NAR says it faces “steep resistance” but will keep advocating for a Realtor exemption to proposals: “Congress must recognize real estate’s unique place in the economy.”

Cloudstar, a cloud service used by many title companies, shut down after a ransomware attack last week. As a result, some brokers now can’t register transactions or closings. “We are still very much in the containment and remediation phase,” the company says.

Private fair housing groups may request money and use it to blind test housing groups, respond to complaints or propose new projects related to COVID-19 challenges.

ShowingTime: Those 5 days are “hyperactive with double-digit showings and offers submitted quickly”– 64 markets averaged double-digit showings per listing during June.

Pandemic numbers are rising again. That’s shaken investors and pushed 30-year mortgage rates lower again this week, though adjustable rates moved a little higher.

Florida Realtors’ data: More closed sales, more new listings and higher median prices (up 24.5% for single-family homes, 22.4% for condos) than a year ago. Chief Economist O’Connor: The ratio of buyers to sellers may be easing; as a result, home price growth could begin to cool down in the future.

Nationally, cash buyers made up about 1/3 of all 2021 home sales so far, but that percentage rises to 52.6% in West Palm Beach – the top metro for cash sales in the U.S.

Year-to-year home prices rose 23.4%, the second-highest on record. However, a 3.3% inventory uptick may start to slow price increases and give homebuyers more hope.

The pandemic changed things: Home values for properties with long commute times are rising faster than units in or near metro areas.

On July 22, 2021, Florida Realtors released a new addendum for use with Florida Realtors contracts, the Escalation Addendum to Contract, available through Form Simplicity and other licensed vendors. FAQs and how-to-complete info is available on the association’s website.

Another major Fla. newspaper backed the goal of Florida Realtors’ amendment petition drive to keep “Housing Funds for Housing.” Editors said it’s “nonsensical” to remove “hundreds of millions in designated housing money during an unprecedented affordable housing crisis.”

In a likely boost for Fla. tourism and real estate, the Canadian government will ease border rules in Aug. Fla. Policy and Budget official expects “a big jump in people.”

Not only “smart buildings” face danger since most systems – HVAC, security access, etc. – now connect to the internet. In one case, a parking system sent a bomb threat.

In light of the building disaster in Surfside, a Fla. Bar-affiliated group is analyzing the possible need to change state standards regarding engineer inspections.