By Marla Martin Realtor leaders also traveled to Tallahassee Wednesday to testify before state lawmakers on the critical need for maximum funding of Fla.’s housing trust funds, urging them to vote no on House Bill 5401 and its companion bill, Senate Proposed Bill 2512. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Realtors® has launched a comprehensive education and advocacy effort centered on the urgent need to allocate the maximum amount of funding available in the State and Local Government Housing Trust Funds for affordable housing projects. The effort is a result of recent legislative proposals that would permanently reduce the amount of funding
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By Michael Casey The federal government didn’t create an outline for coronavirus rental relief, and without guidance on how to allocate the money, states scrambled to create programs. NEW YORK – Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last July that New York would spend $100 million in federal coronavirus relief to help cash-strapped tenants pay months of back rent and avert evictions. By the end of October, the state had doled out only about $40 million, reaching 15,000 of the nearly 100,000 people looking for help. More than 57,000 applicants were denied because of criteria set by lawmakers that many said was
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By Kerry Smith There aren’t enough homes listed, marking the second monthly decline in a row. Only upper-end houses had more pending home-sale contracts, says NAR economist. WASHINGTON – Pending home sales dipped for a second straight month in February, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Each of the four major U.S. regions tracked by the report saw month-over-month declines, though results were mixed in the four regions year-over-year. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) – a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings – dropped 10.6% to 110.3 in February. Year-over-year, contract signings fell 0.5%.
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By Christopher Rugaber 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. WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. home prices increased at the fastest pace in seven years in January as the pandemic has fueled demand for single-family houses even as the supply for such homes shrinks. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index, released Tuesday, rose 11.1% in January from a year earlier. That’s the biggest gain since March 2014. Prices rose in all 20 cities, and the 12-month increase was larger for all
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By Kerry Smith 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. BOSTON – The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index surged in March, hitting its highest reading in a year after a modest increase in February. The Index now stands at 109.7, up from 90.4 in February, an 18.8-point increase. The Present Situation Index – based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions – climbed from 89.6 to 110.0
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By Kerry Smith 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. WASHINGTON – According to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), three out of five residential Realtors® (62%) and commercial (59%) Realtors selected a real estate career path on their own, and a majority say success comes from self-motivation and problem-solving skills – the most important traits for success. NAR’s Career Choices in Real Estate: Through the Lens of Gender, Race and Sexual Orientation report examined
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By Kerry Smith 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. WASHINGTON – The Biden administration extended a federal moratorium on evictions of tenants who have fallen behind on rent during the coronavirus pandemic. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made the announcement on Monday The ban applies only to renters with income impacted by COVID-19. They must: Earn $198,000 annually or less for couples or $99,000 for single filers Demonstrate that they’ve sought government help to pay the rent Declare
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By Christine Sexton, Colleen Burton 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. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to a bill that will shield businesses – ranging from nursing homes to grocery stores to restaurants – from coronavirus-related lawsuits, and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law on Monday. The new law’s effective day is “immediately,” and the protections apply retroactively. The measure, which the House
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By Erica Plemmons 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. ORLANDO, Fla. – Relationships are essential for agents and brokers, according to the 2020 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers in Florida. Some insights from the survey about Florida’s latest buyers, sellers and their experience in the housing market are shared next, and you can also view a synopsis of the results on Florida Realtors®’ website or download the full report. On your marks, get set, buy! Florida buyers lean heavily on the
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Did you receive an email asking Realtor members to help “Rory” pay his hospital bills? It’s a scam. It’s not from Florida Realtors and Rory isn’t real. There is a new email scam targeting Florida Realtors® members. A fake “GoFundMe” campaign purports to raise money for a member’s child suffering from a rare disease. The “Help Support Rory” email appears to come from Florida Realtors. The donation link goes directly to PayPal. Florida Realtors did not send this email. Also, Florida Realtors will never send a GoFundMe request to our members. If a fake email asks for “a favor” or donation, don’t buy into
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