Housing starts rebound 8.3% in June to four-month high

20 Jul

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WASHINGTON (AP) – July 19, 2017 – Homebuilders ramped up construction in June to the fastest pace in four months, led by surges in the Northeast and Midwest. Housing starts climbed 8.3 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.22 million, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. The gain ended three straight monthly... Read more »

Some green homes could be toxic

19 Jul

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Some green homes could be toxic WASHINGTON – July 18, 2017 – A tightly sealed home can reduce heating/cooling costs and minimize its environmental impact, but stale recirculated air can also cause health problems, some experts say. A few are now warning homeowners to avoid any potential health impact. “Many homeowners are now having trouble... Read more »

today’s ‘dream home’ look like

19 Jul

Herold

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What does today’s ‘dream home’ look like? NEW YORK – July 18, 2017 – These days, most Americans want a “dream home” that expresses their individual style; and for many, that means modern, high-end finishes like solid-surface countertops, spa-like bathrooms and chic industrial features. The most popular images on Houzz, BHG.com, and HGTV.com, based on... Read more »

Citrus owners’ settlement money on hold

17 Jul

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Citrus owners’ settlement money on hold TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – July 14, 2017 – Florida Gov. Rick Scott had the legal authority to veto money to pay residents for healthy citrus trees that the state cut down in an effort to eradicate citrus canker, but some state Supreme Court justices admonished him Thursday for doing... Read more »

New clean energy PACE firm plans full homeowner disclosure

17 Jul

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Did you know New clean energy PACE firm plans full homeowner disclosure FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – July 14, 2017 – A new PACE financing program is launching in Florida on July 24 with protections to address concerns that some consumers aren’t informed about the program’s liens, service fees and property tax assessments. Renovate America, a... Read more »

Do you know you can buy a home now before prices go even higher

12 Jul

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Buy a home now before prices go even higher GREENSBORO, N.C. – July 11, 2017 – The risk of home price declines remains low, but affordability is increasingly a concern in cities across the U.S., according to the Summer 2017 edition of The Housing and Mortgage Market Review (HaMMR) published by Arch Mortgage Insurance Company.... Read more »

How to explain to our consumers about credit scores?

11 Jul

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Many consumers don’t understand credit scores NEW YORK – June 30, 2017 – Consumers’ knowledge of credit scores eroded over the past year, according to the seventh annual credit score survey, released by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and VantageScore Solutions, LLC. For example, fewer people knew that credit scores may be used by... Read more »

Did you know that technology leads more buyers to skip actual home visits

11 Jul

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Technology leads more buyers to skip actual home visits SEATTLE – June 30, 2017 – The number of buyers making offers sight unseen – meaning they haven’t physically visited the property – is on the rise, according to a survey of recent home buyers conducted by real estate brokerage Redfin. Thirty-three percent of respondents in... Read more »

What appliances stay and which ones go?

10 Jul

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We are buying a home to find that the property is missing the appliances FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – July 7, 2017 – Question: We are in the process of buying a home and did the day-before-closing walk-through, only to find that the property is missing the appliances. The fridge, stove, washer, dryer and dishwasher are gone.... Read more »

State s economy will top $1 trillion next year

10 Jul

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Fla. economist: State’s economy will top $1 trillion next year ORLANDO, Fla. – July 7, 2017 – University of Central Florida (UCF) Economist Sean Snaith predicts that Florida’s gross state product will break the $1 trillion mark next year – and then climb to $1.074 trillion in 2019. That gross state product level would make... Read more »