PORTABILITYHow many Floridians understand property tax portability? "Most of the buyers I have dealt with - I've been educating them," says Realtor Steve Fruit in Highlands County. "A few seem to be conversant about Save Our Homes, but it's amazing how many don't know about it."Read the full stor
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06/30/2008
NEW HOME SALESNew home sales fell nationwide for the sixth time in seven months, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. But while sales fell 11.6 in the West and 7.9 percent in the Northeast, they rose 5.1 percent in the Midwest and 0.4 percent in the South.Read the full story:http://www.flor
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06/25/2008
HOMEBUYERSThe cost of gas is redefining the definition of "location, location, location." After potential buyers weigh commuting expenses, demand goes up for homes near jobs, bus terminals or train stations. If gas prices continue to rise, some neighborhoods could experience price gains at the ex
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06/19/2008
FORECLOSURESAs the federal government discusses ways to help struggling homeowners, a growing number of cities are taking matters into their own hands. "We can't wait on the federal government," says Douglas Palmer, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "We're taking action."Read the full s
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06/18/2008
HOME SELLERSToo many sellers in Florida and elsewhere aren't setting the right price for their home, asking for too much money and ignoring the list prices of nearby homes, not to mention their real estate agents' advice. "The worst thing to be in this market is one of those homes that's been lis
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06/16/2008
HOME INSPECTORSWhat should homebuyers expect from a home inspector? Members of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) created a Client Bill of Rights that, according to the Ethic Committee chairman, turns their Code of Ethics rules into "a commitment" to clients.Read the full story:http:/
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06/13/2008
EQUITY CREDIT LIMITSBanks and other lenders, wary after the subprime collapse, have been suspending many home equity lines of credit because homeowners' debts have exceeded their homes' property values.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n5-061208.cfm*****************
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06/12/2008
PROPERTY INSURANCEFloridians with home, car, boat or business insurance policies will continue to pay a 1 percent surcharge for two more years. State officials are still trying to recoup losses suffered during the 2005 hurricane season and keep the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund in the black.
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06/11/2008
ABANDONED PROPERTYWith foreclosures on the rise, officials are fielding more complaints about fetid, algae-choked pools that could become breeding grounds for bacteria, toads and disease-carrying mosquitoes.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n3-061008.cfm
06/10/2008
LENDER-OWNED PROPERTIESLenders stung by the housing bust are slashing prices to rid themselves of an unprecedented number of foreclosed properties, sparking bidding wars in some places that may signal the bottom is near. The trend is most dramatic in many parts of Florida, California, Nevada and
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06/09/2008