Traditionally in the U.S. housing market, the seller has offered the buyer’s broker and agent a share in the commission specified in the listing agreement between the seller and the listing broker and agent. In a settlement between the National Association of REALTORS�, beginning on August 17, 2024, buyers will have to sign an agreement […]
U.S. Homeowners Property Tax Increase
Last year, U.S. homeowners faced an average property tax bill exceeding $4,000, marking the highest increase in five years, according to data from Attom Data Solutions, a real estate data firm. Property taxes nationwide amounted to over $363 billion in 2023, reflecting a 6.9% rise, largely attributed to inflationary pressures on local government costs and […]
October 2024 – SWFL Real Estate Market Update
October 2024 Real Estate MARKET UPDATE BY: D. MICHAEL BURKE & HUNTER D. HABIB As we move into October 2024, the Southwest Florida real estate market continues to show signs of adjustment following a dynamic year. After several months of steady declines in active listings, the market has finally seen a slight uptick in […]
Use Ben’s Balance Sheet to Decide
There is a technique that has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin and used when faced with a decision. As the lore goes, whenever Ben was faced with a decision, like you are now, he’d take a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle of it. On the left side, he’d list all the […]
Is a written buyer’s agreement necessary?
Beginning August 17, 2024, many agents will be required to enter into a written agreement with a buyer before touring a home either in-person or through a live virtual tour and buyers should be familiar with what it entails. There have been buyer agreements for decades in the real estate industry and it was always […]
Tips to reduce your homeowner’s insurance cost
Home insurance rates have increased by almost 20% nationally between 2021 and 2023 and even more in some states like Arizona where rates have jumped 62% in some cases. The appreciation that homeowners have enjoyed, especially in the past four years, has caused premiums to increase because the values are higher. In addition, insurance is […]
Finding Affordability in Lessons of the Past
In the 1980s, home buyers faced significantly higher mortgage rates compared to today’s market. Despite this challenge, many people successfully purchased homes and made them worthwhile investments. They employed a range of strategies to manage costs and ensure affordability. Here are the key tactics they used, explained in detail: To reduce the amount borrowed and […]
September 2024 – SWFL Real Estate Market Update
September 2024 Real Estate MARKET UPDATE BY: D. MICHAEL BURKE & HUNTER D. HABIB As we enter September 2024, the real estate market in Southwest Florida continues to evolve, reflecting both seasonal patterns and broader economic influences. This update provides insights into the current trends and what they mean for buyers, sellers, and investors. […]
Convenient but not accurate can cost you money
Online estimates like Zillow, realtor.com, Redfin, & Homes.com are convenient, but typically lack accuracy and may have a significant margin of error. They are constructed using a computer-generated algorithm that utilizes historical public sales data and trends called an Automated Value Model, AVM. National AVMs derive values from automated computer modeling of public records and […]
Benefits of Checking your Credit Regularly
You are encouraged by the Federal Trade Commission to be sure the information on your credit reports is accurate, complete, and up to date at least once a year. It is an important part of your financial life that can determine whether you get credit, the terms of the credit and how much it will […]
