Home Buying

Your Guide to Becoming an Influencer

NEW YORK – You’re witnessing social media influencers reshape consumer behavior through trust and authenticity. Influencer marketing’s effectiveness is evident as 90% of marketers find it impactful, contributing to projected industry growth to $16.4 billion in 2023. Remarkably, 70% of teens trust influencers over traditional celebrities, indicating a shift in loyalty dynamics. Authentic recommendations resonate, … Read more

Storm, Tool Tax ‘Holidays’ Teed Up

The newest sales tax holiday starts tomorrow (Saturday) and runs through Sept. 6 for storm-related items, including batteries and generators. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A sales-tax “holiday” will start Saturday that can help Floridians prepare for storms as the state moves into the peak of hurricane season, while another set of tax breaks is on the … Read more

Zillow: Lower Rates May Revive Competition

Buyers in Florida’s bigger metros gained an upper hand in July 2024, Zillow said. Nationwide, homes have been lingering on the market longer compared to last year. SEATTLE – Competition for homes and price appreciation tapered off faster than normal in July as high housing costs continued to stymie shoppers, according to the Zillow market … Read more

Saving for a House? | Florida Realtors

Buyers may hear they need a 20% down payment to buy a home, but that’s not set in stone. Many mortgages require as little as 3% or 3.5% and some have no minimums. SOUIX CITY, Iowa – You might have heard you’ll need a 20% down payment to buy a home. While there’s a reason … Read more

Homeowners Race to Refinance Home Loans

As mortgage rates retreat from 23-year highs, home loan applications rose 16% last week, the highest level in two years. Refinancings were up 60% vs. a year ago. LOS ANGELES (AP) – A recent pullback in mortgage rates is spurring more homeowners to refinance their home loan and lower their monthly payments. The Mortgage Bankers … Read more

Rising Rates, Prices Shrink Buyer’s’ Budgets

Realtors aware of the gap between purchasing power and median sale prices in many Florida markets can better assist buyers by finding alternatives. ORLANDO, Fla. – Typically, the most important question prospective homebuyers need to answer is how much they can afford each month. This number then translates into their “purchasing power”, or how much … Read more

Market Opportunities as Home Sales Eye Turnaround

CHICAGO – Although limited housing inventory, rising home prices and high mortgage rates have pushed existing-home sales to a 30-year low, a market turnaround is coming in 2025, Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors®, predicted during NAR’s latest Real Estate Forecast Summit. He said mortgage rates will likely fall in the … Read more

Redfin: Typical Monthly Housing Payment Drops

Mortgage rates dropped to their lowest level in months. Four Florida cities lead the nation with biggest YoY median sale price increases and new listings. SEATTLE — The typical U.S. homebuyer’s monthly housing payment was $2,722 during the four weeks ending July 14, $115 lower than April’s all-time high, according to a new report from … Read more

Helping Agents Communicate Their Value

NEW YORK – In most service-oriented industries, customers want to work with professionals who can prove they’re up to the task, whatever it may be. Customers want to understand what they’re paying for, and professionals must be able to articulate their expertise. This is – and has always been – true in real estate, but … Read more

First-Time Owners: Avoid These Furniture Mistakes

CHICAGO – When decorating a home, poor planning for the size of the space, such as ordering a rug that’s too big or small, is a common mistake. B2C Furniture, a sustainable furniture firm, crunched social media data to identify the most common furniture mistakes young adults make when outfitting a home for the first … Read more