News / Features

Pending Home Sales Index Retains Yearly Gains

Though the Pending Home Sales Index declined in September,  activity remains above a year ago, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). A forward-looking indicator that is based on contract signings, the index fell 4.6 percent

Back to the Drawing Board for Bipartisan Housing Committee

The Bipartisan Policy Center has announced a new, bipartisan Housing Commission tasked with conducting a top-down analysis of the U.S. housing market and its long term trends. Co-chaired by two former U.S. Senators and two former heads of the

Updates on Banner Lawsuit has Attorneys on Opposing Ends of the Court

The supplier of Knauf Chinese drywall, Banner Supply Co., is facing a class action lawsuit as thousands of Florida homeowners are forced to evacuate their homes, or become severely ill due to the corroded copper, wiring and pipes the

Slashed Prices Propel Single-Family Home Sales in Sept.

After four straight months of declines, new single-family home sales in September were up 5.7 percent from August, an increase from 296,000 units to 316,000 units, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing

Investors Make a Pretty Penny through Foreclosed Home Rentals

South Florida homeowners distressed by the foreclosure-ridden housing market are more often than not renting, rather than buying, their homes. Surprising as it may sound, this scenario has actually helped the resale market. According to a recent Miami Herald article,

Plans of Termination Eliminate Owner Rights in South Florida Condominiums

South Florida condo owners are increasingly experiencing grizzly scenarios dubbed “plans of termination,” where many individual property rights are being stripped away and units converted into rental complexes. This comes as a highly challenging situation to condo owners. Investment

Lawmakers Hoping Housing Takes Visa

Two senators are proposing a remarkably simple idea to to foreigners to spur housing investment – buy a house, get a visa.   It may seem coy, but the proposal by Sens. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Mike Lee (R., Utah)

Senate Increases Federal Loan Limits in Wake of Ill Effects

In a late hour vote, the Senate approved by a 60-38 margin a measure to expand federal loan limits and return government-backed loans to the $729,750 that had been in effect the last three

First of Federally-Funded Lake Worth Homes to be Finished This Month

Thanks to a federal grant worth $23.2 million, new homes are being refurbished by Habitat for Humanity chapters and new homeowners to make up for those lost in the foreclosure crisis. The first refurbished home will be dedicated on

Sobel Co Breaks Ground on New Villa Project

National Real Estate developer, Sobel Company, has rejoined the Florida real estate market in its recent committal to a 34-unit townhome project in Pompano Beach. Construction of the new residences, called the Barefoot Beach Villas, is intended to begin

Case-Shiller Reports 0.3 Percent Decrease for Miami Home Prices

Miami home prices slowed somewhat in the latest Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the monthly report by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) that is the leading measure of U.S. home prices. The newest report, which surveys home prices for August, found monthly prices

FHFA Eliminates Major Restrictions to HARP Refinancing

After literally months of deliberation, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has announced that it is eliminating several restrictions to the government’s Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to allow more delinquent homeowners to refinance their mortgages.   Beginning with

Rival Indexes Imply Declines for Tomorrow’s Case-Shiller

Standard & Poor’s will release its much-followed Case-Shiller Home Price Indices tomorrow, and if any rival indices are an indication, it will most likely post year and monthly declines in home prices. Riding high on a summer buying mini-boom,

Renting: The New Province of the Splurge

For years, renting was seen as the more cost-effective alternative to owning, and generally, the viewpoint made sense. Renting lacks the property taxes, upkeep and other fees that often come with owning a home, and the skyrocketing prices of

Miami Home Sales Sweet as Oranges

Year-over-year sales in Miami for both existing single-family homes and condominiums were sweet at oranges in September, rising 46 percent and 58 percent, respectively, according to new data from the Miami Association of Realtors (MAR). Statewide sales also posted

E=MC² For Mortgage Underwriting?

A new Senate bill introduced Wednesday hopes to add another factor in the underwriting process in the form of energy costs, according to a new report from Housing Wire’s Jon Prior. Introduced by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Col.) and Johnny

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