Commercial RE Forecast: Strength – and Lots of Uncertainty
Higher interest rates help investors, but it’s a big unknown for developers. People are rushing to sweeping conclusions, and “We don’t know which way it’s going to go.”
If You Sell a House, the Buyer Might Be a Pension Fund
D.R. Horton sold an entire subdivision of single-family homes to online investor Fundrise LLC, as more yield-chasing investors buy homes to rent out or flip.
Today’s Housing Market? ‘Not the Time for Amateurs’
It may be possible to buy a home without the help of a Realtor – but it’s hard to see how given today’s multiple bid competitions for a limited number of homes.
Understanding One of the Obstacles to Closing Deals: Traffic
Florida Realtors economists: If the home is great but the traffic in the surrounding area is not, the deal might fall through. But a cool traffic tool can empower you to know if traffic in that home’s neighborhood will get the “green light.”
Lawmakers Bend a Little on Housing Trust Funds Issue
A proposal to cut 66% of Fla.’s housing trust funds led Florida Realtors to object and issue a Call for Action. Lawmakers have now changed their proposal to a 50% cut.
Some Return-to-Work Policies ‘Going to the Dogs’
Newly spoiled cats, dogs and other pets won’t like spending a whole day alone, and some firms are considering new rules that allow workers to bring them along.
Universal Design Gains Among Homebuilders
Homes with universal design benefit people at all stages of life and allow aging in place; key are features anyone can use despite age, height, size or disability.
To Stage or Not to Stage? NAR Study Finds It Helps
82% of Realtor buyers’ agents say staging helps buyers visualize a property; and 7 out of 10 agents say the pandemic added value to photos, videos and virtual tours.
CFPB Proposes Rules to Prevent or Delay Foreclosures
After warning mortgage servicers not to repeat their Great Recession mistakes, the consumer bureau proposed actual rules to prohibit starting foreclosures before Dec. 31, 2021, with a few possible exceptions – such as proof that they’ve unsuccessfully tried to contact unresponsive owners.
HUD’s Low-Income Housing Grant Doubles in Size
States will get almost $700M in federal grants this year, a special program for low-income housing. It’s more than double the amount HUD sent out last year.