The Federal Reserve’s recent announcement of a likely interest rate cut has stirred up the South Florida real estate market. Why? Typically, as the Federal Reserve lowers its interest rate, mortgage rates generally fall as well. As a result, lower mortgage rates would inevitably increase homeowners’ listings and mortgage applications. With more homeowners listing their homes, more housing supply will […]
As we discussed in previous blogs, new laws affecting Florida condominium ownership were presented in the aftermath of the horrific 2021 Surfside, Florida tragedy. Ultimately, the Florida State Legislature in 2022 failed to agree of a package of safety reforms which would have required inspections of older buildings, mandated monetary reserves for condominium associations, and provided public transparency for maintenance and […]
With mortgage interest rates still hovering above 7% on a 30-year fixed loan, many home buyers are seeking financing alternatives. One such option is assumable mortgages which are low-rate mortgages that home buyers take over from sellers. While popular in the 1980s when mortgage rates climbed to 18%, assumable mortgages are making a comeback. Where can one find an assumable […]
The US Consumer Price Index, a key metric of inflation, does not include the rising price of homeowner insurance. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, increased homeowners’ insurance would have added 80 basis points or approximately .8% to the reported CPI increase of 3.4%, meaning inflation would be more like 4.6 %. By not including home insurance, the CPI does not factor […]