South Florida Real Estate

Florida Realtors Leadership Academy: 2023 Class

Fifteen Realtors from across the state will enhance their leadership skills and learn more about Florida Realtors through a number of activities and sessions. ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Realtors recently selected 15 Realtor members to participate in its 17th annual Leadership Academy. The Leadership Academy was established in 2008 to identify emerging Realtor leaders ready … Read more

Jobs Report May Impact Fed Interest Rate Decisions

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WASHINGTON (AP) – America’s employers added a sizzling 517,000 jobs in January, a surprisingly strong gain in the face of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive drive to slow growth and tame inflation with higher interest rates. The unemployment rate dipped to 3.4%, the lowest level since 1969. Friday’s government report added to the picture of a … Read more

You’re a Good Neighbor? Get Rewarded

NAR’s annual Good Neighbor Awards recognizes Realtors who “made an extraordinary impact in their communities.” Five winners will receive a $10K grant. CHICAGO – The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) is now accepting applications for its 2023 Good Neighbor Awards. The annual program recognizes Realtors® who have made an extraordinary impact in their communities through … Read more

HUD: U.S. Lags in Affordable Offsite Construction

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It’s cheaper to build homes in a warehouse and put them together at the job site – and the U.S. needs to improve that process, according to a new HUD report. WASHINGTON – The U.S. needs more affordable housing, and one way to achieve that is to build more homes offsite and finalize construction later. … Read more

Bring Purpose Back to Your Brokerage

“I’m going to do this better,” brokers say when starting a new business, but that purpose can get lost in day-to-day operations. Is it time to bring it back? NEW YORK – As the marketplace slows, it’s essential to pause and think about new strategies. As the backbone for everything that comes next, a brokerage should … Read more

Fla. Topped Nation in International Visitors

The number of international tourists – and by extension potential buyers – rose 73% between 2021 and 2022, but it’s still down 28% when compared to 2019. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – International tourism has increased faster in Florida than other parts of the nation, but it’s less than it was before the pandemic, state tourism officials … Read more

HUD Debuts New Domestic Violence Protections

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A website, rules and $5M in funding will help survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking under the Violence Against Women Act. WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced new resources to protect survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The updates fall under … Read more

NAHB on Home Size: Smaller, Bigger, Smaller Again

The average new-home size dropped 45 square feet to 2,480 in 2022, says NAHB. It predicts home sizes will expand this year before dropping again in 2024. LAS VEGAS – Following a brief uptick in new home sizes in 2021, the average size of a new home dropped slightly from 2,525 square feet to 2,480 … Read more

Appraisers Propose New Fair Housing Requirements

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Appraiser Qualifications Board chair: Appraisal bias “a threat to the public’s trust in the appraisal profession.” Proposed changes would mandate fair-housing education. WASHINGTON – The Appraiser Qualifications Board this week released a First Exposure Draft of proposed changes to the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria. If adopted, the proposed changes would make fair-housing education courses … Read more

7 Non-Salesy Reasons to Contact Your Database

Since people love friends and generally avoid salespeople, a call to “check in,” or an “I stopped by with this small gift” makes you seem more like a friend. NEW YORK – A prime source of leads for real estate professionals is their database list of previous clients. Many agents hesitate to call clients because … Read more

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