Mortgage Rates Move Noticeably Higher This Week
The 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.79% this week, a relatively large increase from last week’s record-low 2.65%. But one year ago, the rate averaged 3.65%.
Business Liability Protection Clears First Legislative Hurdle
A Florida Realtors-supported concept – liability protection for COVID-19 claims if businesses “substantially” follow health guidelines – passed its first committee.
Will the End of Forbearance Create a Rush of Foreclosures?
At this point, lenders don’t know. Thanks to easy application terms, they’re not sure how many homeowners are at risk and how many took forbearance “just in case.” On Jan. 3, about 1 in 20 mortgage holders (5.5%) were in a forbearance program, according to mortgage bankers.
Beware: Scams Still Lurk in Craigslist Home Rental Ads
There’s no single goal for scammers who copy pages and change a few details. Some hope to get personal information; others want victims’ rental deposit money.
12 Florida Master-Planned Communities Make Top 50 List
John Burns Real Estate Consulting recognized the nation’s top 50 master-planned communities, saying more than 37,000 people moved to one of them in 2020.
Mortgage Rates Poised to Rise as U.S. Treasury Yields Surge
Will rates keep going up? Maybe. Long-term bond yields are up, often a precursor for mortgage rates, as investors expect a recovery and more money to boost the economy.
Fla. Senate Discusses Climate Change Issues
Sen. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, filed a proposal to establish an Office of Resiliency that operates under Gov. Ron DeSantis, and a nine-member Sea-Level Rise Task Force to create baseline projections on expected sea-level rise and its flooding impact on Fla.’s coastlines.
Single-Family Rentals: A Good Deal for Investors
Thanks to TV, investors often think home flips are the main way to make money off of single-family homes, but a hold-and-rent-out purchase could be the better option.
NAHB: More Construction in Second-Home Markets
In areas with a lot of vacation and second homes, single-family construction rose 13.6% in the third quarter; in areas without second homes, it only rose 10.5%.
Brokers: Teach Your Team About Business Profitability
Revenue and expense management classes are the gift that keeps on giving. Agents who know how to keep an eye on the bottom line also maximize profits for their broker.