South Florida Real Estate

HUD Partners with NAREB Over Appraisal Bias

Scheduled to launch in Oct., the partnership will focus on appraisal discrimination through counselor training, roundtable discussions and appraisal-related training. WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) announced a partnership aimed at tackling appraisal bias and discrimination in the housing market. This … Read more

Curious About AI? You Probably Already Use it

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Listing copy, ads and website articles may soon be written by artificial intelligence (AI), but it’s already baked into current tools, like CRMs and photo recognition. CAPE COD, Mass. – Cape Cod, Massachusetts-based real estate agents use artificial intelligence (AI) for tasks like creating ad copy for properties, freeing them up to focus on more … Read more

17 Senators Ask FHFA for Rent Increase Restrictions

NAR calls rent caps “putting a Band-Aid on a bleeding artery.” The increase cap could impact about 1 in 4 U.S. units that have Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac-backed mortgages. WASHINGTON – A coalition of 17 senators sent a letter to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on Monday requesting a way to limit rental increases in … Read more

Do-It-Yourself Projects that Add Value

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A do-it-yourself home-improvement project reaps rewards at the time of sale, providing it’s done right. Many DIY projects require pros, but some can be handled in-house. NEW YORK – Improving the value of a residential property is an ongoing project, and for many homeowners, this means sharpening up their DIY (do it yourself) skills, especially … Read more

UF: Floridians Grew a Bit Less Optimistic in July

Contrary to national numbers in July, Fla. sentiment fell 2.1 points as residents worried about the U.S. economy and planned to cut back on spending. GAINESVILLE, Fla. – July consumer sentiment among Floridians dropped 2.1 points to 66.8, a drop from a revised figure of 68.9 in June, according to the University of Florida’s monthly … Read more

International Scam Sends Fla. ‘Investor’ to Prison

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Robert Matthews will serve 65 months for scamming more than 60 foreign investors between 2012 and 2018, convincing each to invest at least $500K in his projects. BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) – A one-time millionaire real estate developer with past ties to corrupt Connecticut politicians was sentenced to more than five years in prison on Monday … Read more

When Should I Disclose Contemplated Interest?

A Realtor completed a professional apartment-building property appraisal on behalf of the seller, and the valuation was used to negotiate a final price with the buyer. But the seller later filed an ethics complaint because the Realtor managed the buyer’s properties. Is it an ethics violation? ORLANDO, Fla. – Dear Shannon: I’m a long-time Realtor … Read more

Buy 2nd Home with Family, Friends? Get a Lawyer

“We all get along great” isn’t much help if there’s a disagreement about guests, repairs or maintenance. A lawyer can pre-solve problems before issues arise. NEW YORK – Homebuyers purchasing vacation homes with family or friends face unknown risks, such as disputes about guests, repairs and maintenance. It can unravel the arrangement and even lead … Read more

First-Timers’ Need 13% More Income this Year

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Nationally it’s 13%, but in Fort Lauderdale it’s 28% – the highest in the U.S. In Miami, a first-time buyer needs to earn 25% more than they did a year ago. SEATTLE – A first-time homebuyer must earn roughly $64,500 per year to afford the typical U.S. “starter” home, up 13% ($7,200) from June a … Read more

Have a Strong Visual Identity?

Agents work hard to set themselves apart from the crowd, and an easy-to-recognize brand uses logos, colors, graphics and styles across all marketing platforms. NEW YORK – Real estate brands can stand out through a strong, well-designed visual identity. Visual identity is an inclusive look for your brand that extends to all produce. It includes … Read more