Samsung’s tech home organizer controls everything from a single app – a big draw for buyers who want a home that’s already set up for future technology upgrades. NEW YORK – Samsung’s new Matter smart technology standard facilitates seamless interoperability between different smart-home devices. It makes smart-home technology more integrated, streamlined and accessible to consumers … Read more
Four private insurance companies received state approval to move policies, though the actual number will likely be lower. Slide will take the most – up to 75K. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Tuesday, Florida regulators approved proposals by four insurance companies to take as many as 125,000 policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state “insurer … Read more
The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index fell for the third month in a row to 102.6 from Sept.’s 104.3. A top concern: The rising cost of goods and services. BOSTON – The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index declined a bit in October to 102.6, a drop from an upwardly revised 104.3 in September. It’s the third … Read more
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The one-two punch of the post-Surfside law designed to require condominium associations to set aside sufficient reserves for structural repairs combined with Florida’s unending increases in insurance costs is threatening to produce a wave of foreclosures. “People are going to be losing their homes. Foreclosures are increasing,” warned Broward County Commissioner … Read more
Too few sellers, high home prices, 8%-ish mortgage rates and strong buyer demand made the list, but so did AI and the “staggering costs to repair … aging infrastructure.” CHICAGO (October 2, 2023) – The Counselors of Real Estate’s (CRE) annual Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate report for 2024 includes global events, along with … Read more
Over $35B will be available for below-market rate loans that finance new housing construction and/or office conversions near transportation hubs. WASHINGTON (AP) – The Biden administration is launching a multi-agency effort to encourage states and cities to convert more empty office buildings into housing units, with billions of federal dollars available to help spur such … Read more
The scams begin with a hunt through public records for vacant land, an absentee owner and no mortgage. Look for red flags, like a refusal to talk in person. CHICAGO – Real estate professionals should watch for these red flags in the course of the transaction. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center warns that losses … Read more
There’s an interest uptick in reverse mortgages, notably from older adults on fixed incomes coping with inflation. They can be a good option – but also a bad one. TUCSON, Ariz. – If you watch any television, you’ve likely seen well-known voices, like actor Tom Selleck, touting reverse mortgages as a valuable tool for anyone in … Read more
The GAO found that federal offices have challenges like the private sector. In comparing building capacity to employees, none used over 50% and some used only 9%. WASHINGTON – The Agriculture Department is headquartered at the gateway between Washington and Virginia in a building rich with history – but on any given day, roughly 90% … Read more
A Yale U. study found only 3 out of 4 Americans (74%) share that belief, and the study’s author says it may be due to Fla.’s “hurricanes and other extreme weather.” BOCA RATON, Fla. – Floridians are more convinced that climate change is happening than Americans as a whole, and they more strongly support steps … Read more
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