Florida Realtors General Counsel Juana Watkins warned that routine advertising, screening and customer communications can create lawsuits or ethics complaints even when they do not lead to regulatory discipline. She urged Realtors to understand overlapping rules and seek guidance before acting in legal gray areas.
The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate steady for a fifth consecutive meeting, but three officials favored an increase as persistent inflation and a potentially higher neutral rate cloud the outlook for borrowing costs. The shift suggests mortgage rates and other consumer loan rates could remain elevated longer than many borrowers expect.
New construction is giving homebuyers more choices and negotiating power across the South, including Florida, according to HomeServices of America’s 2026 Mid-Year National Housing Outlook. The shift increases competition for sellers and makes accurate pricing and local market guidance more important.
FHA is considering a new way to manage partial claims that could reduce paperwork and help prevent delays when homeowners sell, refinance or transfer a property.
Real estate agents can help buyers make more informed decisions by focusing on the full monthly payment, including taxes, insurance and association fees, rather than the listing price alone. Discussing those costs early can prevent surprises, narrow the home search and demonstrate the value of an agent’s market knowledge.
First-time buyers can make a clearer buy-or-wait decision by weighing their finances, local market conditions, housing costs and future plans.
Florida has 42,601 empty lots listed for sale, the most in the nation. Zillow estimates that building one home on each listed U.S. lot could reduce the housing shortage by 6.3%.
New research finds AI is strengthening demand in some commercial markets while reducing space needs in others, depending on local jobs and industries.
Florida recorded 51,444 new-home permits through the second quarter, down 7% from a year earlier, though Northwest Florida and several counties posted growth.
The 30-year fixed rate reaches 6.66% as bond yields respond to Iran conflict. That's still slightly below the average of 6.72% a year ago.
