Things To Do In SW Florida

By Kate Wood | NerdWallet

Interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have hit yet another high, with lenders offering loans above 8% for the first time since 2000. Mortgage rates have gone up rapidly this year, rising two full percentage points from lows near 6% back in February.

That’s been brutal for home buyers, who have watched their buying power erode. At a 6% interest rate, a buyer looking to spend $2,000 a month on principal and interest could afford a loan of roughly $333,500. With interest rates at 8%, that same buyer can afford only $272,500. Their target home price has dropped $61,000 as more of that monthly payment has to go toward servicing interest.

Here’s why mortgage interest rates are so high, and why they could remain elevated. Still, there are ways that home buyers can contend with such a challenging housing market.

Why mortgage rates climbed so high

A year ago, many housing economists, including in forecasts from Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association, were anticipating that today’s mortgage rates would be in the 5-6% range. Though that seems wildly off base now, at the time it looked pretty reasonable. read more

TALLAHASSEE — When Floridians go to shop around for a new homeowners insurance policy next year, they could find several new companies offering coverage. Including one company backed by a current state senator.

Lured by the nation’s highest premiums and new laws making it harder to sue insurance companies, investors see an opportunity in Florida’s broken insurance market. Current and former state officials and others said they are receiving regular inquiries from potential investors looking to make a profit.

“As soon as we were done with the last vote in session, I had a couple of people … including legislators, asking if I wanted to invest in an insurance company,” Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Hollywood, told the state’s insurance commissioner last month.

That includes state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who has pitched fellow lawmakers on investing in a new homeowners insurance company that projects a 165% return on investment over five years.

Investing millions of dollars into one of the nation’s most volatile insurance markets might seem like folly. Hurricanes and floods are multiplying. Meanwhile, companies have gone insolvent without being hit by either of those threats. read more

Walt Disney World will host Disney After Hours events at three of its theme parks in early 2024, and at Magic Kingdom, there will be opportunities to double-dip on fireworks shows.

The evenings at Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom require a separate ticket from regular daytime admission, and the tickets are good for three hours after the official close for the day. A limited number of slots are available for each event, designed to reduce wait times for key rides and attractions.

After Hours ticket holders can go into the park as early as 7 p.m. Park reservations are not required with this ticket.

Admission also includes popcorn, ice cream novelties and select beverages throughout the parks during the event.

At the Magic Kingdom, event-goers will see the return of “Enchantment,” the nighttime spectacular seen during Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration. After Hours attendees arriving early will be able to see “Happily Ever After,” the current end-of-night show on the same night. Magic Kingdom will be operating 20 attractions and experiences on event nights, Disney says, including a standby queue for Tron Lightcycle / Run, which debuted at the park in April and has been operating with a virtual queue. read more