Florida Appliance Rebates
March 09, 2010
HUD to Provide Temporary Relief to Homeowners Facing Problem Drywall
December 28, 2009
Using the 203k program to purchase ‘dream homes’?
December 09, 2009
New Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program
December 07, 2009
New Federal Government Program aimed at slowing Foreclosures.
Senate panel OKs extension for home buyers’ credit
October 29, 2009
Senators reached a compromise to extend the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, a boost the housing industry expects will help it pull out of its two-year-old downturn. Lawmakers in Washington also added a $6,500 tax credit for other primary-home purchasers and raised the qualifying income limits to $125,000 for single taxpayers and $225,000 for joint taxpayers, housing-industry sources said.
5 steps to financing a sale
September 08, 2009
Thoughts on Steps to take if you consider owner financing.
Card Reform Offers Good News and Bad
September 03, 2009
Life with a credit card presumably got a little easier in August 2009.
Gender Differences Abound in the Home-Buying Process
August 18, 2009
Option ARMs Threaten Housing Rebound as Resets Peak (Update2)
June 18, 2009
WHAT IS CHINESE DRYWALL?
June 18, 2009
www.chinesedrywall.com
Foreclosures drive nearby home prices down
June 17, 2009
Foreclosures drive down the value of neighboring homes an average of $7,200 per home
Before You Bash Your Mortgage Broker: Take This Test
June 07, 2009
HUD issues sanctions against 120 FHA lenders
May 22, 2009
WASHINGTON – May 22, 2009 – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Mortgagee Review Board announced actions against more than 120 lenders for violating FHA requirements. Violations include a failure to conduct sufficient quality control, failure to continue to meet FHA recertification requirements and falsifying loan documents.
Buying Foreclosed Homes: Deal or No Deal?
April 30, 2009
HouseMaster®, a home inspection franchisor, reports there are abundant opportunities for qualified homebuyers in the current real estate market - triggered by a 28% rise in foreclosure activity from last year. While President Obama’s $75 billion loan modification and refinancing Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan will help as many as 4 million struggling homeowners, it won’t save everyone from foreclosure resulting in prime deals for qualified homebuyers.
Qualify For Any Mortgage - How to Get a 750 Credit Score
April 16, 2009
Protect your personal credit!
Banks Ramp Up Foreclosures: Report
April 15, 2009
Some of the largest mortgage companies in the US are stepping up foreclosures on delinquent homeowners, and will likely lead to more Americans losing their homes, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday
Mark to Market Closer to a Necessity for Recovery
April 02, 2009
How Will Foreclosure Effect Credit Scores?
March 26, 2009
Short Sales Test Homebuyers’ Patience
March 26, 2009
Those searching for the best housing bargains on the market might consider buying a short-sale property, but there’s an important qualification for buyers interested in going this route: They need plenty of patience.
Markets face ‘irrational pessimism’
March 09, 2009
House Prices
February 20, 2009
This just happens to be the perfect confluence of opportunity and necessity: we must fix the economy and we’re going to, whatever it takes. Inflation is an unavoidable side effect. Buy that house this year!
HUD Secretary: Banks must play role on foreclosure
February 20, 2009
Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan said Thursday it’s critically important that banks and lending institutions work to help make certain the Obama administration’s new home foreclosure initiative succeeds.
Key Provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
February 20, 2009
Overview of President's Plan for HomeOwners
Florida’s down-means-up property tax rule baffling homeowners
September 16, 2008
Many homeowners across Florida are asking the same question: If the value of my home has dropped, why has my tax bill increased?
Investors still on tax hook
August 21, 2008
For homeowners in trouble, a short sale can be a lifesaver. Lenders allow a house to be sold for less than is owed on the mortgage and then write off the rest. The homeowner just walks away. Unless the owner is an investor, that is.
Cape's Burnt Store boat ramp reopens Saturday
July 26, 2008
Under-used FHA loans can aid in home repairs
July 22, 2008
The faltering real estate market has left many homeowners feeling trapped in homes that no longer suit their needs, but an under-utilized, government-insured loan may be the antidote for some. An FHA loan established in 1996 known as a 203k rehab loan can help homeowners redo their existing home or even help interested home buyers buy a fixer-upper and rehab it without having to take out a second loan.
Is Save Our Homes portability selling houses?
June 30, 2008
If the market value of a house rises, for example, from $100,000 to $110,000 in a year, or to $200,000 in 10 years, the county tax assessor can raise the market value of the house by only 3 percent per year. So a house worth $100,000 in 1998 can have a maximum market value of only $134,000 in 2008. That means the cumulative effect of Save Our Homes is enormous.
Wind and Flood Insurance
June 26, 2008
Insurer wants to cover wind and flood insurance in a single policy
Hurricane Mitigation
June 25, 2008
Procrastinators take note: If clients want a free hurricane home inspection courtesy of the State of Florida, sign up now. Most homeowners save money on property insurance following an inspection, but the program will achieve its goals and probably stop taking new applications later this summer.
Housing Indicators
June 25, 2008
Check out the Numbers!
PROPERTY TAXES
June 24, 2008
FAR backs Amendment 5 property tax reform that voters will consider in November, but the opposition officially kicked off its campaign yesterday. John Sebree, FAR vice president of public policy, notes that the opposition group's anti-amendment campaign has not offered any alternative solutions to Florida's current property tax crisis. "Is any property tax relief good to them?" he asks.
Stocks Up Sharply After Fed Credit Plan
March 11, 2008
Wall Street rebounded sharply Tuesday after the Federal Reserve and other central banks said they will pump $200 billion into the financial markets to help ease the strain from the credit crisis. The Dow Jones industrials surged more than 270 points.
Lee commissioners, builders to return to impact fee issue
March 09, 2008
Commissioners on Feb. 26 put off a decision on whether to eliminate or decrease impact fees as a way to stimulate the local economy, asking staff to report back in two weeks with more information. Staff will address commission at a meeting Tuesday.
Why Buying Now Can Be a Smart Move
December 24, 2007
Although much of the housing market is in a slump, this is still a good time for most to buy a home.
Market Brings New Rules for Pricing a House
December 21, 2007
Florida Realtors continue efforts to support ‘Yes on 1’
December 21, 2007
For more information about Amendment 1, go to: www.Yeson1Florida.com.
Crist’s team will review insurance-rate reforms
December 21, 2007
Highest Job Growth in Cape Coral
October 22, 2007
Best Cities for Job Growth
Daily Real Estate News
October 05, 2007
For Most Buyers, the Mortgage Market Is Healthy
Lee County property tax rate going down
September 21, 2007
THE VOTE • Reduce the county budget — dropping the general fund tax rate from $3.52 to $3.27 per $1,000 of taxable property value and the capital improvement rate from $0.45 to $0.38, while maintaining the Conservation 2020 rate at $0.50 — for a total cut of from $4.48 to $4.15: 3-2, with commissioners Brian Bigelow and Frank Mann opposed. • Reduce the unincorporated county rate from $0.93 to $0.84 per $1,000 of taxable value: 3-2, Bigelow and Mann opposed. • Reduce the library tax rate from $0.41 to $0.38: 3-2, Bigelow and Mann opposed. • Reduce the hazards tax rate from $1.41 to $1.29: 4-1, Bigelow oppos
Property Taxes and Tax Bills
August 23, 2007
Property values, tax bills decline Homestead no protection against tax increases this year
Property Tax Reform
August 22, 2007
FAR has pledged up to $1 million to support passage of the January property tax amendment. “Passage of this amendment is critical to the future of Florida,” says FAR President Nancy Riley. “It will provide first-time homebuyers a large tax exemption. It will begin to equalize property taxes among neighbors. And it will allow the people who are the foundation of our neighborhoods – teachers, nurses, police officers and emergency first responders – to afford to live in the communities they serve. It’s time to reform Save Our Homes.” To read more, go to: http://www.floridarealtors.org/ LegislativeCenter/ TopInitiatives/index.cfm
When Your Home's Value is Less Than the Mortgage
July 26, 2007
Real Estate & Mortgage Insights
NAR: Home prices to recover in 2008
July 15, 2007
National Association of Realtors prediction for 2008 home sales.
Last Week in Review
June 11, 2007
Mortgage Rates Rise as Mortage Bond Market Drops
Answer to Gas Problem?
May 31, 2007
A Florida man may have accidentally invented a machine that could solve the gasoline and energy crisis plaguing the U.S., WPBF News 25 reported.
Florida economist predicts housing ready to recover
May 31, 2007
A top Florida economist has declared the housing slump a done deal.
Growing technology sector boosts housing
May 25, 2007
The country's high-tech industry added nearly 150,000 new jobs in 2006, according to “Cyberstates 2007,” an annual report detailing trends in high-tech employment and wages.
Hearing to deal with Pine Island land development
May 22, 2007
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners plans a second public hearing on Pine Island land development codes Tuesday. There will be no vote. The vote is scheduled for the commissioner’s 5 p.m. May 29 meeting at commission chambers in the old L...
Market News
May 21, 2007
Explanation of the current market trends and mortgage rates.
Florida Legislature may agree on method of property tax reform
May 17, 2007
Update on Progress to lower Florida property tax
Housing Indicators
May 17, 2007