Builder Confidence Drops: Demand Strong, Supplies Expensive
March confidence remained strong for buyer traffic, but late deliveries coupled with higher prices, notably for lumber, bumped builders’ confidence index down 2 points.
First-Time Buyers Have Advantages Over Repeat Buyers
First-timers may have more flexibility than buyers who must sell a home first, plus access to more financing options like grants or down payment assistance.
Regulators Eye Citizens Insurance Rate Increases
Will Fla.-owned Citizens Insurance rates go up an average 7.3%? Fla. regulators questioned Citizens officials Monday and are analyzing the request.
Flood Insurance 2.0: Congress Updates Its Analysis
National flood insurance will undergo a seismic change for homebuyers on Oct. 1, 2021, and for existing homeowners on April 1, 2022. Under “Risk Rating 2.0,” policy rates will be individualized based on a specific home rather than a general blanket rate based on flood zones.
Vote for Our Realtors from Florida for 2021’s ’30 Under 30′ Honor
Cast a vote every day this week to help one of our own become the 2021 Web Choice Award winner to be featured in the May/June issue of NAR’s REALTOR Magazine.
Once Redlined Homes Flood More – Though Not in Fla.
Study: Redlined neighborhoods – metro areas once relegated to Blacks or other minorities – are less appealing geographically than nearby white neighborhoods. But Fla. is the exception, where a home’s desirability is often based on proximity to the beach – an obviously high-risk flood area.
Some Landlords Who ‘Warehouse’ Units Face Criticism
Are landlords leaving apartments empty and waiting for the eviction ban to end? They are in New York City, and lawmakers say the drop in supply is causing problems.
Build Business – Scoop Up Customers in Feeder Markets
Once an established agent has a fair share of local customers, the next step is to advertise their services to the external buyers who are most likely to move in.
Cash-out Refis Hit Highest Level Since Financial Crisis
Many owners were underwater (owing more than their home’s value) during the Great Recession, in part due to cash-out refis, but it’s not a problem now – at least yet.
What Will the Future Market Be Like? No One Knows
There are too many variables to make accurate predictions. How high will mortgage rates go? Will inflation return? Are homes overpriced – will buyers even care if so?