Growing home equity is helping homeowners build financial buffers, and mortgage delinquencies have dropped, according to CoreLogic.

Member resources include property insurance information, housing help, legal support and financial aid for those in need.

Month over month, contract signings rose in the Midwest, South and West but dropped in the Northeast. 

Mortgage-rate locks rose 68% from a month earlier in the days after the Fed announced its interest-rate cut. Many house hunters had been waiting for the cut.

Expectations of the Federal Reserve beginning the first in a series of rate reductions kept potential home buyers in a holding pattern in August.

Homebuilder stocks have surged as investors expect these companies to thrive from lower mortgage rates and a boost in building activity.

The rate on a 30-year mortgage dipped to 6.08% from 6.09% last week. The rate averaged 7.31% a year ago. Rates on 15-year fixed rose to 5.16% from 5.15%.

The storm is expected to make landfall on Thursday evening and could intensify to a strong Category 3. More than a dozen counties are under evacuation orders.

The latest consumer guide covers rules for seller concessions, including when and where to offer them.

While rewarding, home renovations can be time consuming, costly and frustrating. Take steps to ensure the project is executed correctly.

Borrowers should calculate the break-even point when buying discount points. They may lower the mortgage rate, but it might not be cost-effective overall.

AI allows small businesses to work smarter and faster. For marketing, it can be used to generate blog posts, email newsletters and social media content.

As tech habits vary across generations, businesses should adapt marketing strategies to cater to different preferences in search tools, social media and AI use.

Florida Realtors has resources for members before and after a storm, including our printable hurricane prep plan and the Disaster Relief Fund.

Some of the best tools for agents include image generators, social content creators and AI assistants. Many are free and easy to use.

The consumer survey, taken before the Fed rate cut, reflects concerns about the labor market, an economist said. The drop was steepest among the 35–54 age group.

In the South Atlantic division, which includes Florida, home prices rose 3.6% in July, according to the FHFA's seasonally adjusted monthly House Price Index.

Renters want off-street parking and in-unit laundry in their units, while happy hour, turfed pet areas and air filtration are also favorites.

Even though millionaires have more options than average American buyers, many see renting as a better investment for now. 

Members across Florida are urged to prepare for potential impacts from a tropical disturbance that is forecast to develop into Hurricane Helene.