South Florida Real Estate

Russian Oligarch Hunt Impacts Foreign Investors

The U.S. sanctioned many Russians who now cannot buy U.S. real estate. But identifying corporate ownership is tricky, and FinCEN is looking at all foreign buyers. WASHINGTON – On January 25, 2023, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an alert that could significantly impact the acquisition of commercial real estate (CRE) in the U.S. … Read more

Will Bank Turmoil Create Mortgage Challenge?

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Buyers may need to shop around for a mortgage. If clients pulled money from a regional bank or deposits went down, the bank may make it harder to qualify. NEW YORK – Banking center unrest could make it more difficult for some consumers to get a mortgage loan or a loan for other big-ticket items. … Read more

Fake Property Insurer Stole Homeowners’ Money

U.S. Attorney’s Office: A Pensacola man created a fake insurance company, sold policies, kept premiums, and led homeowners to falsely believe they had coverage. PENSACOLA, Fla. – An insurance company is permanently shut down after dozens of clients paid over $4.8 million for policies that were fake, federal officials said. Instead of buying insurance for … Read more

LinkedIn Launches AI to Expand Agent Content

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As a business social media site, LinkedIn encourages online networking. To push that effort, it’s adding AI-written content that incites conversations. NEW YORK – The worldwide artificial intelligence (AI) market, valued at $136 billion, is impacting various sectors, including real estate. LinkedIn intends to merge AI technologies into its platform to better serve users. The … Read more

Fla. Legislature Passes ‘Live Local’ Housing Bill

An exhaustive pro-housing bill – one of Florida Realtors’ top priorities – passed the Legislature on Friday. It now needs only Gov. DeSantis’ signature to become law. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Friday, the Florida Legislature passed SB 102, a comprehensive housing bill and one of Florida Realtors®’ top priorities during the 2023 session. Florida Senate President … Read more

Google Local-Ad Expansion Can Help RE Agents

70 types of service businesses, including real estate agents, can more easily target ads to consumers whose search terms seem to match a Realtor’s services. NEW YORK – Google expanded its Local Services Ads by introducing a wider and more versatile toolset. This service now allows agents to incorporate advertising products and services whenever someone … Read more

Florida Realtors’ Tech Wins National Awards

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Form Simplicity and Tech Helpline won 2023 HW Tech100 awards for “the most innovative technology companies serving the mortgage and real estate industries.” ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Realtors®’ Form Simplicity and Tech Helpline have both been recognized as individual winners of the 2023 HW Tech100 Real Estate awards from HousingWire, a leading source for U.S. … Read more

HUD: $54M for Fair Housing – $2.9M Goes to Fla.

In Fla., 7 agencies get part of the $2.9M under 12 grants. The money fights discrimination, and includes funds to private investigators for “testing and enforcement.” WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $54 million to 182 fair housing organizations across the country under its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). … Read more

Fed Raises Interest Rates a Quarter Point

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WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Reserve extended its year-long fight against high inflation Wednesday by raising its key interest rate by a quarter-point despite concerns that higher borrowing rates could worsen the turmoil that has gripped the banking system. “The U.S. banking system is sound and resilient,” the Fed said in a statement after its … Read more

Is Being a Landlord Worth It?

Real estate is a time-tested, tried-and-true investment for people who can afford it, but it also involves work. Not everyone wants to be a landlord. NEW YORK – Real estate has been a popular investment for a very long time – for those who can afford it. But in recent years, trends such as house … Read more