Things To Do In SW Florida

By GAETANE LEWIS (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — Airbnb said Monday that it’s banning the use of indoor security cameras in listings on its site around the world by the end of next month.

The San Francisco-based online rental platform said it is seeking to “simplify” its security-camera policy while prioritizing privacy.

“These changes were made in consultation with our guests, Hosts and privacy experts, and we’ll continue to seek feedback to help ensure our policies work for our global community,” Juniper Downs, Airbnb’s head of community policy and partnerships, said in a prepared statement.

Airbnb had allowed the use of indoor security cameras in common areas, as long as the locations of the cameras were disclosed on the listings page. Under the new policy, hosts will still be allowed to use doorbell cameras and noise-decibel monitors, which are only allowed in common spaces, as long as the location and presence of the devices are disclosed.

Airbnb expects the policy update to impact a small number of hosts because the majority of its listings do not report having indoor security cameras. read more

By Elizabeth Renter | NerdWallet

In the last quarter of 2023, home sales were few and far between as high prices, high rates, low inventory and seasonal factors all combined to make the housing market a bit of a ghost town. Would-be first-time buyers no doubt felt the desolation.

Homes were listed at nearly five times the potential first-time buyer income in the fourth quarter, on average across the country. Prices fell slightly from the previous quarter, as is common in the final months of the year. Bucking seasonal trends, inventory rose 9% from the third to the fourth quarter, reaching a level not seen since late 2020. But mortgage rates peaked in late October, hitting about 7.8% for the 30-year fixed, an over-two-decade high, before trending downward through the holidays.

First-time buyers have to contend with unique challenges no matter the market. They are generally earlier in life and career than repeat buyers, and they lack the wealth associated with equity that existing homeowners can draw upon. read more

Jeff Ostrowski | (TNS) Bankrate.com

For borrowers in a still-hot housing market, getting approved for a mortgage can be a challenge. Mortgage rates have soared from pandemic-era lows, home values are near record highs and home price appreciation is outpacing wage growth.

All of that means there’s no guarantee a lender will approve your mortgage application. Here’s a look at how lenders decide to extend credit, and some common obstacles borrowers face.

How does mortgage underwriting work?

Mortgage underwriting is the process of verifying and analyzing the financial information you provide your lender — all with the goal of giving you an answer of yes, no or maybe. As part of the application, you produce bank statements, W-2s and other tax documents, recent pay stubs and any additional documentation the lender requires or requests.

Dispense with any stereotypes about the old days of lending or the movie It’s A Wonderful Life, when a banker determined your creditworthiness by the firmness of your handshake and the crispness of your shirt. In most cases, a loan officer or mortgage broker will collect your information and submit it to an underwriting software system — Desktop Underwriter for a loan that will be sold to Fannie Mae, Loan Product Advisor for Freddie Mac. read more

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday recommended that Stephanie Kopelousos, a top adviser who most recently served on his campaign for president, replace Glen Gilzean as administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District that oversees Walt Disney World.

The board, appointed entirely by DeSantis, still must approve it, but the governor’s office on Monday was already calling it a done deal.

“We are glad to see her step into this leadership role as the District embarks upon the next chapter in its efforts to ensure an even and transparent playing field for the businesses that operate in Central Florida,” said Bryan Griffin, communications director for the governor.

He said she “has extensive state and local government experience that make her the ideal candidate to take the reins at CFTOD.”

The position became vacant when DeSantis tapped Gilzean, a Republican ally, last week to replace retiring Bill Cowles, a Democrat, as interim Orange County Supervisor of Elections. Cowles retired on Jan. 31. read more

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s unemployment rate stood at 3.1% in January, unchanged from a revised December rate, as the workforce continues to grow, state officials said Monday.

The rate for the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area was at 3.2%.

The Florida Department of Commerce estimated 340,000 Floridians were out of work in January, 1,000 more than in December and an increase of 37,000 from a year earlier. At the same time, a labor force of 11.077 million in January was up by 16,000 from December and 243,000 from a year earlier. The unemployment rate in January 2023 was 2.8%.

Jimmy Heckman, the Department of Commerce’s chief of workforce statistics and economic research, said demand for labor is keeping the unemployment rate low, with more than one job opening per unemployed person.

“Population growth leads to both a growing labor force and to growing demand for goods and services. That creates a lot of opportunities throughout the state,” Heckman said. “Every major sector in Florida added jobs over the month in January. Nine out of 10 of those sectors, especially the leisure and hospitality and retail-trade sectors, have added jobs over the past year.” read more