Nationally it’s 13%, but in Fort Lauderdale it’s 28% – the highest in the U.S. In Miami, a first-time buyer needs to earn 25% more than they did a year ago. By Kerry Smith SEATTLE – A first-time homebuyer must earn roughly $64,500 per year to afford the typical U.S. “starter” home, up 13% ($7,200) from June a year ago, according to a report from Redfin, thanks to the one-two punch of...

AND HOW TO GET BACK INTO THE SHALLOWS When you get over your head financially, it is easy to look for a single event to explain how you got there. But it isn’t always a catastrophic event that leads to a large amount of debt. It is more often the accumulation of bad financial habits that leads to an increase in debt beyond what you can handle. Here’s a list of the most common mistakes people make...

Headwinds in Central Florida: Interest Rates & Home Sales The Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association (ORRA) has recently unveiled statistics that spotlight some challenging aspects of the Orlando housing market. Interest Rates on the Rise: The recorded interest rate for July stood at 6.8%, a minor increase from June's 6.7%. Strikingly, this is the second-highest rate Central Florida has...

One section addresses “termination of a tenancy without a specific term.” What does that mean, and when does it apply? Read on. Another amendment affects annual leases with a specific duration. What changed there, and how does it work now? Read on. By Meredith Caruso ORLANDO, Fla. – Different sections of Part II of Chapter 83 Florida Statutes, otherwise known as the “Florida Residential...

Senior homeowners often hold a significant amount of equity in their homes. This equity becomes a potential financial resource in the form of a reverse mortgage, which can turn home value into spendable cash for those aged 62 and above. While this can be an appealing prospect, it is crucial to fully understand the implications, risks, and alternatives before proceeding. "Should my parents refinance...

Homeowners with mortgage rates too low to give up aren’t listing their homes, pushing buyers to the new-home market – an economic boon for builders. NEW YORK – High interest rates are actually making new homes easy to sell by compounding a shortage of available real estate. Existing home sales have slowed because fewer owners are willing to sell, and that has pushed buyers into the arms of...

By Chantal Allam It’s a bit like “rent-to-own,” but buyers actually own a small piece from the very beginning. As time passes, their ownership percentage  slowly goes up. RALEIGH, N.C. – As higher mortgage rates lock out many would-be buyers, alternative home-financing solutions have emerged out of Silicon Valley. Among them is Ownify, a San Francisco-based startup that is testing...

Hold onto your flip-flops, folks, because the Orlando housing market is sizzling this summer! With the sun shining and the prices rising, it's time to dive into the latest market snapshot and discover the exciting trends that are making waves in the real estate scene. Let's start with the numbers that really matter. The median home price for June surfed its way to $385,000, riding the wave of...

If you've ever dreamt of paying off your mortgage faster while saving thousands of dollars in interest, get ready for a mind-blowing strategy. It's time to dive into the world of biweekly mortgage payments and discover the hidden benefits that can transform your homeownership journey. Buckle up and get ready to become a mortgage payment ninja! By default, most homeowners make monthly mortgage payments...

Before starting to find one, it helps to define a "hot" real estate deal. I think it's safe to say that a "hot" deal is anything where the price is under market value. But that's as far as it goes because what's hot to some might be merely lukewarm to others. For instance, an investor might look at a fixer priced 10% under market value and not consider that a hot deal. But a first-time buyer trying...