Court: Zillow Owes $2M for Copyright Infringement

An appeals court agreed with a lower court’s decision: Zillow’s use of VHT photos was copyright infringement. Agents often hire VHT to take property photos, but the allowable use of those photos is generally spelled out in a contract.
Read MoreLandlord and Tenant Act’s Changes and Amendments

One section addresses “termination of a tenancy without a specific term.” What does that mean and when does it apply? Another amendment affects annual leases with a specific duration. What changed there and how does it work now?
Read More1.1M New Apartments May Not Lower Rents Much

Some economists predict a slight drop in rents, but only in some metros – and even there it won’t have a big impact after years of rising rental costs.
Read MoreClients Afraid of Commitment? How to Help

To buy or sell a home? It’s a big decision, and many people hesitate when they face one. Building rapport and saying the right things can help.
Read More5% Tipping Point for Sellers vs. Locked-In Owners

Best sales prospects are homeowners with current mortgage rates of 5% or more. Those with lower rates don’t want to lose it and are more likely to hunker down.
Read MoreBank Plan Could Impact Mortgage Rates

Regulators want to boost capital requirements, but, as proposed, they’re targeting banks that offer mortgages with higher loan-to-value ratios. That could raise rates.
Read More1 in 4 Floridians Would Ignore Evacuation Warnings

Why would a Fla. resident refuse to evacuate? Why don’t some at-risk Fla. owners buy flood insurance? A survey by AAA asked.
Read MoreSeller Financing Returns as Mortgage Rates Rise

An old tool is back as mortgage rates rise: Seller financing often occurs when buyers hope to save on closing costs and sellers want top dollar for their home.
Read MoreWhite House Steps Up Renter Protections

While properties under HUD may be directly affected, five federal agencies “strongly encourage” some changes, such as a public posting of renters’ rights.
Read MoreWhite House Issues Affordable Housing Policy

$85M in funding for HUD will reduce barriers, such as zoning restrictions, that have “become a hurdle to increasing the supply and density of affordable housing.”
Read More‘Rolling Recession,’ ‘Richcession’ or No Recession?

More economists now think the U.S. will avoid a recession, in part because the downturn affects high-earning workers more and it isn’t affecting all industries.
Read MoreHave a Strong Visual Identity?

Agents work hard to set themselves apart from the crowd, and an easy-to-recognize brand uses logos, colors, graphics and styles across all marketing platforms.
Read MoreFirst-Timers’ Need 13% More Income this Year

Nationally it’s 13%, but in Fort Lauderdale it’s 28% – the highest in the U.S. In Miami, a first-time buyer needs to earn 25% more than they did a year ago.
Read MoreBuy 2nd Home with Family, Friends? Get a Lawyer

“We all get along great” isn’t much help if there’s a disagreement about guests, repairs or maintenance. A lawyer can pre-solve problems before issues arise.
Read More5 Fla. Metros in Top 10 for Out-of-State Buyers

In 2Q 2023, Fla. remained a top go-to state, with the lion’s share relocating from New York, but Chicago provided more buyers for Cape Coral, No. 7 on the list.
Read MoreMobile Marketing: Many Agents’ Missed Opportunity

People use cellphones constantly – computers not so much. That means websites and ads that work just as well on smaller screens will be seen by a lot more people.
Read MoreGood News/Bad News: Economy Accelerates in 2Q

The U.S. economy grew 2.4%, up from 2% in the first quarter, indicating a still-robust economy that adds pressure on the Fed to raise interest rates again.
Read MoreNAR: June Pending Sales Rose 0.3%

“The recovery has not taken place, but the housing recession is over,” says NAR’s chief economist, after the first pending-sales increase in three months.
Read More30-Year Mortgage Rates Head Back Up, Hit 6.81%

After moving closer to 7% and then falling last week, the 30-year, fixed-rate moved a bit higher from last week’s 6.78%. A year ago, the rate averaged 5.3%.
Read More5 Ways AI Can Boost Real Estate Marketing

It’s hard to underestimate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). International deals, for instance, will be easier even if no one speaks a common language.
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