HUD AWARDS ADDITIONAL $5.7M TO FAIR HOUSING PROGRAMS

Agencies must apply by Dec. 30. The money can be used for a range of fair housing activities related to discrimination resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding more money to local agencies that fight housing discrimination.

HUD says it’s making an additional $5,757,663 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding available to help HUD Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) agencies combat housing discrimination related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizations that qualify can use the money to conduct a range of fair housing enforcement and education and outreach activities, including addressing discriminatory practices in underserved communities. It’s being awarded through FHIP’s Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) component.

It’s HUD’s second round of ARP funding that targets COVID-19 related discrimination. Last month, it awarded $13.6 million to 51 FHIP agencies working to address the unequal impact COVID-19 has had on communities of color, low-income communities and other vulnerable populations.

“Unlawful treatment associated with COVID-19 robs families of housing security at a time when they need it the most,” says Demetria McCain, HUD’s principal deputy assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity.

In addition to enforcement, education and outreach, the funding can be used to respond to housing inquiries, conduct fair housing testing, provide legal assistance and cover costs associated with providing services related to the pandemic.

Applicants interested in applying can go to www.Grants.gov (Opens in new tab.) to obtain a copy of the specific Notice of Funding Opportunity, forms, instructions and other application materials.

Applications must be received by Dec. 30, 2021.

 

Source: Florida Realtors®

FHFA: 2022 LOAN LIMITS 18.05% HIGHER – TO $647K

The cap on conventional and FHA loans will rise notably higher next year, with caps in a handful of high-cost markets coming close to $1 million.

 

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced new 2022 conforming loan limits – the amount Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can acquire rose by a hefty 18.05%.

The actual cap varies by region, but for most of the U.S., the 2022 limit for one-unit properties will be $647,200 – an increase of $98,950 from $548,250 in 2021.

The new $647,200 conforming loan cap applies to all Florida counties but one: In Monroe County, which includes the Florida Keys, the cap will be $710,700. FHFA published a map on its website (Opens in new tab.) that shows 2022 loan caps by U.S. county. It also offers a downloadable

list of 2022 conforming loan limits (Opens in new tab.) (Opens as Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.) in an Excel spreadsheet.

Yearly cap increases are written into law. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) requires that the baseline conforming loan limit adjustment must be based on changes in the average U.S. home price. In a year of rapidly rising home prices, a notable increase for 2022 was generally expected. According to FHFA, house prices increased 18.05%, on average, between the third quarters of 2020 and 2021. As a result, the baseline cap will rise by that amount in 2022.

“With the continuous rising of home prices, the National Association of Realtors® appreciates the FHFA resetting the national and high-cost conforming loan limits,” says NAR President Rouda Smith in a statement. “The FHFA’s actions will continue to ensure liquidity for home purchase market.”

Most lenders sell some or all of their new mortgages to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Doing so provides them with fresh capital to make even more home loans. As a result, independent lenders generally adhere to FHFA’s mortgage guidelines.

FHA 2022 loan limits

The caps for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans largely mirror those announced by FHFA, though the two agencies work separately. The new loan limits are effective for FHA case numbers assigned on or after Jan. 1, 2022.

Under existing laws, FHA must set single-family forward mortgage loan limits at 115% of area median house prices, subject to a floor and a ceiling on the limits. It calculates limits by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and county.

For FHA, the national conforming loan limit for 2022 is also $647,200. FHA’s 2022 minimum national loan limit “floor,” $420,680, is set at 65% of the national conforming loan limit. The “floor” applies to areas where 115% of the median home price is less than the “floor” limit. Any area where the loan limit exceeds this “floor” is considered a high-cost area, and the NHA requires FHA to set its maximum loan limit “ceiling” for high-cost areas at $970,800, or 50% of the national conforming loan limit.

The maximum loan limit for FHA mortgages will rise in 3,188 U.S. counties, but will remain unchanged in 45 counties.

To find a complete list of FHA loan limits by area, go to FHA’s “Mortgage Limits” (Opens in new tab.) webpage.

Rates for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) will also change in 2022. For more information on FHA  (Opens in new tab.) (Opens as PDF.)and HECM  (Opens in new tab.) (Opens as PDF.)updates, refer to FHA’s latest mortgagee letter.

 

Source: Florida Realtors®

5 HOUSING TRENDS TO WATCH IN 2022

Home sales and home prices likely will moderate from recent highs in the new year, but economists expect the hot housing market to continue nonetheless.

 

A competitive seller’s market is likely to stick around in 2022, but economists believe buyers may see better opportunities. Still, housing affordability challenges will persist, they say.

“Americans are poised for a whirlwind year of home buying in 2022,” says Danielle Hale, realtor.com®’s chief economist. “With more sellers expected to enter the market as buyer competition remains fierce, we anticipate strong home sales growth. Affordability will increasingly be a challenge as interest rates and prices rise, but remote work may expand search areas and enable younger buyers to find their first homes sooner than they might have otherwise.”

Realtor.com® released its 2022 housing forecast, including noting some of the following trends expected for the new year:

1. Suburbs are still the place to be: The pandemic continues to modify what Americans look for in a home. One in five homeowners looking to sell and move no longer need to live near their office. That is giving them the flexibility to move further out, allowing them to target the suburbs. Read more: Suburbs Remain Popular, Even as Cities Stage Comeback (Opens in new tab.)

2. Millennials are eager to finally move: Forty-five million millennials are in a “homebuyer sweet spot,” realtor.com® says. That many of them will fall within the prime first-time homebuying ages of 26 to 35 in 2022.

3. Hispanic home buyers rise: Hispanics comprise a larger share of the market, accounting for more than one out of 10 recent home buyers. “With a growing share of the population and the potential for a rising homeownership rate, this demographic group is expected to play a growing role in the home buying market,” Hale says.

4. Affordability challenges remain: Home prices, rents, and mortgage rates are all expected to be on the rise in 2022. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is expected to average between 3.5% to 3.6% by the end of 2022. However, Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of REALTORS®, also recently nsaid that home prices likely will increase at a “gentler pace” over the next several months as mortgage rates increase.

5. More homes come on the market: Realtor.com® predicts a 6.6% increase in housing inventory in 2022, a welcome sign to buyers who have complained of few listings over the past year. An increasing share of homeowners this fall reported planning to sell a home over the next 12 months, realtor.com® says. Yun also pointed recently to hopeful signs of more inventory in 2022 during a presentation at last month’s REALTOR® Conference & Expo. Yun said new supply will also partly come from new housing construction, which is already underway, as well as the conclusion of the mortgage forbearance program that will likely cause a number of homeowners to sell. “With more housing inventory to hit the market, the intense multiple offers will start to ease,” Yun said. “Home prices will continue to rise but at a slower pace.”

 

Source: Realtor® Magazine

Photographer of the Year Contest

See the Incredible Images in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest – And Vote on the Peoples Choice Award

 

The 58th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is underway with sumptuous entries from photographers of all ages, nationalities, and experience levels.

This year’s 25 unforgettable scenes include a pair of golden pheasants (above), a breathtaking school of barracudas, and a kangaroo with her baby joey framed by a fire’s destruction.

London’s Natural History Museum hosts the annual photo competition and is inviting fans to vote online to choose the winner of the People’s Choice Award.

And, based on our favorite images below, it will not be easy to choose just one.

From over 50,000 image entries from 95 countries, these 25 images are currently on display at the highly acclaimed Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the museum in London.

The winner will then be showcased until the exhibition closes on June 5th. The top five People’s Choice Award images will also be displayed online, joining the winners chosen by the esteemed panel of judges that were announced earlier this year.

“It’s an incredible challenge to pick just one of these images,” said Dr Natalie Cooper, researcher at the Natural History Museum and member of the judging panel. “We’re looking forward to discovering which wild moment emerges as the public’s favorite.”

The photos of animal families are particularly moving. Check out these grebes, lions, and monkeys…

Displayed alongside insights from Natural History Museum scientists and experts, the 100 images will be showcased in spectacular lightbox displays at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Museum until June 5, 2022.

The exhibition will also be touring across the UK, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, USA and more.

 

Vote online for the winner of the People’s Choice Award. Voting ends on February 2, 2022.

Holiday Happenings on the Treasure Coast

HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT THE PORT ST. LUCIE BOTANICAL GARDENS

Date: Friday November 26, 2021 through Sunday January 9, 2022.

Time: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Location: Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

Address: 2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL

Price: Free – Donations Appreciated

Category: Christmas & Holiday

Join the Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens for our inaugural Holiday Lights at The Gardens and stroll the beautiful and enchanting lights of the Gardens.  Food and beverages for sale on select evenings.

Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

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HEATHCOTE GARDEN OF LIGHTS

Date: Friday November 26, 2021 through Saturday November 27, 2021.

Time: 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Location: Heathcote Botanical Gardens

Address: 210 Savannah Rd

Price: $10 adults children 6-12 $ 3.00 under 3yrs old free

Category: Christmas & Holiday

Garden of Lights visitors will enjoy enchanted gardens that feature favorite light displays from last year, as well as new additions to dazzle audiences. A sparkling blue River and Waterfall forms the centerpiece of the Garden, along with a kaleidoscope of colorful flower beds, potting benches, vegetables, a vineyard pathway and more to amaze guests at every turn. Purchase tickets online on our website or at the gate.

Heathcote Botanical Gardens

 

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Holiday Online Auction – Bid To Beat Hunger

Date: Friday December 3, 2021 through Monday December 13, 2021.

Time: Times Vary

Location: Holiday Online Auction – Treasure Coast Food Bank

Address: Online Auction

Category: Auctions

Bid on a wide variety of items including Disney & Universal tickets, gift baskets, outdoor excursions and much more! All proceeds will be used to provide food and essential resources to 250,000 children, families, and seniors we serve each week.

http://ow.ly/8mPm50GO7oq

 

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Home For The Holidays

Date: Thursday December 2, 2021 through Saturday December 4, 2021.

Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Location: Indian River State College McAlpin Fine Arts Center

Address: 3209 Virginia Avenue

Price: $15.00 Each

Category: Concert / Live Music

Home For The HInstrumental Music Concert-Wind Ensemble McAlpin Music

December 2, 3, 4 at 7:00 p.m. and December 4 at 2:00 p.m.Celebrate the most heartwarming holiday music of our time as the IRSC Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. John Southall presents a concert celebration of a variety of seasonal selections.

Tickets are $15. ($10 for subscription holders)olidays

https://irsc.edu/student-life/arts-and-culture.html

 

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Holly Fair in the Gardens

Date: Saturday December 4, 2021

Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Location: All Saints’ Episcopal Church

Address: 2303 NE Seaview Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957

Price: Free

Category: Christmas & Holiday

All Saints’ Episcopal Church’s Annual Holly Fair in the Gardens features a silent auction with over 80 items (ends at 1 pm), decorated Christmas trees and wreaths for purchase, Christmas Gift Shop, Jewelry, Raffles, Bake Sale and more.

https://www.facebook.com/events/4549198508506363

 

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A Musical Celebration of the Season

Date: Sunday December 5, 2021

Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Location: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

Address: 5150 S.E. Railway Ave., Cove Road at Dixie Highway

Price: Free; donations accepted

Category: Concert / Live Music

Randy Umfleet, outgoing minister of music, will lead C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S: A Musical Celebration of the Season on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 4 p.m., at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 5150 S.E. Railway Ave., Cove Road at Dixie Highway, Stuart.

A reception to say farewell to Umfleet will follow the program. Admission is free but donations are accepted.

For more information, call the church at 772-286-5455.

http://stlukesfl.org

Expect an Unseasonably Hot Winter for Home Sales

This winter is expected to be unseasonably hot for the housing market.

“Compared to other past winter seasons, this winter season’s sales activity will be stronger,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of REALTORS®. “This winter, there will be more sales compared to pre-pandemic winters going back all the way to 2006.”

The momentum from the last few months is expected to continue. From March through October, homes have been selling faster than they traditionally do.

“Although there are fewer buyers in the winter months than in the competitive spring and summer period, all signs suggest that housing demand remains high,” says Danielle Hale, realtor.com®’s chief economist.

Housing inventories remain tight. The inventory of unsold homes fell by 12% in October compared to last year, according to NAR data. A limited supply of homes for sale is an ongoing issue for the housing market against continued strong demand among potential home buyers.

Homes are selling fast. Eighty-two percent of homes sold in October were on the market for less than a month, according to NAR data.

“Many sellers should not feel the need to wait until spring, especially in high-demand areas,” Kelly Mangold, principal at RCLCO Real Estate Consulting, told realtor.com®.

Buyers may feel more rushed ad may try to qualify for historically low mortgage rates ahead of any more rises. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.10% last week, according to Freddie Mac. NAR is forecasting that rates will increase to 3.50% by the middle of 2022.

Home price increases may be leveling off somewhat, too. “The days of fast price gains are over,” Yun says. “There will be few pockets of the market where bidding wars do occur, but sellers should expect much less than what was occurring the past 12 months. Home prices generally will be higher price compared to one year ago, but maybe a bit lower compared to what occurred in the summer.”

 

Source: “Should You Wait Until Spring to Sell Your Home? No Way! Why Winter Listings Rule Today,” realtor.com® (Nov. 15, 2021)

Inventory Woes Aren’t Slowing Down Home Sales

Existing-home sales fared strongly in October even as buyers continued to complain there aren’t enough homes on the market. Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions for single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and co-ops, increased by 0.8% in October compared to September, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Monday. Compared to a year ago, however, sales are down 5.8%.

Meanwhile, the inventory of unsold homes fell by 12% in October compared to last year. A limited supply of homes for sale remains an ongoing issue for the housing market against continued strong demand among potential home buyers.

“Home sales remain resilient, despite low inventory and increasing affordability challenges,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “Inflationary pressures, such as fast-rising rents and increasing consumer prices, may have some prospective buyers seeking the protection of a fixed, consistent mortgage payment.”

Mortgage rates remain low, although rates are rising. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.07% in October, up from 2.9% in September, according to Freddie Mac.

Here’s a closer look at key housing indicators from NAR’s latest housing report:

• Home prices: The median existing-home sales price rose 13.1% year over year to $353,900. Prices climbed in all four major regions of the U.S.


• Housing inventories: Total housing inventory at the end of October was 1.25 million units, down 0.8% compared to September. Unsold inventory sits at a 2.4-month supply at the current sales pace.


• Days on the market: Eighty-two percent of homes sold in October were on the market for less than a month. Properties typically remained on the market for 18 days in October, down from 21 days a year ago.


• First-time buyers: First-time buyers comprised 29% of sales in October, down from 32% a year ago.


• Investors and second-home buyers: Individual investors or second-home buyers comprised 17% of sales in October, up from 13% in September and from 14% in October 2020, NAR reports. Investors and second-home buyers tend to make up the biggest bulk of all-cash sales, which accounted for 24% of transactions in October.


• Distressed sales: Foreclosures and short sales accounted for less than 1% of sales in October, equal to October 2020.

 

A Regional Look at Home Sales

Two of the four major regions of the U.S. posted month-over-month increases in existing-home sales last month. Still, home sales remain strong in most parts of the country even as housing inventories remain low.

“Among some of the workforce, there is an ongoing trend of flexibility to work anywhere, and this has contributed to an increase in sales in some parts of the country,” Yun says. “Record-high stock markets and all-time-high home prices have worked to significantly raise total consumer wealth and, when coupled with extended remote work flexibility, elevated housing demand in vacation regions.”

Here’s how existing-home sales fared across the country in October:

• Northeast: Sales dropped 2.6% in October, reaching an annual rate of 750,000. That marks a 13.8% decline compared to October 2020. Median price: $379,100, up 6.4% from one year ago.


• Midwest: Sales increased 4.2% to an annual rate of 1.5 million in October, a 6.3% decrease compared to a year ago. Median price: $259,800, up 7.8% from October 2020.


• South: Sales rose 0.4% in October, posting an annual rate of 2.78 million, a 3.5% decrease compared to last year. Median price: $315,500, a 16.1% increase from a year ago.


• West: Sales remained stable in October compared to September, staying at an annual rate of 1.31 million. That is down 5.1% from one year ago. Median price: $507,200, up 7.7% from October 2020.

 

Source: National Association of REALTORS®