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Mortgage preapproval first-time homebuyersIf you’re a first-time homebuyer, here’s how to get a mortgage preapproved.Starting earlier this month, any property listing that was publicly marketed to consumers but not listed on the local MLS within one business day no longer appears on Zillow.This step is in line with the National Association of Realtors' Clear Cooperation Policy, which aims to prevent exclusive real estate listings and increase fairness among buyers.Corrections & Clarifications: The headline on an earlier version of this story gave the wrong timing. The listing changes will happen later...

March’s local real estate activity indicated a relatively balanced market for both Sarasota and Manatee counties, but changing national and international dynamics could call that stability into question.The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee’s March report noted continued stability in the Sarasota and Manatee real estate markets, with steady single-family home activity and a strong presence of cash buyers tilting the overall trend slightly in favor of buyers. But as international economic headwinds shift following President Donald Trump's imposition of his tariff policies, and other countries' retaliation, the market could...

Fast-growing fruit trees for your backyard harvestHere are five fast-growing fruit trees you can plant in your backyard for a quicker harvest.unbranded - LifestyleRates for home loans remained high as consumer and investor confidence take a hit amid the White House's tariff rollout.In the week ending April 24, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.81%, Freddie Mac announced. That’s down fractionally from 6.83% last week, which saw the biggest one-week jump since last August.Those figures don’t include fees or points, and rates in some parts of the country may be higher or lower than the...

Texting was already available, but now a translation service is offeredThe Dover Police Department is one of the first in the U.S. to use the enhanced 911 service for sharing of photos and videos, and text translation.A real estate agent impersonates a seller and pockets $3 million from fraudulent property sales. A Los Angeles homeowner loses their house to an international identity theft ring. In Florida, during a scheduled video call with the seller, a title company is met with an AI-generated fake.These stories may sound sensational, but the crimes...

How can Nashville area balance low taxes, growth and quality services?The 14-county region in the Nashville area grew by more than 3,000 people a month from 2010 to 2020. This growth brings opportunities and challenges.WochitThe average is the result of the latest four-year reappraisal cycle.This is the second time since 2017 that Nashville has set a record-high increase in property values.From here, Nashvillians will wait for the state to establish the certified tax rate and for the Metro Nashville Council to set the local property tax rate to determine their...

Some industry participants call this the policy that the National Association of Realtors should have put out.Protect yourself from these common real estate scamsReal estate scams are on the rise. Here’s how to protect your home and your wallet from the most common cons.A battle over how homeowners list their properties for sale is shaking up the housing industry, with big implications for sellers and buyers.On April 10, the massive real estate company Zillow announced it would not accept any listings that have been previously offered for sale in a...

Trump's Tariffs could see iPhone prices jumpDue to President Donald Trump's new import tariffs, the price of the iPhone could rise by up to 43% in the U.S.unbranded - NewsworthyCorrections & Clarifications: The story has been updated throughout to include, correct and clarify nuances of the industry and to correct an error. The National Association of Realtors location was misstated in an earlier version of the story. NAR is based in Chicago. A new policy clarifying how homeowners may list their properties for sale may instead sow confusion and friction in...

DeSantis wants repeal of red flag laws and supports open carryDeSantis wants repeal of red flag laws and other restrictions on Second Amendment RightsFlorida Governor Ron DeSantis has proposed a plan to eliminate the state's portion of property taxes for homeowners.DeSantis argues that tourists and non-residents should bear a larger share of the tax burden.The Florida Legislature is currently in session and must reach an agreement on the state budget before adjourning on May 2.Could Florida property taxes be a thing of the past soon? Gov. Ron DeSantis thinks so.At...