The average age of first-time homebuyers in St. Petersburg, Florida, has reached 40, reflecting limited affordability and constrained inventory that continue to discourage younger buyers. Jake Maisner, COO and Partner at Jac Smith Group with Keller Williams St. Pete Realty, says that despite a recent uptick in listings following the fall 2024 hurricanes, the new ...
Two major hurricanes in fall 2024 flooded properties across St. Petersburg, creating a surge of damaged inventory and changing how agents price and market homes. Jake Maisner, COO and Partner at Jac Smith Group with Keller Williams St. Pete Realty, says the flooding pushed a large number of damaged properties onto the market, forcing agents ...
In many real estate markets, entry-level homes sell quickly while luxury listings take longer to move. But in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, the opposite is currently true. Million-dollar homes are attracting rapid offers, while properties under $500,000 are sitting on the market for weeks or even months. This reversal surprises both buyers and sellers ...
Buyers who spent the past two years waiting for lower interest rates are now returning to the Austin market, even though rates remain elevated. According to Nancy Taute, Realtor at Compass RE Texas, many buyers who stayed on the sidelines for 12 to 24 months believe further waiting no longer makes sense. This marks a ...
Utah housing officials warn that structural problems in mortgage financing are pricing most residents out, even as new construction increases. According to Steve Waldrip, Senior Advisor for Housing Strategy and Innovation in Utah’s Office of the Governor, traditional mortgage systems now serve only a narrow slice of the population, and the gap is widening. “In ...
Lenders across Long Island are now treating accessory dwelling units, including basement apartments and mother-daughter setups, as income-generating assets rather than liabilities. According to Perry Pappas, team leader of The Perry Pappas Team with Coldwell Banker American Homes, the shift in underwriting standards is changing how buyers qualify for mortgages and how sellers market their ...
A growing number of coliving properties are reporting bad debt levels of 11-12%, with landlords unable to cover mortgage payments when just one or two rooms go vacant, according to Clara Arroyave, Founder and CEO of Coliving Cashflow. The coliving model itself does not cause this financial strain. Instead, financial pressure often stems from investors ...
Hotel owners are facing a profitability squeeze that extends beyond rising interest rates. Brent Jaynes, Managing Partner at Leisure Real Estate Advisors, says operators are contending with sharp, simultaneous increases in insurance, labor, and commodity costs that cannot be offset by raising room rates alone. This pressure on cash flow is changing day-to-day operations and ...
A designer argues that dismissing backyard projects as weak financial investments reflects an outdated view, as buyers increasingly prioritize stress relief and quality of life alongside traditional renovation metrics. Rethinking the Resale Value of Outdoor Living Real estate professionals have long advised homeowners that outdoor living upgrades yield weaker financial returns than kitchen or bathroom ...
Joseph DeNaro, a realtor at Realty ONE Group Emerge, says buyers in the luxury secondary home market are more likely to walk away from deals they would have accepted a year ago. This reflects a shift in how economic uncertainty is influencing buyer decisions. DeNaro, who specializes in New Jersey’s beach market, sees this trend ...
Flood insurance is pushing buyers out of coastal real estate markets and creating an affordability barrier that is often overlooked. Joseph DeNaro, a realtor at Realty ONE Group Emerge who specializes in New Jersey beach communities, says flood insurance has become a third major cost factor, along with mortgage rates and property taxes, that removes ...
Financing problems, not appraisal gaps or high rates, have become the leading cause of failed residential real estate deals in Houston. According to Anja Drewes Neidhardt, owner and broker at Anja Drewes Properties, the main culprit is lender incompetence, with critical documentation issues surfacing just days before closing. Rate Shopping Houston home sales are increasingly ...
Across Utah, cities are approving new starter home developments that remain unbuilt, revealing a critical breakdown in how regional infrastructure is funded. The issue is not regulatory resistance or lack of builder interest, but rather the absence of roads, water lines, and utilities needed to support these higher-density communities. As a result, zoning reform alone ...
Neighborhood opposition to starter home developments is typically driven by fears that smaller, more affordable homes will lower property values, increase crime, and introduce social problems in established communities. Steve Waldrip, Senior Advisor for Housing Strategy and Innovation in Utah’s Office of the Governor, acknowledges that while these concerns are common, they are not supported ...
Appraisal-required repairs in as-is sales are derailing a significant number of entry-level home purchases in North Alabama, according to Nina Soden, associate broker at The Soden Team of Legend Realty. Soden reports that financed deals under $250,000 are falling through at higher rates, with property condition emerging as the main obstacle. Many homes at this ...
