The March 2020 report from the Miami Association of Realtors, shows an increase of sales in the real estate market. “The Miami real estate market extended its run of solid expansion through March 2020,” said Jorge L. Guerra Jr. the association’s chairman of the board. “While COVID-19 is expected to temporarily impact home sales on a global level, we remain optimistic the robust fundamentals of the South Florida housing market will minimize the impact and sales activity will resume later in the year, as things normalize and pent-up demand builds.”
Here we show the market by the numbers
Miami-Dade
Broward
Sales
Total increase by 43%
Single-family increased by 1.6%
Condos increased by .6%
Sales
Total decreased by 0.18%
Single-family decreased by 1.%
Condos increased by 1.2%
Inventory
Single-family dropped by 1.6%
Condos dropped by 13%
Actual Supply
Single-family 5.5 months of supply
Condos 12.5 months of supply
Inventory
Single-family dropped by 18.6%
Condos dropped by 6.9%
Actual Supply
Single-family 3.7 months of supply
Condos 5.9 months of supply
Median Prices Growth
Single-family increased by 9% from $351,250 to 382,750
Condos increased by 9.8% from $244,950 to $269,000
Median Prices Growth
Single-family increased by 6.8% from $365,000 to 390,000
Condos increased by 6.2% from $2169,525 to $180,000
Luxury Real Estate Market
Price
Prices increased for both single-family homes and condos
Luxury Transactions
Single-family transactions increased by 17.1 %
Condos transactions increased by 46.8%
Luxury Real Estate Market
Price
Prices increased for both single-family homes and decreased for condos
Luxury Transactions
Single-family transactions increased by 18.3%
Condo transactions decreased by 24.2%
Listing Price
More than 90% of properties were sold for or near the asking price.
Listing Price
More than 90% of properties were sold for or near the asking price.
Cash Transactions
Decreased by 32.4% from 35.6% in March 2019
Cash Transactions
Decreased by 35.9% from 37.7% in March 2019
Before COVID-19, South Florida real estate sales were increasing, and even though the market has slowed down, it is expected for the south Florida real estate market to bounce back.
We are here to offer solutions to our clients, even during COVID-19 we have adapted to the needs of our clients and our industry providing many options for closings following social distancing measures from drive-in curbside closings to remote online notarization.
Remote online notarization offers real estate professionals the benefit to close transactions in which one of the parties is out of town, giving them the opportunity to provide a suitable closing experience.
The South Florida real estate industry remains active; there are still opportunities to find buyers and sellers. Realtors and brokers are offering virtual showings and regular showings when it is possible, always following social distancing. Realtors should be using this time to enhance their social media presence, build their following, and gain interested buyers for now as well as after this pandemic ends.
We, at Title Partners of Florida, write and support the real estate transaction closing, including the issuance of title insurance policies through Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. We also coordinate searches, title products, and a variety of other services for our clients. Contact us with any questions about our real estate closing services by phone (844) 321-6168 or by email titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com.
https://titlepartnersfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/house-2368389_640.jpg426640Title Partnershttps://titlepartnersfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Title-Partners-Final-logo-small-e1454711286626.pngTitle Partners2020-05-28 16:27:512020-05-28 16:29:59South Florida Real Estate Homes Sales Slight Climbed as COVID-19 Hit
Thank you for being our customer and allow us to help you the very best we can.
At this time of uncertainty, we want you to know we are here to assist you and your clients. We remain open to process your real estate closings.
In an effort to comply with the recommended social distancing guidelines, and prevent the spread of the virus, we are taking precautions to protect you and the public; and asking our customers, to contact us by phone, so we coordinate the closing process in the safest manner, if necessary we’ll make special arrangements.
We are committed to continue providing quality service. We appreciate your understanding as we all do our part while we navigate during this uncertain time period.
Please contact our office at 1-844-321-6168 with any questions you may have or email us at info titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com
During the process of buying and selling real estate, several documents among the execution of the deed and the mortgage must be notarized; we are happy to share that Florida passed a new bill that allows remote online notarization (RON) for real estate transactions. The House Bill 409 went into effect on January 1, 2020. Florida has joined twenty other states, becoming the 11th new state to adopt RON legislation in 2019, and 21st overall.
Remote online notarization offers real estate professionals the benefit to close transactions in which one of the parties is out of town, giving them the opportunity to provide a suitable closing experience. The House Bill 409 also allows remote notaries to execute fully electronic Wills.
What is RON?
It is a process whereby a signer and a notary public use audio and video communication to notarize the signer’s electronic signature on electronic documents. In states where RON is permitted, personal appearance requirements are met by this interactive audio-video conference. Among other elements, the new law states: “…Whether the signer personally appeared before the notary public at the time of the notarization by physical presence or by means of audio-video communication technology as authorized under part II of this chapter…”
What are the RON requirements?
The transaction must comply with all the Florida state notarial law requirements where the property is located.
The seller, the buyer/borrower, and the lender must give written consent to the transaction.
Consent must be obtained prior to execution of documents electronically.
Underwriters require that RON service providers follow specific procedures to proof identity, and provide a clear quality audio-video recording of the notarial act only, provide a post-execution document record, and have in place a comprehensive vendor security program to ensure data security, such as SSAE 16, SOC2, or ISO27001. There are multiple technology requirements for notarizing an instrument via remote connection.
If the transaction involves the execution of a power of attorney by a remote online notarization or the use of a power of attorney for execution of documents, additional approval is required.
To qualify as a remote notary, a notary must complete a two-hour training course, post a $25,000 bond, and obtain $25,000 of errors and omissions insurance coverage.
More and more we rely on technology to perform important processes in our lives, now anyone can buy or sell real estate, signing and notarizing documents entirely online. As far as the title companies, we are happy to announce that now we can close online in two simple steps.
May you have any questions related to this matter, or you are looking to close on a real estate transaction, and need the services of a title company, or a real estate attorney, please reach out to us today. We are happy to offer you our guidance. We, at Title Partners of Florida, write and support the real estate transaction closing, including the issuance of title insurance policies through Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. We also coordinate searches, title products, and a variety of other services for our clients. Contact us with any questions about our real estate closing services by phone (844) 321-6168 or by email titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com.
https://titlepartnersfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Remote-Notarization-Blog.png534589Title Partnershttps://titlepartnersfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Title-Partners-Final-logo-small-e1454711286626.pngTitle Partners2020-02-04 18:55:102020-02-04 18:56:17Remote Online Notarization (RON) is Now Legal for Real Estate Transactions in Florida
The drop in mortgage rates during 2019 marked a dramatic turnaround from the previous year expectations, when mortgage rates briefly reached 5 percent and the Federal Reserve indicated two interest rate increases. Instead, surging trade wars shivered confidence in the markets, the Fed cut rates and investors —hungry for the relative security of mortgage debt that they were willing to accept lower yields— drove mortgage rates down.
A new decade started and 2020 greets home shoppers with lower mortgage rates compared with 2019. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.72% this week, compared to 4.51% at the beginning of 2019. In the past two months, the thirty-year rates have floated around 3.7% average, showing some stability in mortgage rates over the last few weeks.
Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist said: “The stability is welcome news after the interest rate turbulence of the last year, which caused a slowdown in the housing market and other interest rate-sensitive sectors. The low mortgage rate environment combined with the red-hot labor market is setting the stage for a continued rise in home sales and home prices.”
The national averages with mortgage rates reported by Freddie Mac for the week ending Jan. 2 are as follows:
30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.72%, with an average 0.7 point, falling slightly from a 3.74% average a week ago. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.51%.
15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.16%, with an average 0.7 point, dropping from last week’s 3.19% average. A year ago, 15-year rates averaged 3.99%.
5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.46%, with an average 0.3 point, rising slightly from a 3.45% average last week. A year ago, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.98%.
The drop in mortgage rates was a save on the budgets of potential homeowners, who could take out larger loans for the same monthly payments; however, economists say housing affordability will become a more pressing issue in 2020, determining where people live and how they spend.
After mortgage rates dropped, home price appreciation accelerated, ending 13 months of slowing home price growth, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, a measure of home prices.
The National Association of Realtors: The trade association for real estate agents predicts moderate growth in the housing market and continued low mortgage rates. The experts predicts that the low rates will last. It is expected that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate will remain below 4% in the coming year, moving to 3.8% by the end of 2020.
We, at Title Partners of Florida, write and support the real estate transaction closing, including the issuance of title insurance policies through Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. We also coordinate searches, title products, and a variety of other services for our clients. Contact us with any questions about our real estate closing services by phone (844) 321-6168 or by email titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com.
https://titlepartnersfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mortga-rates-2020-sm.png6671000Title Partnershttps://titlepartnersfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Title-Partners-Final-logo-small-e1454711286626.pngTitle Partners2020-01-08 17:11:172020-01-08 17:11:17A New Year Kicks In With Lower Mortgage Rates
The so-called “pocket listings”, “coming soon” listings and listings marketed on private networks outside the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) have been debated for quite a while. Some believe that keeping listings off the MLS reduces the buyers’ options, distorts market data, and may not be in the seller’s best interest.
The subject has been in discussion since 2013 by a work group at the NAR. An advisory board to the NAR developed a recommendation known as the Clear Cooperation proposal designed to foster broker cooperation and address the off-market listings. Finally, after its revision, discussion, and recommendations, at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Francisco, the proposal was approved on November 11, 2019 by the MLS Issues and Policies Committee.
The MLS Policy 8.0 states as follows:
“Within one (1) business day of marketing a property to the public, the listing broker must submit the listing to the MLS for cooperation with other MLS participants. Public marketing includes, but is not limited to, flyers displayed in windows, yard signs, digital marketing on public facing websites, brokerage website displays (including IDX and VOW), digital communications marketing (email blasts), multi-brokerage listing sharing networks, and applications available to the general public.”
Jon Colie, vice president of MLS, industry relations for HomeServices of America, and current chairman of the board for Mid-Atlantic regional BRIGHT MLS said: “The policy doesn’t eliminate private-office exclusives, “coming soon” listings, or even pocket listings, instead, it addresses what he called hybrids, meaning, “We’re marketing it everywhere except the MLS.”
All MLSs must adopt the policy before May 1, 2020. Non-compliance of the policy may include warnings and fines, which will be determined by the local MLS. This policy only affects residential real estate, and it requires listings to be submitted to the MLS if they are advertised to a select group of brokers outside the listing broker’s office. It doesn’t prohibit brokers from taking office-exclusive listings, nor does it impede their ability to meet clients’ privacy needs. The policy intends to bolster cooperation and promote a more constructive and procompetitive impact for consumers.
The Clear Cooperation Policy calls for all MLS participants to input any listing they market publicly, into the local MLS within one day, enabling MLS participants to share listings with the widest audience of potential buyers. The distribution of the listing is pro-competitive and pro-consumer. The goal is to ensure that all buyers have fair access to the full range of residential listings and make the business of selling and buying real estate more transparent.
We, at Title Partners of Florida, write and support real estate transaction closings, including the issuance of title insurance policies through Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. We also coordinate searches, title products, and a variety of other services for our clients. Contact us with any questions about our real estate closing services by phone (844) 321-6168 or by email titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com.
https://titlepartnersfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/house-for-sale.jpg19201565Title Partnershttps://titlepartnersfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Title-Partners-Final-logo-small-e1454711286626.pngTitle Partners2019-12-09 10:10:562019-12-09 10:10:56MLS ‘Clear Cooperation Policy’ was Approved by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR)
Florida lawmakers filed more than 3,500 bills in the last legislative session, from which 200 made it through the House and Senate. Some of the new laws are already in effect, some are effective starting July 2019, other will be effective in October 2019. Florida’s Realtors should beware, the new legislation will impact Realtors and their clients in different ways. Here we list each rule with a summary of each:
Preventing Unlicensed Real Estate Activity
The new law has set aside up to $500,000 to fight unlicensed real estate activity.
How it concerns to Realtors? People without a real estate license, conducting real estate services can cause serious defacement to the Realtor profession, and cause financial harm to unknowing clients.
Money for Affordable Housing Projects
The government budget has $200 million for affordable housing programs, of which $115 million is included to assist Panhandle residents whose properties were devastated by Hurricane Michael.
How it concerns to Realtors? One of the biggest issues that Florida’s economy is currently facing is the lack of affordable housing options. This has affected the workers living in the area, who decide to leave because they couldn’t find affordable places to live, shrinking some communities. This will make Florida more attractive to the workers looking to move here.
Property Owner Bill of Rights and Tree Trimming
The new Senate bill 1400 contains measures requiring county property appraisers to publish a list of constitutionally protected property rights on their websites. They also allow property owners to trim or remove trees on their property without consequence as long as they have a letter from a certified arborist or landscape architect stating the tree is a danger.
Why it concerns to Realtors? Private property rights are the foundation of homeownership, and Realtors have an obligation to protect those rights.
Banning Vegetable Garden Restrictions
A new law prevents local governments from regulating homeowners’ vegetable gardens. The topic emerged after a Miami Shores couple had to grub up their vegetable garden due to a local ordinance. Note: this does not apply to homeowners associations (HOAs) rules.
Why it concerns to Realtors? the new law focal point is to protect private property rights. Home buyers expect to use the property how they deem appropriate, and limitations on their rights can drive potential buyers away.
Assignment of Benefits (AOB) Reform
The insurance process known as AOB passed in the form includes limitations on the ability of contractors to recover attorney fees if they are successful in court. This is commonly referred to as one-way attorney fees and the primary incentive behind AOB abuse.
How it concerns to Realtors? This reform could produce lower insurance rates in different parts of the state, making home ownership more affordable.
Flood Insurance
The new law requires insurers issuing homeowners insurance policies to add a disclosure about the importance of flood insurance to policies that does not include flood coverage. The disclosure must be included in the initial policy and each renewal.
How it concerns to Realtors? Homeowners, especially first-time buyers, often think their homeowner insurance policy covers their property against flooding. This disclosure will inform them so they can make informed decisions.
Property Insurance “Omnibus” Bill
The new law allows insurers to provide multi-policy discounts to homeowners who purchased homeowners and auto policies from the same agent. It raised the cap for reimbursement from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund for loss adjustment from 5 to 10 percent for contracts issued after June 1, 2019; pledge that applicant and agents of workers’ comp insurance don’t require to notarize their sworn statements; establish several updated for the Florida Surplus Lines industry, including abolishing the prescriptive cap agent policy fees, replacing it with a requirement that the fee be “reasonable” and separately disclosed to the customer. It also decreased the residential dwelling replacement to $700,000.
How it concerns to Realtors? Informed real estate agents can become a good resource to their clients who often have questions about the insurance options available to them.
Fire and Life Safety Systems for Condos
The deadline for high-rise condominiums to be retrofitted with fire sprinklers or another engineered life safety system, was extended, postponing the effective date from Dec. 31, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2023.
Why it concerns to Realtors? Condominiums that would have not retrofitted or installed fire systems to the postponed deadline, would have been out of compliance with the law, which could have created uncertainty to sellers and realtors with real estate transactions of units in these condominiums.
Texting While Driving Ban
The new law is more severe than the Florida’s existing ban on texting, emailing and instant messaging while driving. Texting while driving is now a primary offense, meaning law enforcement can stop a vehicle solely for texting while driving.
Why it concerns to Realtors? Realtors not only spend a good portion of their time driving from their home or office to the properties or to meet clients, but also rely on texting to communicate with their clients and colleagues to conduct business. Now, they should plan better to avoid using the phone while on the road.
Environmental Funding
Significant amounts of funding have been set aside to preserve Florida’s natural resources and combat environmental problems such as blue-green algae and red tide. More than $625 million will be used for things like Everglades restoration, completion of the project that will raise Tamiami Trail, springs restoration, beach restoration projects, a red tide/blue green algae task force and a septic-to-sewer cost-share program.
Why it concerns to Realtors? If Issues like red tide worsen, it will impact Florida real estate industry. Several reasons bring visitors and new residents to Florida, and its natural resources is one of them.
Fighting Red Tide
In addition to the environmental funding, $3 million a year for the next six years are set aside for the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative – a partnership between the state and Mote Marine Laboratory to develop technologies that can control and mitigate red tide and its impact.
How it concerns to Realtors? This initiative’s goal is to assist in finding a solution to the Coastal and surrounding communities red tide recurring issue, which slowed tourism and hurt local real estate markets last year.
Providing More Structure for Beach Restoration Projects
The new law intends to remove the arbitrary selection and assigning of funds for specified beach management projects, and the related requirements for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop and maintain. It also requires a comprehensive long-term beach management plan throughout Florida.
Why it concerns to Realtors? Keeping the Sunshine state’s beaches in good condition will always impact the communities. Our beaches are one of the attractive features to multiple visitors, second home owners, and new residents from other states and around the world.
New Options for Wetlands Mitigation Projects
The approved rule allows developers in areas lacking private wetlands mitigation credits to partner with local governments to mitigate on publicly-owned conservation land.
Why it concerns to Realtors? Developing a community makes it grows; however, it is also important to protect the environment, and these new projects will help find the balance.
We, at Title Partners of Florida, write and support the real estate transaction closing, including the issuance of title insurance policies through Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. We also coordinate searches, title products, and a variety of other services for our clients. Contact us with any questions about our real estate closing services by phone (844) 321-6168 or by email titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com.
https://titlepartnersfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/florida-real-estate-new-rules.gif7471179Title Partnershttps://titlepartnersfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Title-Partners-Final-logo-small-e1454711286626.pngTitle Partners2019-08-29 10:01:522019-08-29 10:31:05Effective July 1, 2019 Florida New Law and its Impact in Real Estate
South Florida Real Estate Homes Sales Slight Climbed as COVID-19 Hit
UncategorizedThe March 2020 report from the Miami Association of Realtors, shows an increase of sales in the real estate market. “The Miami real estate market extended its run of solid expansion through March 2020,” said Jorge L. Guerra Jr. the association’s chairman of the board. “While COVID-19 is expected to temporarily impact home sales on a global level, we remain optimistic the robust fundamentals of the South Florida housing market will minimize the impact and sales activity will resume later in the year, as things normalize and pent-up demand builds.”
Here we show the market by the numbers
Total increase by 43%
Single-family increased by 1.6%
Condos increased by .6%
Total decreased by 0.18%
Single-family decreased by 1.%
Condos increased by 1.2%
Single-family dropped by 1.6%
Condos dropped by 13%
Actual Supply
Single-family 5.5 months of supply
Condos 12.5 months of supply
Single-family dropped by 18.6%
Condos dropped by 6.9%
Actual Supply
Single-family 3.7 months of supply
Condos 5.9 months of supply
Single-family increased by 9% from $351,250 to 382,750
Condos increased by 9.8% from $244,950 to $269,000
Single-family increased by 6.8% from $365,000 to 390,000
Condos increased by 6.2% from $2169,525 to $180,000
Price
Prices increased for both single-family homes and condos
Luxury Transactions
Single-family transactions increased by 17.1 %
Condos transactions increased by 46.8%
Price
Prices increased for both single-family homes and decreased for condos
Luxury Transactions
Single-family transactions increased by 18.3%
Condo transactions decreased by 24.2%
More than 90% of properties were sold for or near the asking price.
More than 90% of properties were sold for or near the asking price.
Decreased by 32.4% from 35.6% in March 2019
Decreased by 35.9% from 37.7% in March 2019
Before COVID-19, South Florida real estate sales were increasing, and even though the market has slowed down, it is expected for the south Florida real estate market to bounce back.
We are here to offer solutions to our clients, even during COVID-19 we have adapted to the needs of our clients and our industry providing many options for closings following social distancing measures from drive-in curbside closings to remote online notarization.
Remote online notarization offers real estate professionals the benefit to close transactions in which one of the parties is out of town, giving them the opportunity to provide a suitable closing experience.
The South Florida real estate industry remains active; there are still opportunities to find buyers and sellers. Realtors and brokers are offering virtual showings and regular showings when it is possible, always following social distancing. Realtors should be using this time to enhance their social media presence, build their following, and gain interested buyers for now as well as after this pandemic ends.
We, at Title Partners of Florida, write and support the real estate transaction closing, including the issuance of title insurance policies through Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. We also coordinate searches, title products, and a variety of other services for our clients. Contact us with any questions about our real estate closing services by phone (844) 321-6168 or by email titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com.
Title Partners COVID-19 Update
UncategorizedDear valued clients,
Thank you for being our customer and allow us to help you the very best we can.
At this time of uncertainty, we want you to know we are here to assist you and your clients. We remain open to process your real estate closings.
In an effort to comply with the recommended social distancing guidelines, and prevent the spread of the virus, we are taking precautions to protect you and the public; and asking our customers, to contact us by phone, so we coordinate the closing process in the safest manner, if necessary we’ll make special arrangements.
We are committed to continue providing quality service. We appreciate your understanding as we all do our part while we navigate during this uncertain time period.
Please contact our office at 1-844-321-6168 with any questions you may have or email us at info titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com
We are here for you,
Richard Adams
Remote Online Notarization (RON) is Now Legal for Real Estate Transactions in Florida
UncategorizedDuring the process of buying and selling real estate, several documents among the execution of the deed and the mortgage must be notarized; we are happy to share that Florida passed a new bill that allows remote online notarization (RON) for real estate transactions. The House Bill 409 went into effect on January 1, 2020. Florida has joined twenty other states, becoming the 11th new state to adopt RON legislation in 2019, and 21st overall.
Remote online notarization offers real estate professionals the benefit to close transactions in which one of the parties is out of town, giving them the opportunity to provide a suitable closing experience. The House Bill 409 also allows remote notaries to execute fully electronic Wills.
What is RON?
It is a process whereby a signer and a notary public use audio and video communication to notarize the signer’s electronic signature on electronic documents. In states where RON is permitted, personal appearance requirements are met by this interactive audio-video conference. Among other elements, the new law states: “…Whether the signer personally appeared before the notary public at the time of the notarization by physical presence or by means of audio-video communication technology as authorized under part II of this chapter…”
What are the RON requirements?
To qualify as a remote notary, a notary must complete a two-hour training course, post a $25,000 bond, and obtain $25,000 of errors and omissions insurance coverage.
More and more we rely on technology to perform important processes in our lives, now anyone can buy or sell real estate, signing and notarizing documents entirely online. As far as the title companies, we are happy to announce that now we can close online in two simple steps.
May you have any questions related to this matter, or you are looking to close on a real estate transaction, and need the services of a title company, or a real estate attorney, please reach out to us today. We are happy to offer you our guidance. We, at Title Partners of Florida, write and support the real estate transaction closing, including the issuance of title insurance policies through Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. We also coordinate searches, title products, and a variety of other services for our clients. Contact us with any questions about our real estate closing services by phone (844) 321-6168 or by email titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com.
A New Year Kicks In With Lower Mortgage Rates
UncategorizedThe drop in mortgage rates during 2019 marked a dramatic turnaround from the previous year expectations, when mortgage rates briefly reached 5 percent and the Federal Reserve indicated two interest rate increases. Instead, surging trade wars shivered confidence in the markets, the Fed cut rates and investors —hungry for the relative security of mortgage debt that they were willing to accept lower yields— drove mortgage rates down.
A new decade started and 2020 greets home shoppers with lower mortgage rates compared with 2019. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.72% this week, compared to 4.51% at the beginning of 2019. In the past two months, the thirty-year rates have floated around 3.7% average, showing some stability in mortgage rates over the last few weeks.
Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist said: “The stability is welcome news after the interest rate turbulence of the last year, which caused a slowdown in the housing market and other interest rate-sensitive sectors. The low mortgage rate environment combined with the red-hot labor market is setting the stage for a continued rise in home sales and home prices.”
Pending Home Sales Jump
The national averages with mortgage rates reported by Freddie Mac for the week ending Jan. 2 are as follows:
The drop in mortgage rates was a save on the budgets of potential homeowners, who could take out larger loans for the same monthly payments; however, economists say housing affordability will become a more pressing issue in 2020, determining where people live and how they spend.
After mortgage rates dropped, home price appreciation accelerated, ending 13 months of slowing home price growth, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, a measure of home prices.
The National Association of Realtors: The trade association for real estate agents predicts moderate growth in the housing market and continued low mortgage rates. The experts predicts that the low rates will last. It is expected that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate will remain below 4% in the coming year, moving to 3.8% by the end of 2020.
We, at Title Partners of Florida, write and support the real estate transaction closing, including the issuance of title insurance policies through Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. We also coordinate searches, title products, and a variety of other services for our clients. Contact us with any questions about our real estate closing services by phone (844) 321-6168 or by email titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com.
MLS ‘Clear Cooperation Policy’ was Approved by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR)
UncategorizedThe so-called “pocket listings”, “coming soon” listings and listings marketed on private networks outside the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) have been debated for quite a while. Some believe that keeping listings off the MLS reduces the buyers’ options, distorts market data, and may not be in the seller’s best interest.
The subject has been in discussion since 2013 by a work group at the NAR. An advisory board to the NAR developed a recommendation known as the Clear Cooperation proposal designed to foster broker cooperation and address the off-market listings. Finally, after its revision, discussion, and recommendations, at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Francisco, the proposal was approved on November 11, 2019 by the MLS Issues and Policies Committee.
The MLS Policy 8.0 states as follows:
“Within one (1) business day of marketing a property to the public, the listing broker must submit the listing to the MLS for cooperation with other MLS participants. Public marketing includes, but is not limited to, flyers displayed in windows, yard signs, digital marketing on public facing websites, brokerage website displays (including IDX and VOW), digital communications marketing (email blasts), multi-brokerage listing sharing networks, and applications available to the general public.”
Jon Colie, vice president of MLS, industry relations for HomeServices of America, and current chairman of the board for Mid-Atlantic regional BRIGHT MLS said: “The policy doesn’t eliminate private-office exclusives, “coming soon” listings, or even pocket listings, instead, it addresses what he called hybrids, meaning, “We’re marketing it everywhere except the MLS.”
All MLSs must adopt the policy before May 1, 2020. Non-compliance of the policy may include warnings and fines, which will be determined by the local MLS. This policy only affects residential real estate, and it requires listings to be submitted to the MLS if they are advertised to a select group of brokers outside the listing broker’s office. It doesn’t prohibit brokers from taking office-exclusive listings, nor does it impede their ability to meet clients’ privacy needs. The policy intends to bolster cooperation and promote a more constructive and procompetitive impact for consumers.
The Clear Cooperation Policy calls for all MLS participants to input any listing they market publicly, into the local MLS within one day, enabling MLS participants to share listings with the widest audience of potential buyers. The distribution of the listing is pro-competitive and pro-consumer. The goal is to ensure that all buyers have fair access to the full range of residential listings and make the business of selling and buying real estate more transparent.
We, at Title Partners of Florida, write and support real estate transaction closings, including the issuance of title insurance policies through Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. We also coordinate searches, title products, and a variety of other services for our clients. Contact us with any questions about our real estate closing services by phone (844) 321-6168 or by email titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com.
Effective July 1, 2019 Florida New Law and its Impact in Real Estate
UncategorizedFlorida lawmakers filed more than 3,500 bills in the last legislative session, from which 200 made it through the House and Senate. Some of the new laws are already in effect, some are effective starting July 2019, other will be effective in October 2019. Florida’s Realtors should beware, the new legislation will impact Realtors and their clients in different ways. Here we list each rule with a summary of each:
Preventing Unlicensed Real Estate Activity
The new law has set aside up to $500,000 to fight unlicensed real estate activity.
Money for Affordable Housing Projects
The government budget has $200 million for affordable housing programs, of which $115 million is included to assist Panhandle residents whose properties were devastated by Hurricane Michael.
Property Owner Bill of Rights and Tree Trimming
The new Senate bill 1400 contains measures requiring county property appraisers to publish a list of constitutionally protected property rights on their websites. They also allow property owners to trim or remove trees on their property without consequence as long as they have a letter from a certified arborist or landscape architect stating the tree is a danger.
Banning Vegetable Garden Restrictions
A new law prevents local governments from regulating homeowners’ vegetable gardens. The topic emerged after a Miami Shores couple had to grub up their vegetable garden due to a local ordinance. Note: this does not apply to homeowners associations (HOAs) rules.
Assignment of Benefits (AOB) Reform
The insurance process known as AOB passed in the form includes limitations on the ability of contractors to recover attorney fees if they are successful in court. This is commonly referred to as one-way attorney fees and the primary incentive behind AOB abuse.
Flood Insurance
The new law requires insurers issuing homeowners insurance policies to add a disclosure about the importance of flood insurance to policies that does not include flood coverage. The disclosure must be included in the initial policy and each renewal.
Property Insurance “Omnibus” Bill
The new law allows insurers to provide multi-policy discounts to homeowners who purchased homeowners and auto policies from the same agent. It raised the cap for reimbursement from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund for loss adjustment from 5 to 10 percent for contracts issued after June 1, 2019; pledge that applicant and agents of workers’ comp insurance don’t require to notarize their sworn statements; establish several updated for the Florida Surplus Lines industry, including abolishing the prescriptive cap agent policy fees, replacing it with a requirement that the fee be “reasonable” and separately disclosed to the customer. It also decreased the residential dwelling replacement to $700,000.
Fire and Life Safety Systems for Condos
The deadline for high-rise condominiums to be retrofitted with fire sprinklers or another engineered life safety system, was extended, postponing the effective date from Dec. 31, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2023.
Texting While Driving Ban
The new law is more severe than the Florida’s existing ban on texting, emailing and instant messaging while driving. Texting while driving is now a primary offense, meaning law enforcement can stop a vehicle solely for texting while driving.
Environmental Funding
Significant amounts of funding have been set aside to preserve Florida’s natural resources and combat environmental problems such as blue-green algae and red tide. More than $625 million will be used for things like Everglades restoration, completion of the project that will raise Tamiami Trail, springs restoration, beach restoration projects, a red tide/blue green algae task force and a septic-to-sewer cost-share program.
Fighting Red Tide
In addition to the environmental funding, $3 million a year for the next six years are set aside for the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative – a partnership between the state and Mote Marine Laboratory to develop technologies that can control and mitigate red tide and its impact.
Providing More Structure for Beach Restoration Projects
The new law intends to remove the arbitrary selection and assigning of funds for specified beach management projects, and the related requirements for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop and maintain. It also requires a comprehensive long-term beach management plan throughout Florida.
New Options for Wetlands Mitigation Projects
The approved rule allows developers in areas lacking private wetlands mitigation credits to partner with local governments to mitigate on publicly-owned conservation land.
We, at Title Partners of Florida, write and support the real estate transaction closing, including the issuance of title insurance policies through Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund. We also coordinate searches, title products, and a variety of other services for our clients. Contact us with any questions about our real estate closing services by phone (844) 321-6168 or by email titleinfo@titlepartnersfl.com.