Will there be programs that would be cut under Trump budget?

21 Mar

Herold

1481 0

HUD programs that would be cut under Trump’s budget Funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would drop 13 percent under President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2018 budget proposal. The HUD cuts, combined with all others in the federal government’s discretionary budget, would offset proposed increases in defense and homeland security funding, including... Read more »

Why homeowner not legally entitled to unobstructed view

17 Mar

Herold

1199 0

Homeowner not legally entitled to unobstructed view We live in a condo with a beautiful waterfront view, but the management company just put up a “Do not feed the wildlife” warning sign that partially obscures our view. We’re concerned this will hurt the resale value. What can we do? – Jack Answer: Generally, you don’t... Read more »

When will single family housing will starts hitting the highest level?

17 Mar

Herold

2645 0

Single-family housing starts hit highest level in 10 years Nationwide housing starts rose 3 percent in February from an upwardly revised January reading, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Commerce Department. Single-family production increased 6.5 percent to 872,000 units – its highest reading in nearly... Read more »

Is it hard to calculate the square footage of a home that no one really knows?

16 Mar

Herold

1926 0

How to calculate a home’s square footage? No one really knows Appraisers, developers, builders, real estate professionals, tax assessors and architects all measure spaces differently, and no universal standard exists for calculating a home’s square footage – and it also varies regionally. For example, some pros calculate square footage based on the interior dimensions of... Read more »

What is the Fed raises interest rates point to be expected?

16 Mar

Herold

2220 0

Fed raises interest rates 1/4 point as expected The Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate for the second time in three months and signaled that any further hikes this year will be gradual. The move reflects a consistently solid U.S. economy and will likely mean higher rates on some consumer and business loans.... Read more »

Early bird gets worm what about spring real estate?

16 Mar

Herold

2953 0

Spring real estate buyers: Early bird gets worm Entering real estate’s traditionally busiest time of year, the housing market is buoyed by a stronger economy and consumer confidence. Job creation is 30 percent stronger year-to-year, unemployment is near a nine-year low, and wages and incomes are growing at the highest levels in about eight years,... Read more »

Where can homeowners find an equity bright spot?

15 Mar

Herold

2682 0

Homeowners find an equity bright spot One million U.S. borrowers regained equity in 2016, according to CoreLogic’s newly released housing report. Further, about 63 percent of all homeowners saw their equity increase last year. Now, 93.8 percent of all mortgaged properties – about 48 million homes – are in positive equity territory, according to the... Read more »

How can my credit scores may improve soon?

15 Mar

Herold

1735 0

Credit scores may improve soon – but there’s a risk Here’s potentially good news for consumers: The nation’s three largest credit-reporting agencies will soon exclude tax liens and some civil debts from their reports. The change by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion will take effect July 1, as part of a plan to ensure that consumer... Read more »

Does some states pay more taxes?

15 Mar

Herold

2355 0

Residents of 39 U.S. states pay more taxes WalletHub’s 2017 Taxpayer Survey and its yearly Tax Rates by State finds Floridians’ tax burden from state and local governments fairly reasonable. Overall, Florida ranked 10th for its effective state and local tax rate, meaning only nine other states charge less. The state was solidly average in... Read more »

Why will the rate increases in South Florida

14 Mar

Herold

1593 0

Property insurers seek steep rate increases in South Florida Some of the largest insurance companies in South Florida are seeking rate hikes again, and homeowners are due for some nasty surprises at renewal time. Deerfield Beach-based People’s Trust, which insured 54,267 single-family homes in the tri-county region at the end of 2016, is seeking a... Read more »