New Homes: Could Falling Costs Offset Higher Rates?
The cost of lumber is falling and new-home demand softening thanks to current housing prices and rising interest rates. Could a supply-demand balance be here soon?
Homeowners Should Plan for Summer Holiday Safety
Many Fla. residents may celebrate July 4th away from home. Florida Realtors: Share home safety tips with owners like setting timers on lights in some rooms.
Airbnb’s Message to Renters: The Party’s Over
The short-term rental company says parties at its properties dropped 44% in one year, so a ban works – but it also suspended 6,600-plus guests who broke the rules.
Thousands of Citizens Customers To Get Rate Break
Fla. regulators turned down the “insurer of last resort’s” full rate-hike request. Instead, the policy increase will average 6.4%, and 57K Fla. owners will see a smaller bill.
DeSantis Signs Miya’s Law, Updates Tenants’ Rights
Miya’s Law creates new rules, some of which impact landlords. Highest profile one is that a maintenance and repair “reasonable notice” rises from 12 to 24 hours.
U.S. Consumer Confidence Drops Again in June
Attitudes about current conditions were relatively unchanged, but attitudes about the future fell more based on fears over inflation and the cost of gas, food, etc.
Fla. Rise in Consumer Confidence Surprises Experts
At 62.9, June’s Fla. consumer sentiment was 2.1 points higher than in May. A UF economist says it “comes as a surprise” given inflation and other challenges.
DeSantis Vetoes Bill on Business Lawsuits
The bill allowed Fla. businesses to sue local governments over lost profits. DeSantis generally agreed with that, but he found the bill “broad and ambiguous.”
Fla.’s ‘Freedom Week’ Tax Holiday Starts Friday
Recreational things like tents, sunglasses and concerts are sales-tax free July 1 through July 7, with longer sales-tax breaks for some home appliances and windows.
Pending Home Sales Edge 0.7% Higher in May
NAR says May’s increase in pending home sales ended a six-month skid of declines, but despite the gain, “the housing market is clearly undergoing a transition.”