Fla. Arrests Scammers Posing as Roofing Experts
If someone knocks and offers “a free home inspection to check for recent damage,” it may be a scam. Fla.’s CFO arrested two people using undercover fraud detectives.
Most Agents Have Ridiculously-Easy-to-Guess Passwords
Hackers breaking into your account – or a broker’s account via the agent with the weakest password – start with “12345” and “password,” the most common in the industry.
Canada Proposes 1% Tax on Foreign-Owned Property
Trade wars could impact real estate: Starting in 2022, Americans who own Canadian summer homes may be required to pay a 1% tax on underutilized, foreign-owned homes.
Fla. County Approves ‘Tenant Bill of Rights’
Renters in unincorporated Hillsborough County cannot face discrimination based on their income, including tenants who use Section 8 housing vouchers. Landlords must also give tenants a list of housing rights and provide a notice for late fees.
Gov. DeSantis Blocks Local COVID-19 Orders
The Executive Order doesn’t block individual businesses from requiring masks or social distancing, but it limits the authority of cities and counties to mandate them.
Fla.’s Consumers Are More Optimistic About the Future
Overall sentiments among Floridians remain 19.3 points below pre-pandemic, but month-to-month consumers’ attitudes rose 1.7 points as the state slowly bounces back.
CFPB/FTC Warn Large Apartment Landlords About New Rules
New rule: Debt collectors must give tenants written notice about their rights under the CDC moratorium – and they can’t misrepresent a tenant’s eligibility for protection. To spread the message, the consumer bureau directly contacted landlords who represent about 2 million units.
Some Agents Use Media ‘Influencers’ to Promote Luxury Homes
An influencer has a social media channel with a lot of viewers, and some agents have given them luxury home tours to be filmed and promoted to users.
Fla. Developer Sued by 2 Lakes, 2 Creeks and 1 Marsh
Orange County’s Rights of Nature law will be tested in court for the first time. The bodies of water claim it’s wrong to develop 115 acres of wetlands near Lake Nona.
HUD: $20M in Grants to Help Fight Housing Discrimination
Organizations can apply for funds from HUD. $7.2M will be allocated for education, $2.25M for fair housing groups, and $10.7M for investigations and enforcement.