Florida RealEstateRama

Washington, DC - October 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13) will hold a foreclosure assistance workshop on Saturday, October 10, 2009. Lenders, federal agencies, and local housing and counseling agencies will help assist residents of Florida’s 13th District from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the student union at State College of Florida, 5840 26th St. West, Bradenton, Florida

Washington, DC - October 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24) voted in favor of the Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act (H.R. 3590), which will make changes to home-buying provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to benefit active-duty servicemen and women currently, or soon to be, deployed overseas. The bipartisan legislation passed by a vote of 416-0.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14) praised unanimous passage of legislation in the House of Representatives today that will extend the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit for one year for qualifying U.S. servicemen and women.

TAMPA, FL - October 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4 – 10) is a perfect time for home and business owners to assess their properties to determine how vulnerable they may be to fire coming from both outside and inside - and then take actions to prevent losses, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) said today.

House Gives Final Approval to $5.5 Million for Wares Creek, $500,000 for Sarasota Renewable Energy Center, $305,000 for Lido Beach, $100,000 for Anna Maria Island Beach Re-nourishment, $100,000 for Port Manatee and up to $5 million for Sarasota Bay Restoration. Washington, DC - October 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13) has won final approval in the House of $8.3 million in federal funding for environmental projects in Florida’s 13th District. The House voted 308-114 for the fiscal year 2010 energy and water appropriations bill (H.R. 3183) today.

TAMPA, FL - October 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today praised the work Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is doing to ensure that Americans are prepared for disasters. As National Preparedness Month (NPM) comes to a close, Secretary Napolitano is delivering a major speech today challenging all Americans to view disaster preparedness as a shared responsibility, and urging communities to build a year-round culture of readiness and resilience.

TAVARES, FL - September 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the Annual Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4-10), the Lake County Department of Public Safety, Fire Rescue Division, is stepping up its public-education efforts to remind residents how to keep homes fire safe and prevent painful burns.

Lenders, Federal and Local Agencies to Provide Free Assistance October 10. Washington, DC - September 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13) announced today that he will hold a foreclosure assistance workshop on Saturday, October 10, 2009. In attendance will be several lenders, federal agencies, and local housing and counseling agencies, which will be available to assist residents of Florida’s 13th District from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the student union at State College of Florida, 5840 26th St. West, Bradenton, Florida.

September 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael J. Folmar, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that defendant Adriana Cruz, 27, of Miami, was sentenced by United States District Judge Alan S. Gold on September 18, 2009, for her role in a mortgage fraud scheme that resulted in the granting of two fraudulent home equity loans totaling approximately $1 million

ORLANDO, FL - September 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home sales rose in August – marking a full calendar year (12 months) that sales activity increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.Existing home sales rose 28 percent last month with a total of 13,850 homes sold statewide compared to 10,813 homes sold in August 2008, according to Florida Realtors. The state association also reported a 45 percent increase in last month’s statewide sales of existing condos compared to the previous year’s sales figure

Washington, DC - September 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) introduced the Support for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act of 2009. This bill will establish a grant program to provide permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals and families that have needs not addressed by traditional affordable housing. The companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC). (Please find attached a copy of the bill.)

TAVARES, FL - September 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lake County Property Appraiser’s Office will close its downtown Tavares office in the Lake County Historic Courthouse, located on the third floor of 317 W. Main St., on Friday, Sept. 18, as it moves its offices to its new quarters across the street at 320 W. Main St.

TAMPA, FL - September 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Government minimum flood elevation requirements for properties vulnerable to storm surge throughout the Gulf Coast region are woefully inadequate, according to a new study of property damage caused by Hurricane Ike, which struck the Bolivar Peninsula near Galveston, Texas one year ago yesterday, Sept. 13, 2008.

ORLANDO, FL - September 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Florida Realtor, the Business Magazine of Florida Real Estate and monthly trade publication of Florida Realtors®, recently won six awards in the 2009 Florida Magazine Association’s (FMA) Charlie Awards competition.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - September 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has obtained a settlement for a Central Florida couple resolving allegations of civil rights violations related to their condominium. Under the settlement, Brevard County developer Tricon Development Corporation paid $15,000 in civil damages to Josephine and Dominic DeRusso, which included the cost of retrofitting the couple’s home.