If you are a homebuyer seeking a mortgage and the house you contract for appraises for less than the actual contract price, you need to fully evaluate whether to waive the so-called appraisal gap. Waivers of appraisal typically occur in high demand real estate markets, where there are more buyers seeking homes than sellers listing
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An Alternative to Traditional Lender Mortgages: Seller Financing
Are you a seller willing to provide a mortgage to a prospective home purchaser? Or, are you a residential home purchaser able to purchase a home for full price or even a higher offer and seek alternative financing? There is an uptick in seller financing for both parties due to the increase in interest rates…
When Will the Housing Market Pick Up Again?
Why Is the Housing Market So Sluggish?
There is a critical shortage of homes causing a weak housing market. Sales of pre-owned homes dropped 3.3% in June from May, and 18.9% lower than from June of 2022. While a six-month supply is considered balanced between buyer and seller, the current sales represent only a…
Florida’s Controversial New Law: Limitations of Foreigners Acquiring Real Property
As of July 1, 2023, Florida’s recently enacted legislation, SB264, restricts certain foreigners from buying or owning Florida real estate. Specifically, the new law, codified in Florida Statutes 692.202-204, provides land ownership restriction, prohibiting “foreign principals” from owning or acquiring agricultural land or real property within ten miles of any military installation or critical…
Zombie Mortgages & Potential Foreclosures
Many homeowners may have taken second mortgages, including home equity lines of credit, on their homes years ago, and thought that the underlying mortgage debt for such loans was forgiven. Other homeowners may have inherited a home without knowing that there was a second mortgage in place or bought such a home at a foreclosure…
Do cash homebuyers have an advantage?
Cash offers on homes have increased substantially over the last few years. In 2022, according to Redfin, 30% of all home sales were paid with all cash with 64% of all $1 million plus sales in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties as well as 46% those under $1 million being cash deals.
What are…
Florida’s Affordable Housing Law
The Live Local Act is Florida’s response to the housing crisis affordable legislation, designed to provide developers with substantial tax breaks and hundreds of millions of dollars in funding. On March 29th, the Governor signed this Act into law which is to take effect on July 1.
What does the Live Local Act do?
The…
Back to the Financial Time Machine: Bracing for the 2023 Recession
As the global economic landscape continues to devolve, it is crucial to draw upon the lessons learned from previous financial crises, much like Marty McFly’s thrilling time travel experiences in the classic film “Back to the Future.” With the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate hikes and the ongoing banking dilemma triggered by a liquidity crisis…
Best Home Deals? New Construction!
Innovations in Commercial Office Space
Commercial workspaces are evolving as more people split their time between home and office. As a result, there are innovative ideas as to how the future of commercial real estate will evolve in terms of rethinking office designs in order to not only accommodate a growing hybrid work force but also encourage workers to spend…