Rodney Cantrell’s Blog

Florida's state insurer has approved a rate hike, increasing homeowner multiperil policies by 13.5% and condo owners by 14.2%. The average insurance cost for homeowners, renters, and mobile home dwellers is expected to rise by 14%. These new rates, subject to review by the Office of Insurance Regulation, may be implemented in January. Rising insurance…

The Florida Cabinet has approved a reduction in the sales tax on commercial leases from 4.5% to 2%. This follows a previous measure to cut the tax from 5.5% to 2% once the unemployment insurance trust fund reached $4.1 billion. The tax cut, which came into effect on June 1, is expected to save Florida…

A family is buying and moving into a new house, which requires careful planning and saving. Tips include researching first-time home buyer programs, starting to save early, calculating all initial costs, preparing your credit score, deciding on affordability, exploring mortgage options, getting pre-approved, gathering loan paperwork, choosing the right real estate agent, making a wishlist,…

The current average 30-year mortgage rate is 7.09%, leading to fewer buyers due to high costs and elevated home prices. Mortgage rates have increased significantly since 2022, but the Federal Reserve plans to cut rates in 2024, potentially lowering mortgage rates. To secure the best mortgage rate, shop around, improve credit score, and keep debts…