As a Realtor®, representing your clients through various parts of the transaction is essential. Recently, the National Association of Realtors® released a consumer guide for home inspections. Here’s what buyers and sellers should know.

The increase in new home sales shows they continue to be an appealing option. The average loan size for new homes rose to $402,658 in September. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for September 2024 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases increased 10.8% compared from a year ago. Compared to August 2024, applications decreased by 6%. This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns.

Real estate professionals are building client loyalty and responding to needs among a quickly growing Hispanic demographic. Homeownership among Hispanic Americans is at an all-time high of 51%, according to the National Association of Realtors® 2024 Snapshot of Race and Home Buying in America. Over the past decade, some 3.2 million Hispanics have become homeowners — a 5.4% increase since 2012. Today, nearly 10 million Hispanic households own their own homes.

Starting October 1, 2024, there is a new flood disclosure requirement in Florida. Florida Statute 689.302 requires a seller to complete and provide a flood disclosure to a buyer of residential real property. This disclosure must be done at or before the time of a contract being executed.

The real estate market is abuzz with discussions surrounding location, and affordability for first-time homebuyers. WalletHub states that Port St. Lucie stands out as the third-best location for first-time homebuyers, boasting the second-highest Millennial homeownership rate in the country at 64%.

Homeowners in every state have always dealt with home insurance policies, but Florida especially has been tackling costs and insurers for a long time. The good news is that new programs and insurance are rising to help businesses and homeowners thrive.

As the year progresses, positive news has emerged in the real estate market, indicating that interest rates have reached their lowest levels in over a year. With interest rates declining, statistics show that homeowners are seizing the opportunity to refinance their home loans, leading to a rise in mortgage applications.

Florida Realtors® has released new compensation forms and additional resources related to the NAR settlement. They will host two webinars with Juana Watkins, Florida Realtors® General Counsel, for brokers and all members to attend. These new forms aim to provide maximum flexibility to compensation arrangements in a real estate transaction and allow the participants to memorialize compensation arrangements.

If you are considering purchasing your first home, it is easy to get caught up in searching through many homes and hundreds of photos, imagining which dream home could be yours. For first-time buyers seeking to purchase a home, reaching out to your local Realtor® should be your first step. They can provide valuable assistance and guide you through some logistical groundwork and assess if you’re ready to start the process or connect you with industry experts.

Our homes are where we spend most of our time, so it is only natural to want to spruce it up occasionally. If you’re considering making some changes, here are some of the latest trends homeowners have been integrating into their properties, including lighting features, leisure spaces, and design aesthetics.

Hurricane season has officially begun on June 1st and is expected to last approximately six months, with peak activity typically occurring in August and September. While predicting storm forecasts can be challenging due to various factors, preparing for severe weather as the season approaches is crucial.

Each year, the Honor Society honors members for their overall participation in Realtor® organizations at the local, state, and national levels. Florida Realtors® established an Honor Society to recognize active members in their state association.The Honor Society also salutes members for their participation in the Realtor organization at the local and national levels, their activity in the National Association of Realtors’ Institutes, Societies, and Councils, their designations earned, their educational activities, and their political involvement.

Realtors® from across the State came together on Thursday, May 30th, for the second event of the three-part Mayors' Breakfast event series. The gathering, held at the Broward Center For The Performing Arts, provided a platform for discussions on strategic communications and collaborative efforts with the Broward region's elected officials.

The South Florida market is becoming more balanced, and all signs point to the entire State of Florida benefiting from more housing options during the Spring and Summer seasons. BeachesMLS reports that the monthly supply of inventory is increasing year-over-year in Palm Beach County, currently at 4.4 months and 4 months in Broward County.

The South Florida market is becoming more balanced, and all signs point to the entire State of Florida benefiting from more housing options during the Spring and Summer seasons. BeachesMLS reports that the monthly supply of inventory is increasing year-over-year in Palm Beach County, currently at 4.4 months and 4 months in Broward County.

Just in time for the start of the Summer homebuying season, the positive news has hit the real estate market. Spring is looking bright for home buyers with these lowered borrowing costs. According to Freddie Mac’s data, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) has dipped to 6.94% as of May 23rd, which is an 8.08% decrease, from 7.02% making it the third straight week of declines. Just a year ago at this same time, the 30-year rate was averaging 6.57%.

The South Florida market is becoming more balanced, and all signs point to the entire State of Florida benefiting from more housing options during the Spring and Summer seasons. BeachesMLS reports that the monthly supply of inventory is increasing year-over-year in Palm Beach County, currently at 4.4 months and 4 months in Broward County.

Sidekick, the pioneering generative AI assistant designed to elevate the productivity and effectiveness of real estate agents, teams, and brokerages, today announced a collaboration with BeachesMLS. This collaboration marks Sidekick's entry into the East Coast and Florida markets, bringing its cutting-edge integrated datasets and AI workflow tools to over 43,000 subscribers across Broward, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties.

Real estate negotiations may seem straightforward in theory, but they require a lot of time and expertise to ensure the successful closure of your client’s deal. As market conditions change, you too must evolve by strengthening your market knowledge, learning to leverage your experience, and understanding the factors that drive decision-making. These strategies can help you navigate the offer process for easier and faster negotiations. As we approach summer, consider the following key tips for securing more deals.

National Association of Realtors®(NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun predicts that home sales will rise to 4.46 million by the end of 2024, which is a 9% increase compared to 2023. In other good news, U.S. News Senior Real Estate Economist Patrick S. Duffy reported that interest rates are expected to slowly decline over time, which will encourage migration and the listing of more homes.