New pending sales of single-family homes in Florida rose 8% year over year in April, a sharp increase that Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor said could signal continued closed-sales growth into May and June.
Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Hialeah, St. Petersburg and Miami ranked in the top 10 for startups in a new WalletHub analysis of 100 large U.S. cities.
House and Senate negotiators remain aligned on $50 million for Hometown Heroes and full SHIP and SAIL appropriations as budget talks continue.
Florida’s housing market posted its eighth straight month of year-over-year closed sales gains, with condo and townhouse activity showing particular strength.
Litigation drops, insurers cut rates and more companies enter Florida, easing insurance costs and improving affordability and market stability.
A growing share of younger buyers is relying on family help, gifts and assistance programs to buy homes, highlighting how affordability pressures are reshaping the path to homeownership.
Creative, personality-driven listing videos are helping agents stand out, build recognizable brands and turn views into listings and leads. A Naples-area Realtor highlighted by NAR shows how.
Rates edged lower this week after rising the previous two weeks, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dipping to 6.36% and the 15-year fixed rate easing to 5.71%, according to Freddie Mac. The slight decline may help some buyers revisit affordability calculations heading into the summer market.
A new ConsumerAffairs analysis found affordability rankings improved in several Florida housing markets, including Jacksonville, Ocala and Orlando, though high-income thresholds remain in Naples and Miami.
Florida leads the nation in 65-plus households, but NAHB says the “silver tsunami” alone won’t solve tight housing inventory.
