South Florida Real Estate

HUD Says It Helped 94K Families Avoid Homelessness in 2023

The latest figures from HUD also show more than 93,000 people benefited from public housing and vouchers this year. WASHINGTON – The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said it worked with public housing programs nationwide to help more than 94,000 households exit or avoid homelessness in 2023. More than 8,200 households benefited from … Read more

NAR Forecasts 2024 Mortgage Interest Rates to Average 6.3%

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NAR also said 2024 will see stronger sales activity, calling it great news for buyers and sellers. CHICAGO – For the first time since August, interest rates for a 30-year fixed mortgage have dropped below 7%, hitting 6.95% this week. This brings the monthly mortgage payment for a home priced at $400,000 to $2,118. This … Read more

3 Simple, Must-Know Truths About Becoming a Lead Generation Master

“The good news is the more that you do lead gen, the better that you get at it.” NEW YORK – Real estate professionals who become successful early in their careers generally have mastered lead generation, Joseph Santini, a managing broker at Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Boca Raton, Highland Beach and Delray Beach, … Read more

Higher Interest Rates Make Homeownership Tougher

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Rising home prices and rents are also challenging would-be buyers to save for down payments. NEW YORK – Many would-be buyers were already feeling stretched thin by home prices that increased during the pandemic, but at least mortgage rates were low. Now that they are high, some people are just giving up, since it’s currently … Read more

Buy a House or Have a Wedding? It Can Be Both

Experts say couples can have a wedding and a house if they budget and set priorities. NEW YORK (AP) – Planning a wedding and buying a home are two expensive milestones in adult life. Couples with both of these goals may wonder just how they’ll pay for it all. While some couples may be fine … Read more

Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rates, Possible Cuts in 2024

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Fed policymakers indicated they may make three quarter-point cuts to their benchmark interest rate beginning in the second half of 2024. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday for a third straight time, a sign that it is likely done raising rates after having imposed the fastest string of … Read more

What Small Businesses Need to Know About 2024 Regulations

NEW YORK (AP) — Regulations are a double-edged sword. They’re created to improve business dealings, discourage unfair or illegal business activity, and protect workers. But, for small business owners, they often mean more red tape, higher costs and possible penalties for failing to comply. ″For a small business, you have a higher cost per employee … Read more

Money Ranks 3 Fla. Cities ‘Best Places to Live’

Tampa, Altamonte Springs and Sarasota make Money.com’s top 50 “Best Places to Live in the U.S.” for 2022-23. TAMPA, Fla. — Three Florida cities were recently ranked among the best places to live in the United States, according to a new list from Money.com. Money said it looked at economic opportunities, quality of life, diversity, … Read more

New Tool Makes Condo Financing Easier

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Freddie Mac’s new tool makes it easier for lenders to determine if a specific condo qualifies for a mortgage loan. It says buyers can now get a firm answer in “just minutes.” McLEAN, Va. – Freddie Mac announced enhancements to its Condo Project Advisor to help lenders “bring greater efficiency to the financing of condominiums.” … Read more

Fed Set to Leave Interest Rates Unchanged

WASHINGTON (AP) — With inflation edging closer to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, its policymakers are facing — and in some cases fueling — hopes that they will make a decisive shift in policy and cut interest rates next year, possibly as soon as spring.  Such a move would reduce borrowing costs across the economy, … Read more