Real Estate Agents Rethink Decades of Advice on Pools
Pandemic-era demand has risen for pools and hot tubs. Zillow says “pool” was last year’s most common search term, and pool homes tend to get about 1% more than expected.
March Consumer Confidence Surges Almost 20 Points Higher
It’s the highest level since the pandemic began, with a notable uptick in interest for big-ticket items. Of note: The component measuring current conditions improved significantly, suggesting the economy will continue to expand at least until summer.
HUD: FHA Lending in Good Shape, No Premium Decrease
In a quarterly report to Congress, HUD said it has no “near term” plans to change FHA mortgage insurance premiums, citing delinquencies and its “duty to manage risks.”
Top Reason Realtors Become Realtors? Self-Motivation
NAR survey: For 3 out of 5 Realtors, self-initiative drove them into real estate. Of residential Realtors, 21% made more than $100K in 2020; 66% for commercial Realtors.
Jan. Home Prices Soared – Biggest Increase In Seven Years
S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller: Prices rose 11.1% year-to-year in Jan., the biggest gain since March 2014. Prices rose in all 20 cities included in the report.
Florida Realtors Releases Latest Fla. Buyers & Sellers Report
Florida Realtors economist: Buyers and sellers need Realtors for their buying and selling journey. Opportunities exist via connections to past clients and new-home buyers.
Lawmakers Pass and DeSantis Signs COVID-19 Legal Protections
Gov. DeSantis quickly signed SB 72 after the Florida Legislature passed it, giving Fla. businesses new protection against lawsuits filed over COVID-19 claims. Florida Realtors supported the change to help brokers and clients avoid unknown legal risks.
CFPB and FTC Vow to Fight Illegal Evictions
The agencies say they’ll make sure landlords comply with the law, in part by “monitoring consumer complaints for spikes and trends in potential COVID-related violations.”
CDC Extends Renter Eviction Ban Through June
The ban was slated to end on Wed., but with 18.4% of tenants behind in rent payments, the CDC decided evictions remain a health hazard.
No. 1 Pandemic-Fueled Home Project? New Furniture
New appliances ranked second, followed by décor, and home improvement tools and products likely needed for do-it-yourself projects.