing aid.
Mortgage Rates Hold Firm Another Week – 3.10%
The Fed cut bond buying and may raise interest rates soon. But the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage isn’t affected so far, down .01% from last week’s average.
Buying a Fixer-Upper? Some Raw Materials Hard to Find
Buyers planning to fix up an existing home face the same challenges new-home builders do: Expensive or hard-to-find items, such as appliances or lumber.
Are At-Risk Homeowners Better Off Selling?
In some cases, owners exiting forbearance can’t afford their home. But with rising values, many can still sell, turn a small profit and not harm a strong credit score.