Florida Real Estate

Hurricane Milton Reaches Cat 5, Nears Florida

The storm is expected to weaken before it makes landfall, likely in the Tampa area on Wednesday. It could grow in size before moving across the state. ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida’s on track for a one-two punch from the 2024 hurricane season as Hurricane Milton moves across the Gulf of Mexico, marking the second major … Read more

Consider Using a Realtor When Selling Your Home

Home sellers who don’t use an agent are twice as likely as agent-assisted sellers to be unhappy with the results of their sale, says a study from Clever Real Estate. CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. – Home sellers who choose to work without a real estate agent are twice as likely as agent-assisted sellers to be unhappy … Read more

AccuWeather: Helene Is One of Worst Hurricanes

STATE COLLEGE, PA. – As the scope of catastrophic infrastructure damage, loss of life, business disruptions and other economic impacts becomes clearer in the wake of Hurricane Helene, the AccuWeather Global Weather Center increased its estimate of the total damage and economic loss in the U.S. to between $225 billion and $250 billion. Applications are … Read more

Will Rate Cuts Help Commercial Real Estate Debt?

Despite the Fed’s decision to reduce its benchmark interest rates, commercial investors may find that it’s too little, too late for their highly indebted properties. NEW YORK – With the recent action by the U.S. Federal Reserve to reduce its benchmark interest rates, commercial mortgage rates may have declined over the past few weeks. However, … Read more

Mortgage Rates Rise, Still Well Below Last Year

The average 30-year mortgage rate rose to 6.12% from 6.08% last week. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages rose to 5.25% from 5.16%. WASHINGTON –The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. rose to 6.12% this week, the first increase in seven weeks. The rate ticked up from 6.08% last week, mortgage buyer … Read more

Pathways to Professionalism – Professional Courtesies

Realtor told the listing broker after the scheduled showing the buyer decided not to view the home.  The owners filed an ethics complaint against the Realtor, but the hearing panel found there was not a violation of the Code of Ethics. How can that be? Dear Shannon:  I’m a new-ish Realtor® and I’m doing really … Read more

Condo Changes Coming to a Form Near You

The updated FR/BAR Condominium Rider, (CR-6xx_A) and CRSP Condominium Addendum (CRSP16xxx_F) include the required language. ORLANDO, Fla – Every year it seems like there is a new condo law. And every year there is. Here’s what you need to know about two important updates this year that will affect your practice and forms that started … Read more

Flood Disclosure, Public Sleeping Ban Starts Today

Florida’s latest laws, effective Oct. 1, address flood risk transparency for homebuyers and restrict public camping, while others target theft and fraud. TALLAHASSEE – New laws that require sellers to disclose residential flooding and ban sleeping in public places are among the nearly three dozen measures that take effect today (Oct. 1). The new flood … Read more

Citizens Policies Could Go Below 900,000

State regulators have approved as many as 649,000 policies for private insurers in October and November, another sign Florida’s insurance market is recovering. TALLAHASSEE – Expecting a surge of policies going to private insurers, the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. could have fewer than 900,000 policies at the end of the year. Citizens President and … Read more

Florida Realtors Named a Top Workplace

The Orlando Sentinel’s Top Workplace in Central Florida distinction is based on anonymous workplace culture surveys filled out by company employees. ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Realtors® was named Friday as one of the Orlando Sentinel’s Top Workplaces in Central Florida for the fourth consecutive year. The annual ranking is based on a confidential and unbiased … Read more