Home Buying

Opinion: Rates of 2% Aren’t Good for the Industry

Nest Seekers Chief Economist Erin Sykes says the market’s long-term health works best if rates stay in the 6% range. After a 2% flash sale ends, sellers just hunker down. NEW YORK – While mortgage rates may have dipped slightly this week due to several bank failures, five consecutive weeks of increases have undone the … Read more

Spring Buying Season Will Be a Challenge for Buyers

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Homeownership is likely to remain a pipe dream for many Americans this spring homebuying season. The nation’s worst housing slump in nearly a decade stoked hope among prospective buyers that homes could be scooped up more easily. But while prices appear to have peaked last summer, they still ended 2022 higher … Read more

Study: Almost 50% of Sellers Making Concessions

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Nationally, it’s 45.5%, though slightly less in the two Fla. metros noted: 41.7% in Miami (up from 31.8%) and 41.3% in Orlando (up from 33.3%). SEATTLE – Home sellers gave concessions to buyers in 45.5% of home sales recorded by Redfin agents during the three months ending Feb. 28, 2023, in a year-to-year comparison, according … Read more

Some Homeowners Regret Pandemic Purchases

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A number of people who bought homes during the bidding wars – often foregoing inspections and making offers sight-unseen – are discovering problems with the property. NEW YORK – Some homeowners who bought their homes during the pandemic say they are starting to feel some buyer’s remorse, especially those who bought their homes sight unseen. “I … Read more

Is the Media Keeping Buyers in a State of Fear?

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One year ago, mortgage rates started their rise, and people scrambled to buy homes. That means stats comparing March 2023 to March 2022 won’t make a lot of sense. CHICAGO – Are negative headlines about the housing slowdown giving homebuyers the jitters just as the busy spring season approaches? Homebuilders think so. Nearly 80% of … Read more

Fannie: Housing Sentiment Nears Record Low

After three increases, Fannie Mae’s monthly consumer index found a 3.6-point drop in Feb. when 44% of owners said it’s a bad time to sell, up from 39% in Jan. WASHINGTON – After six uplifting weeks of positive inflation reports, the economy turned on a dime when it became clear inflation had not yet been … Read more

Floridians Feel More Optimistic in Feb.

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Attitudes turn positive: A monthly UF study of Floridians saw a 1.9-point increase overall, with a rise in current expectations as well as expectations for the future. GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In February, consumer sentiment among Floridians increased 1.9 points to 67.2 from January’s revised figure of 65.3. A similar national consumer sentiment index increased 2.1 … Read more

Jan. New-Home Sales Surge 17.1% in the South

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Overall, Jan. new-home sales rose 7.2%, but the South’s 17.1% carried the three other areas that saw a decline. The Northeast saw the biggest drop at 19.4%. WASHINGTON – Sales of newly built, single-family homes in January increased 7.2% to a 670,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate from an upwardly revised reading in December, according to … Read more

Why Do Home Prices Rise as the Market Deflates?

MIAMI – Many prospective homebuyers sent a strong message at the start of 2023: They are done trying to buy homes in South Florida, as annual sales nosedived in January in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. For residents patiently waiting to buy a bigger house here or move to a different neighborhood for better quality of … Read more

Higher Credit Scores Provide Emotional Comfort

FICO study: While credit scores empower users to secure loans or get better interest rates, some people view them almost like a test, and an “A” grade provides security. SAN JOSE, Calif. – Global analytics software firm FICO released the results of a national survey, Credit Scores Uncovered: Consumer Relationships with their Scores. While credit … Read more