News & Media Military buyers and sellers often arrive with financial realities that many agents are not prepared to navigate, even when those agents market themselves as military-friendly. VA loans, Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) income, funding-fee exemptions, power-of-attorney transactions, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections, and loan assumptions can all shape what is […]
News & Media A listing that lingers can make sellers anxious and leave agents feeling pressure to explain what comes next. But before the conversation turns to price, agents should first be able to show what has been done to bring qualified buyers through the door. A strong marketing record can help. That includes […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly Florida’s major metropolitan areas recorded 7,477 new residential construction permits in June, a 17% increase from the previous month, according to HBW permit data. The permits represented nearly $2.68 billion in planned construction across the five Florida regions included in the report. The average permitted construction value was […]
Saudi Arabia started accepting foreign real estate ownership applications through its official Saudi Properties portal, moving its non-Saudi property ownership system closer to full operation. The Real Estate General Authority, or REGA, announced the opening of applications after the foreign ownership law took effect in January 2026. REGA also said the geographic scope and […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly Florida home sales extended the year-over-year growth streak to 10 consecutive months in June, with closed sales, pending sales and median prices rising in both property categories. The latest numbers point to continued activity heading into the second half of the year, although Florida Realtors® researchers noted that […]
News & Media Buyers often respond quickly to mature trees because they can make a property feel shaded, established and more private from the moment they pull up. When combined with thoughtful landscaping, mature trees can boost a home’s resale value by between 5% and 15%, Sebastian Hovsepian, a real estate agent at Next […]
News & Media By Alex Veiga The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level in nearly a year, driving up borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.55% from 6.49% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly Florida’s $1.8 trillion economy is now the 14th largest in the world, surpassing Australia and Mexico, according to the Florida Chamber Foundation. The new ranking, up one slot from 15, moves Florida closer to the Florida 2030 Blueprint’s goal of becoming one of the world’s 10 largest economies […]
A new survey from the National Association of Realtors® shows that Americans value walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and a broad range of housing choices. Demand is strong for smart-growth features such as easy access to parks, shops, restaurants, schools and workplaces – and many Americans are willing to pay more to live in communities that […]
Home renovations are a significant part of homeownership. Naturally, people want to make their own personal marks on the homes they buy and ensure that their properties fit their needs and wants. While many renovations add value to a home, some offer more value than others. When allocating dollars to renovations, particularly when finances […]
Young adults are facing a harder path to homeownership than previous generations, and new Pew Research Center data shows the challenge is not just about home prices. Rising prices, higher mortgage rates, upfront cash needs and slower income growth have all changed the numbers for younger buyers, Pew Research found. In Florida, that can […]
News & Media By Amy Connolly Florida’s housing market is carrying more inventory than it did before the pandemic in most major metros, but the story is not the same everywhere, according to ICE’s July 2026 Mortgage Monitor. ICE, a mortgage data and technology company, said every major Florida market it tracked except Miami […]
