Homebuyers Are Choosing Walkable Neighborhoods
Tue Dec 2 2025, 2:26 pm
More Homebuyers Are Choosing Walkable Neighborhoods Across the United States — and especially among younger generations — walkability is no longer just a nice-to-have: it’s a top priority. According to a recent survey cited by real-estate experts, 79% of Americans say walkabilit...
Florida Home Insurance Costs Show Signs of Stabilizing
Tue Dec 2 2025, 2:15 pm
Florida Home Insurance Costs Show Signs of Stabilizing A recent statewide report indicates that after years of steep increases, homeowners insurance premiums in Florida may finally be leveling off. Between August and September 2025, the average statewide cost for “all-perils” coverage...
Discover Vivid Shores — Bonita Springs’ Lakeside Gem
Tue Dec 2 2025, 2:19 pm
Discover Vivid Shores — Bonita Springs’ Lakeside Gem If you’re searching for a new-home community in Southwest Florida that blends luxury living, natural beauty, and resort-style amenities — Vivid Shores could be exactly what you’ve been dreaming of. What Is Vivid...
Home Loan Volume Expected to Jump in 2026
Tue Oct 28 2025, 3:59 pm
Home Loan Volume Expected to Jump in 2026 According to the latest update from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), single-family mortgage originations in the United States are projected to increase by about 8 % in 2026, building on what’s expected in 2025. Here’s a breakdown of...
Affordable Ways to Boost Your Curb Appeal
Tue Oct 28 2025, 4:01 pm
Quick, Affordable Ways to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal First impressions matter — especially when it comes to your home’s exterior. According to the latest article from Florida Realtors, small, budget-friendly updates can instantly improve how your home is perceived and hel...
Florida Home Sales and Prices Show Signs
Tue Oct 28 2025, 3:37 pm
Florida Home Sales and Prices Show Signs of Stabilizing in September The latest data from the Florida Realtors indicate that Florida’s housing market is shifting from rapid growth toward a more balanced phase. Key trends in September suggest a state of leveling, rather than rapid escalation...
Good News Ahead: Mortgage Rates Expected to Drop Below 6% by 2026
Thu Sep 25 2025, 1:26 pm
Good News Ahead: Mortgage Rates Expected to Drop Below 6% by 2026 If you’ve been holding off on buying a home because of high mortgage rates, there’s reason to feel optimistic. According to Fannie Mae’s latest housing forecast, mortgage rates are expected to gradually decline ov...
Unexpectedly Home Surge in August
Thu Sep 25 2025, 1:17 pm
New U.S. Home Sales Surge Unexpectedly in August In a surprise turn for the housing market, sales of newly built single-family homes in the U.S. rose 20.5% in August, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 800,000 units—a sharp increase over July’s revised figures. This ma...
Young buyers are Co-Buying Homes
Thu Sep 25 2025, 1:15 pm
Gen Z Turns to Co-Buying Homes With rising home prices and higher interest rates making affordability more difficult, Gen Z is finding creative ways to step into homeownership sooner. One growing trend among this generation is co-buying—purchasing property with friends, siblings, or even ex...
Will a Fed Rate Cut Lower Mortgage Rates?
Mon Sep 1 2025, 2:43 pm
Will a Fed Rate Cut Lower Mortgage Rates? Fed Chair Jay Powell’s recent remarks in Jackson Hole hinted at a possible interest rate cut—but that may not immediately translate into lower mortgage rates. While the current average for a 30-year fixed mortgage stands at approximately 6.6%,...
Housing Market Update!
Mon Sep 1 2025, 2:58 pm
July Sees Slight Dip in Pending Home Sales Pending home sales in the U.S. slipped 0.4% in July compared to June, though they remain 0.7% higher than in July 2024, according to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Regional Highlights: Northeast &...
Is Florida the Fun State?
Mon Sep 1 2025, 2:38 pm
Is Florida the Fun State? Florida Ranks Among the Nation's Most Entertaining States Florida took the #2 spot on WalletHub’s 2025 ranking of the most fun states in America—just behind California—thanks to its abundance of entertainment and leisure options. Top highlight...
Will Mortgage Giants Recognize Crypto as an Asset
Fri Aug 1 2025, 10:51 am
Mortgage Giants Could Soon Recognize Crypto as Eligible Assets A major change may be in motion for U.S. homebuyers: the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to explore counting cryptocurrency holdings—specifically those on U.S.-regulated exchanges&md...
Caymas Naples
Fri Aug 1 2025, 10:43 am
Explore Caymas, a luxurious new-construction community by Stock Development and Pulte Homes, nestled along the last remaining lakefront property on Collier Boulevard in East Naples, just minutes south of I‑75. Spread across approximately 780 acres, Caymas features up to 500 single-family homes...
Breaking Up with Beige
Fri Aug 1 2025, 10:32 am
Design Rebellion: Breaking Up with Beige in Home Interiors For years, beige has been the go-to color for home interiors—a safe, neutral choice that appeals to a wide range of tastes. But in 2025, designers and homeowners alike are making a bold move: ditching beige in favor of vibrant, pers...
US Says No Interest Rate Cuts
Mon Jun 30 2025, 3:58 pm
Powell Says No Rate Change "For Now" Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently conveyed to Congress that the Fed will maintain its current benchmark interest rate—4.25% to 4.50%—for the time being. He described the U.S. economy as being in a “solid position,”...
Improved condo guidelines coming to Florida
Mon Jun 30 2025, 3:51 pm
Florida Realtors announce major updates to Florida’s condo laws, set to take effect July 1, 2025, introducing new legal forms and rule changes. Key revisions include: Extended Buyer Review: Section 718.503 of the Florida Condominium Act now grants prospective buyers a full se...
Florida Benefits From Improving Insurance market
Mon Jun 30 2025, 4:03 pm
Florida’s property insurance market is showing strong signs of recovery, signaling optimism for homeowners across the state. Citizens CEO Tim Cerio confirmed that recent legislative reforms have significantly improved market dynamics. Since 2024, the number of active private insurers in Fl...
U.S. consumer confidence experiences a notable rebound
Thu May 29 2025, 6:37 pm
U.S. consumer confidence experiences a notable rebound! In May 2025, U.S. consumer confidence experienced a notable rebound, breaking a five-month streak of declines. The Conference Board reported a 12.3-point increase in its Consumer Confidence Index, elevating it to 98 from April's 85.7&mda...
Why Choose an Energy-Efficient Home?
Thu May 29 2025, 6:27 pm
Why Choose an Energy-Efficient Home? 1. Reduced Utility Bills Energy-efficient homes consume less power, leading to significant savings on electricity and gas bills. With energy costs projected to rise by 10% in 2025, these savings become even more impactful. The U.S. Department of Energy estima...
Lighting plays a pivotal role in shaping the ambiance and functionality of your home
Thu May 29 2025, 6:22 pm
Lighting plays a pivotal role in shaping the ambiance and functionality of your home. According to Florida Realtors, understanding the four primary types of lighting—ambient, task, accent, and decorative—can help you create a well-balanced and inviting space. Ambient Lighting Ofte...
Industrial Style Makes a Bold Return
Sat May 3 2025, 6:30 pm
Industrial Style Makes a Bold Return in Home Design: A Raw, Refined Look for Modern Living In the ever-evolving world of interior design, trends may come and go—but some styles make a strong and lasting comeback. Industrial design, once rooted in the transformation of old factories and ware...
U.S. Pending Home Sales Surge
Sat May 3 2025, 6:32 pm
U.S. Pending Home Sales Surge 6.1% in March: A Sign of Market Revival Pending home sales in the United States saw a notable rebound in March 2025, climbing 6.1% compared to the previous month—the strongest month-over-month gain in over a year. This increase marks a potential turning point i...
Luxury Design Features 2025
Sat May 3 2025, 5:20 pm
In 2025, luxury home design is evolving to meet the desires of discerning buyers, blending sophistication with functionality. According to Florida Realtors, several key features are defining the new standard in upscale living. 1. Gourmet Kitchens with High-End Finishes Modern luxury homes prio...
Mortgage Applications Rising
Tue Apr 1 2025, 12:56 pm
Mortgage Applications Rising Some good news was reported by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) in terms of the national housing market. Mortgage applications rose 11.2 percent for the week ending March 7, 2025, from a week earlier. This can only mean one thing: More people are seeki...
Budget Friendly Laundry Room Upgrades
Tue Apr 1 2025, 12:54 pm
Budget Friendly Laundry Room Upgrades Even if you’re on a budget, there are many ways to upgrade your laundry room to make it a more functional and attractive space. There will also be a ROI (return on investment) when and if you decide to sell your home. In any case, you spend co...
Consumer Housing Sentiment Mixed
Tue Apr 1 2025, 12:53 pm
Consumer Housing Sentiment Mixed In the February Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI), the results were not exactly optimistic. In their report, (which measures consumer sentiment, not expert opinion), housing sentiment fell for the first time since 2023, year over year. The HPSI fell...
Homeowner Tax Advantages for 2025
Sat Mar 1 2025, 2:23 pm
Homeowner Tax Advantages for 2025 Tax deductions for homeowners can add up to many thousands of dollars. But in order to claim every last deduction, it is necessary to itemize your deductions. Usually, the standard homeowner deduction offered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is a h...
Are Foreclosure Rates Up or Down?
Sat Mar 1 2025, 2:22 pm
Are Foreclosure Rates Up or Down? The news concerning foreclosures/repossessions nationally is mixed. While in January 2025 (the latest stats available) foreclosure filings, default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions were up eight percent from the previous month but wer...
While All-Cash Sales are Down Nationally, Florida leads
Sat Mar 1 2025, 2:19 pm
While All-Cash Sales are Down Nationally, Florida leads Redfin, the highly respected Seattle based corporation, operating in over 100 markets in the U.S. and Canada specializes in residential real estate brokerage and mortgage origination services. Under any market conditions, those...
What’s New for Florida Real Estate in 2025 and 2026
Mon Jan 27 2025, 1:43 pm
What’s New for Florida Real Estate in 2025 and 2026 In this article I will try to keep it simple, avoiding real estate jargon and quotations from experts who tend to use obscure real estate lingo in order to make the article more palatable for average folks. So, when I make broad...
Southwest Florida Office Space Market Sees Improvement
Mon Jan 27 2025, 1:39 pm
Southwest Florida Office Space Market Sees Improvement The Colliers International Group Inc., the fourth largest commercial real estate firm, focusing on professional services and investment management, including consulting, corporate facilities, investment services, landlord and tenant...
Builder Confidence on the Rise
Mon Jan 27 2025, 1:37 pm
Builder Confidence on the Rise The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) produces the Housing Market Index (HMI) monthly, which is a measure of home builder sentiment. The HMI, in January, moved slightly higher from the prior month. Analysts think this upward move reflects an impr...
Florida Housing Markets Poised for 2025 Growth
Thu Jan 2 2025, 7:33 am
Florida Housing Markets Poised for 2025 Growth In recent decades, the Florida housing market has seen astonishing growth, attracting homebuyers, investors, and families seeking a better life. Florida is now the third largest state (by population), eclipsing New York in 2014. Regional gr...
Renters Fear Scams on the Internet
Sun Dec 29 2024, 9:46 am
Renters Fear Scams on the Internet Scams on the internet (especially social media sites) concerning rentals are growing by leaps and bounds, according to Rently, a leading firm in self-touring and smart home technology. According to the company, the tight rental market serves as an i...
New Survey Reports Real Estate is the Best Investments to Grow Your Finances
Mon Nov 25 2024, 11:40 am
New Survey Reports Real Estate is the Best Investments to Grow Your Finances Investing your money wisely can provide you with a strong source of income. It can also help fund your retirement. Investing can grow your wealth; while helping you meet your financial goals and increase your p...
Where are Wealthy Generation Zers Moving?
Mon Nov 25 2024, 11:37 am
Where are Wealthy Generation Zers Moving? Generation Zers (the generation born in the late 1990s to the early 21st century) are highly adept with the use of digital technology, the internet, and social media from a very young age. And the wealthy members of Generation Z are on the mo...
Southwest Florida Sees Residential Real Estate Price Ease
Mon Nov 25 2024, 11:52 am
Southwest Florida Sees Residential Real Estate Prices Ease According to the Business Times, Florida’s west coast, including the areas of Sarasota, is seeing the biggest home price declines since the Great Recession of 2007-2008. While prices are still rising in some parts of the c...
US Consumer Sentiment Slips in October
Mon Oct 28 2024, 5:42 pm
US Consumer Sentiment Slips in October The highly regarded University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) slipped in October amid lingering frustration over high prices (the index is issued monthly and is arrived at through interviews with hundreds of random Americans)....
Boomers and Millennials Disagree on Home Ownership
Mon Oct 28 2024, 5:39 pm
Boomers and Millennials Disagree on Home Ownership Opportunity To put it bluntly, Baby Boomers (those who were born from 1946 to 1964) hold a dim view of the complaints by millennials (a person born between the early 1980s and the late 1990s) concerning how difficult it is for them...
Benefit of Elevated Homes Takes Precedence
Mon Oct 28 2024, 5:36 pm
Benefit of Elevated Homes Takes Precedence Storm surges are when strong winds push sea water onto the shore. This can result in significant flooding, which can lead to severe structural damage to homes including foundation weakening and interior water damage. Elevated homes are better p...
How to Make Your Home Cozy and Inviting
Sat Sep 28 2024, 11:58 am
How to Make Your Home Cozy and Inviting Here are some tips for making any living space more cozy, warm, and inviting. The bonus is that this can be accomplished even on a tight budget. Add texture using blankets and cushions in warmer, neutral tones, Add an area rug, again in a...
Commercial Buildings Finding New Purpose
Sat Sep 28 2024, 11:55 am
Commercial Buildings Finding New Purpose Many developers of commercial properties thought that the pandemic had supercharged demand for the life sciences and that the demand would be sustainable. Unfortunately, for these developers, they were wrong. Biotech and pharmaceutical buildin...
Reluctant to Sell
Sat Sep 28 2024, 11:53 am
Baby Boomers are Reluctant to Sell Boomers own 38% of American Real estate but more than half (54%) never plan to sell their homes, according to a study by Clever Real Estate. Boomers, now between 60 and 78 years of age account for only 21& of the U.S. population, yet they own 38...
Florida Protecting Vacation Rentals as Vacation Rental Industry Lobbying Steps Up
Sun Sep 1 2024, 4:30 pm
Florida Protecting Vacation Rentals as Vacation Rental Industry Lobbying Steps Up In June, Governor DeSantis vetoed a bill to tighten restrictions on short term rentals in favor of local legislation. Those who support the view that short term rentals should be permitted on a wide sca...
Florida Ranks Number One for Fun Activities
Sun Sep 1 2024, 4:28 pm
Florida Ranks Number One for Fun Activities Wallet Hub, the personal finance company that launched in August 2013, is based in Miami and owned by Evolution Finance, Inc. Recently, they conducted a study to determine the states which offer the most fun. States were ranked according to th...
Mortgage Rates Hit 15 Month Low
Sun Sep 1 2024, 4:35 pm
Mortgage Rates Hit 15 Month Low The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell this week to its lowest level in 15 months, easing some of the cost for would be home buyers, in an otherwise tough housing market. Even a tiny drop in mortgage rates is enough to indicate that house-hunti...
Top Earners Flock to Florida
Fri Jul 26 2024, 4:37 pm
Top Earners Flock to Florida While Florida has been steadily gaining population for decades, the pace of in-migration has quickened in the last several years. And those newer arrivals are more than in the past from the higher income classes. Why? In recent years, states such as California, New...
Generation Z Fears They May Never Be Able to Afford a Home
Fri Jul 26 2024, 4:44 pm
Generation Z Fears They May Never Be Able to Afford a Home Generation Z, also known as "Zoomers", is the demographic cohort of people born between 1997 and 2012, making their age range from 11 to 26 years old. This generation comes after Millennials and before Genera...
Buyers Interested in Sustainable Spaces
Fri Jul 26 2024, 4:38 pm
Buyers Interested in Sustainable Spaces In a March 2024 survey by the Nation Association of Realtors (NAR), a significant percent of the agent respondents (see below) said their clients were “at least somewhat interested in sustainability.” But still, a large pe...