Fort Lauderdale Real Estate

Pool Deck Likely Origin of Surfside Condo Collapse

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Federal investigators analyzing the 2021 Surfside condo collapse said they think there is conclusive evidence that a pool deck collapsed before the tower. A final report won’t be ready until 2025. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A federal probe into the June 2021 collapse of a Surfside condo tower that left 98 people dead continues to … Read more

South Florida Condo Buyouts May Change the Skyline

MIAMI — South Florida saw the highest number of condominiums selling out to developers since the pandemic. More buyouts are in the pipeline, raising questions about the future of South Florida’s skyline. Miami-Dade and Broward saw 18 condo buyouts last year, the highest number since 2019 when both counties had a total of 23 buyouts, … Read more

Which States Have No Income Tax?

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CONYERS, Ga. – There are nine income tax-free states scattered across America. While tax-free income seems like paradise at first glance, it’s still important to understand the tax structures within these states are like a complex jigsaw puzzle. States still need to function, so some of the revenue puzzle pieces include sales tax, property taxes, and … Read more

Does Reverse Mortgage Have a Non-Recourse Clause?

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Check the paperwork and read for context. “Non-recourse” is more of a description of how a loan works than a direct term, so it could be described differently. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.– Question: We took out a reverse mortgage in 2011 and I thought I understood how it worked. However, having reviewed the documents, I cannot … Read more

What If You Can’t Pay Hefty Special Assessment?

RE Q&A: Communicate with your HOA or condo association. Most will try to address the issue with homeowners who have financial difficulties, but there are legal limits. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Question: Our condominium association recently passed a rather large special assessment to get some work done that we do not have enough money in … Read more

Most Americans Say They Pay Too Much in Taxes

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New poll: Many also don’t think the institutions – whether federal or local – that use their tax dollars spend the money in the best interest of “people like them.” CHICAGO – A majority of taxpayers feel they pay too much in taxes, with many saying that they receive a poor value in return, according … Read more

Redfin Report: Home Buyer Demand Shows Signs of Early Rebound

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Home buyers, encouraged by declining mortgage rates and increased listings, are moving from the sidelines, the Redfin Homebuyer Demand Index found. WASHINGTON – Redfin real estate found U.S. pending home sales had the smallest decline since March 2022, dropping by 4% year over year in the four weeks ending Dec. 24. The Redfin Homebuyer Demand … Read more

Fannie Mae Maintains Secret List of Restricted Condos

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MIAMI – Some people trying to buy a condominium in South Florida but getting mysteriously rejected for a mortgage could be in for a jolt: The reason they can’t get a loan may be that the condo is on a secret quasi-governmental blacklist. News media reports and data leaks to a pair of law firms … Read more

South Florida Home Prices Peaking, But Crash Not Expected, Economist Says

FORT LAUDERDALE – The situation for hopeful homebuyers in South Florida has long been bleak — and it’s not projected to improve any time soon. Although the region is likely at the peak of its housing cycle as sales slow and prices flatten out, Ken H. Johnson, a real estate economist who also works at Florida Atlantic … Read more

State Considers Easing Fla. Keys Decades-Old Growth Limits

MARATHON, Fla. – The state is considering easing strict long-standing limits on development in the Florida Keys, a move that could fuel the biggest building boom in the ecologically fragile island chain in nearly a half-century. It could – at least potentially – open the door to as many as 8,000 new homes and businesses … Read more