By Margaret Jackson Profit margins have dropped a bit overall and by larger amounts in some markets. Lakeland-Winter Haven and Jacksonville are near the top for U.S. investor sales. NEW YORK – As housing prices tumble across the country, institutional investors that had snapped up properties during a pandemic-induced increase in rental rates are now unloading their properties. Nationally, profit margins on median-priced single-family homes and condo sales across the U.S. decreased from 57.6% in the second quarter to 54.6% in the third quarter as home prices declined for the first time in nearly three years, according to ATTOM’s recently
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They now make up 45% of all homebuyers, up from 37% last year, even as affordability issues persist. Repeat buyers may have pulled back due to rising interest rates. CHARLOTTE, N.C. – First-time home buyers have returned to the housing market, and those who can afford a home are finding success after years of setbacks. The share of buyers purchasing a home for the first time has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. First-time buyers now represent 45% of all buyers, up from 37% of buyers surveyed last year, according to Zillow’s 2022 Consumer Housing Trends Report. If they can overcome affordability
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By Kerry Smith After four months of rising confidence, Floridians felt a bit less optimistic in Oct. After Hurricane Ian hit. UF’s monthly study reported a 3.4-point drop. GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After four consecutive months of modest increments, consumer sentiment among Floridians dropped 3.4 points in October to 61.1 from a revised figure of 64.5 in September. “The decline in October comes as no surprise as this month’s reading captures the impact of Hurricane Ian, which made landfall Sept. 28 in Southwest Florida and caused business closures, job losses, extensive property damage and significant human loss,” says Hector H. Sandoval,
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