FINANCE

Rates have jumped from just under 3% at this time last year to more than 5% at the moment, adding yet another wrinkle to a predominantly seller’s market.

City commissioners in DeLand have been searching for ways to help residents get affordable housing. During their next meeting, they will vote on a proposed ordinance to loosen developing regulations to hopefully bring in more housing options.

America has been bogged down with the worst inflation in decades. Economist Sean Snaith blamed bad policy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between January and March 2022, the governor’s office said there were an estimated 36 million visitors to the state, consisting of both domestic travelers and those visiting from abroad.

Elected officials in Brevard County held a townhall meeting to speak with homeowners and discuss possible solutions for ongoing insurance issues.

News 6 broke the news several weeks ago that some insurers are dropping customers if their shingle roof is older than ten-years-old. Now, a Marion County woman says her hot water heater kept her from being insured.

Investment firms are purchasing thousands of single-family homes around the U.S. and in Central Florida, which has made it harder for local buyers to close on homes.

On this latest episode of “You Have Real Estate” with Attorney Justin Clark, Orlando-area Realtors Rose Kemp and Eric Mock discussed what those higher interest rates are doing to the market.

Here are facts and figures of the OECD’s plan and what it hopes to achieve.

Scammers around the world took home a record $14 billion in cryptocurrency in 2021, thanks in large part to the rise of DeFi.

New regulations are now in place for how U.S. debt collectors can contact you and it includes using social media.

In the fast-growing world of decentralized finance, some services promise huge returns. Regulators are getting worried.

The average rent in the market is up to $1,537 per month, according to Brian Alford, Director of Market Analytics in Florida.

The $1,500 scholarships could help first-year law students make ends meet.

The protest was part of a national day of action calling on the incoming Biden administration to extend the eviction moratorium initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)SARASOTA, Fla. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s federal moratorium on evictions is set to expire March 31. “It’s literally impossible for that money to reach renters and landlords before the scheduled expiration of the moratorium on March 31,” Yentel said. AdYentel said that even under the federal moratorium, many renters have lost their homes already because of the confusion and lack of public outreach about the moratorium and rental assistance programs. Some tenants who have received federal assistance through rent programs, stimulus checks and unemployment have chosen not to pay, Doggett said.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Brevard County residents impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic will have a chance to receive rental assistance after the county allocated more than $18 million in federal dollars. The money provides financial assistance and housing stability services, including rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs. The money can also be used toward utilities and home energy costs arrears, and other expenses related to housing incurred during the pandemic. The application for the program will be available at all 17 Brevard County Libraries and the Law Library, on the Department’s website and through an online portal. Eligibility requirements include:The applicant is a resident of Brevard County.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City Council members approved several changes to the rental assistance program designed to help people struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic. The council approved $2.3 million of federal CARES Act funds for rental assistance. Additionally, the council voted to increase the rental assistance cap to $10,000 to $12,500 per family. United Way will email instructions and a link to complete the application to eligible residents following the pre-screening process. Orlando’s rental assistance program is administered in partnership with Heart of Florida United Way.

ORLANDO, Fla. – More help is coming to Orlando renters. The city is reopening its rental assistance program to help families who are struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic. It’s for rent assistance, not for mortgage or utility assistance,” Larsen said. Orlando City Council is considering adding more funds to the program. Larsen said they will vote on allocating a total of $2.3 million of federal CARES Act funds for rental assistance.

Special Agent in Charge Caroline O’Brien-Buster said she was confident agents will be able to trace the money and the person behind the SBA loan application. O’Brien-Buster said the case is just one of hundreds of loan fraud reports agents have been investigating since March. If you think your identity has been used to apply for an SBA loan you can contact the secret service at this email: ORL.CFTF@usss.dhs.gov . You may report fraud, waste, mismanagement, or misconduct involving SBA programs or employees either online or by calling the OIG Hotline toll-free at (800) 767-0385. If you have a question regarding an SBA loan or any SBA program, contact your local SBA District Office or the SBA Answer Desk at 1-800-U-ASK-SBA (1-800-827-5722) or answerdesk@sba.gov(link sends e-mail).

ORLANDO, Fla. – The city of Orlando is opening the application process again to help hundreds more families make rent amid the ongoing financial hardships of the coronavirus. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a news release the city has reopened its rental assistance program in partnership with Heart of Florida United Way. Under the program, Orlando residents who have been impacted by COVID-19 since March 1 can apply to receive up to $10,000 to make rent payments. To qualify, renters must live within city limits, have experienced a pandemic-related hardship and have paid February rent. United Way will email instructions and a link to complete the application to eligible residents following the pre-screening process.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – More Daytona Beach households can now qualify for pandemic rental assistance after the city expanded its qualifications for the program to include middle-income households. The city announced Friday that beginning Monday an additional $500,000 in coronavirus relief funds will be available to help residents who are behind on their rent due to the coronavirus pandemic. The money is part of the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act. The funds will include rental payments, with a three-month maximum per household and are capped at $1,500 per month and $4,500 total per household. Applicants must make appointments to submit completed applications by calling one of following three agencies:Central Florida Community Development Corporation 386-226-1216Housing Authority of the City of Daytona Beach 386-888-7684Mid-Florida Housing Partnership Corporation 386-274-4441, ext.

Orlando City Council voted on plans to use $1.5 million of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act funds to provide rental assistance. The city will partner with United Way to implement the funds. Requests for rental assistance can be made through the Heart of Florida United Way website beginning Sept. 9 at 8 a.m. City employees will assist the United Way in administering and overseeing the program. Residents who are interested in applying for the Rental Assistance Program are encouraged to begin gathering all required documents needed to apply as soon as possible.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. The city of Kissimmee is among the many local governments in Florida using coronavirus relief dollars to help residents pay their rent, mortgage or utility payments. The city has received more than $500,000 from Florida Housing Finance Corporation and will receive a second distribution after Oct. 15. An application portal will open Sept. 1 at Kissimmee.org for households who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents can use the grant money to pay past due rent or mortgages back from the period of March 1 to Dec. 30. The same goes for past due utility payments, including water, electricity, gas and sewer.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County closed the micro-grant application portal Thursday evening after receiving a large response from home-based small businesses, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said. The county began accepting applications on Monday for its micro-grant program for home-based businesses and four days later had received 1,200 applications. The grants ranged from $1,000 to $3,000 but the average grant so far has been $2,500, according to the county. Due to high demand, the application portal closed at 6 p.m. Thursday. The mayor said the county will reopen the portal after the current applications are processed.

Amazon could be moving into your local mall. Thats right, the e-commerce giant is in talks with Simon Property Group to take over closed department stores. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday Amazon would convert former or current JC Penney and Sears stores into distribution hubs. Amazon would get more space closer to where customers live which would speed up shipping times. Mall owners would get a cash-rich tenant to replace their bankrupt anchor stores.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A proposal from Orange County District Five Commissioner Emily Bonilla to freeze rent prices did not pass a vote Tuesday and won’t move forward to a public hearing. Bonilla was asking the other members of the board to approve a special public hearing to take place on June 30, in order to get a rental increase freeze on the November ballot. A lot of people right now are paying their rent with credit cards,” Bonilla said ahead of the vote. The proposal failed to move forward to a special public hearing after a 5-2 vote. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings voted against the proposal saying there wouldn’t be enough time to have lawyers look at the proposal and to get input from both sides.

ORLANDO, Fla. Americans believe the coronavirus pandemic has changed the workforce forever, most saying working from home is the future of the U.S. labor force, according to a new survey. More than 60% of respondents think COVID-19 has changed the way people work for the better. Yet, about half of parents with young children at home who responded to the survey said they arent as productive as they work from home. And if given the option to work from home or conduct business from the office, respondents seem to agree that those who choose the latter should get paid more. Though about a third of respondents think the traditional office will become part of the past, most believe their co-workers arent as productive when working from home.

After Florida’s botched response to the flood of unemployment claims due to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. The governor revealed he appointed Satter to oversee the COVID-19 unemployment response. “I was disappointed in the initial response in terms to the website,” DeSantis said. In the past three weeks, more than 472,000 unemployment claims were filed by Floridians, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. “The unemployment claims process is taking too long: Floridians are struggling and need to receive their money.

One of the most popular parts of the 500-page-plus measure is its plan to give direct payments to most Americans. If an individual makes between $75,000 or $95,000 they likely won’t receive the entire payout but could still receive funds. If their salary is more than $95,000 they most likely won’t receive any money at all, Smythe said. Those who receive Social Security benefits or benefits with Veteran’s Affairs would also receive their payments through direct deposit. He says those who have filed direct deposit information with the federal government will likely see their pandemic relief money first.

While there are state and federal measures coming to help those impacted financially, in the more immediate future people can file for unemployment benefits. Persons who were furloughed or laid off due to COVID-19 should file for these benefits as soon as possible. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity released information about filing for reemployment benefits amid the pandemic. Here are the steps to file for reemployment benefits and what you will need:The DEO is encouraging anyone who has not filed an application should use this new mobile-friendly site. Currently, recipients can receive benefits for 12 weeks, however, that is based on Florida’s unemployment rate prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.

MIAMI, Fla. – The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is waiving requirements for reemployment assistance. [RELATED: How to file for unemployment benefits during coronavirus pandemic | Florida working to keep up with coronavirus unemployment assistance calls, applications]The department says applicants no longer need to register online or show they’re available for work. People who are furloughed or laid off due to the coronavirus outbreak can file for these benefits. Here are the steps to file to reemployment benefits:Visit www.floridajobs.org to submit your application on the CONNECT platform here. Following your application, applicants must log in to the CONNECT system every two weeks to request benefit payment.