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Owning a condo in Florida is becoming less attractive: Redfin

Housing Wire

The cost of homeowners insurance has surged in Florida as insurance companies have grappled with significant losses due to an increase in natural disasters. And homeowners insurance costs are three times higher in Florida than the national average.

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10 Costs of Buying a Home You Need To Know About

Realtor

Other governing factors like state limitations and rules can cap how much earnest money a seller can ask for. Costs of buying a home #2: Escrow account An escrow account is basically a way for your mortgage company to make sure you have enough money to cover related taxes and mortgage insurance. Those assurances come with a price.

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Why it’s time for the housing industry to get serious about climate risk

Housing Wire

And yes, this certainly has had an impact on insurance companies from coast to coast, as we’ve seen insurers retreat en masse from states such as California , Florida , and Texas , which have all seen record losses in recent years from wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, severe winter storms, sinkholes, and more.

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How Today’s Market Impacts the Appraisals and Inspections Landscape

Genworth MI Blog

Enact’s David Foster recently spoke with MortgageOrb about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted inspections and appraisals, the changes we see today, and other appraisal factors to consider. Q: How have inspections and appraisals been impacted since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic?

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The Complete Guide to Buying a Home As a Government Employee

Raleigh Realty

Buying a Home As a Government Employee Are you a government employee preparing to buy a home? With the right resources, you can ensure a successful investment and one in which you may save tens of thousands of dollars thanks to being a government employee. Who Is a Government Employee?

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The hybrid appraisal is here. Who benefits?

Housing Wire

Luke Tomaszewski, an appraiser doing home inspections in the aftermath of the housing bust, was traveling as much as an hour across Chicago just to snap exterior photos of bank-owned properties. At $50 to $100 per inspection, according to ProxyPics, it’s certainly less expensive than sending an appraiser.

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RenoFi targets homeowners who don’t qualify for HELOCs

Housing Wire

Legacy renovation loans, which tend to have longer inspection periods and strict oversight of renovations, are not paid to borrowers in a lump sum, which can add a degree of difficulty when homeowners are ready to use the funds, according to Goldman. Presented by: Auction.com.