Real estate commissions on the rise

Real estate commissions on the rise With the collapse of the sellers’ market, real estate agents are finding themselves in the driver’s seat when it comes to charging fees. During the housing boom, home sellers were in the driver’s seat with real estate agents courting them – often at bargain commission rates. But now that …

In Florida, foreign buyers help buoy high-end real estate market

In Florida, foreign buyers help buoy high-end real estate market All is not disaster in Florida, U.S.A. Thousands of houses for sale are sitting empty across the southernmost state, and there have already been auctions of hundreds of foreclosed homes. But, in a situation typical of wealthy enclaves across the United States, the glistening waterfront …

As Housing in Florida Plummets, the Top Tier of the Market Just Dips

As Housing in Florida Plummets, the Top Tier of the Market Just Dips Despite a record number of foreclosures and a raft of public auctions of unwanted houses, the upper tier of the real estate market in Florida remains relatively immune to the spreading disaster. The $7 million penthouse is on the water near Fisher …

House-Hunting as Vacation

House-Hunting as Vacation Vacationing in Panama last spring, Chris Stanley complemented fishing and beach lounging with seminars on the ins and outs of buying property overseas. When Mr. Stanley, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., thought about buying a home in Latin America, he decided he needed a primer. So he booked a seven-day trip with …