Florida RealEstateRama

November 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, in a speech to the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers today, proposed Congress use money from so-called congressional earmarks to help reinstitute the homebuyers tax credit as a means of addressing the state and country’s sagging real estate markets. The program provided an $8,000 tax credit for qualified first-time homebuyers and a $6,500 tax credit for repeat buyers. In the first quarter of this year, the tax credit led to a six percent increase in all home sales and a forty-two percent increase in the sale of new homes. But the program expired earlier this year. Following are excerpts of his prepared remarks

ORLANDO, FL - November 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing condominiums in Florida rose 15 percent in third quarter 2010 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Realtors®. A total of 16,938 existing condos sold statewide in 3Q 2010; during the same period the year before, a total of 14,793 units changed hands.

ORLANDO, FL - November 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- What do Florida Realtors®, United Nations Foundation, National Education Association and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History have in common? All received national awards for outstanding public relations efforts from PR News in a ceremony held Nov. 3 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, DC - November 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Members of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International and other real estate and business interests achieved a significant victory on Tuesday with the defeat of Amendment 4 in Florida. If passed, the amendment would have required the state’s voters to approve all local comprehensive land use plan changes, rather than having those changes approved or rejected by city and county commissions. The amendment needed 60 percent of the vote for approval; however, 67 percent of voters rejected the measure. The outcome of the vote is expected to set a national precedent for other states.

Tampa, FL - November 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has submitted comments on the Voluntary Private Sector Accreditation and Certification Preparedness Program, known as PS-Prep, drafted by the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA).

Tampa, FL - November 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As Midwest residents recover from last week’s severe wind, rain and snow storms, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) urges home and business owners to incorporate disaster-resistant techniques into their repair and rebuilding efforts.

ORLANDO, FL - November 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Across Florida, voters went to the polls on Election Day and decisively rejected Amendment 4, the anti-growth measure that would have required voter approval for all changes to local comprehensive land use plans.

ORLANDO, FL - October 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing condominiums in Florida rose 10 percent in September, with a total of 5,675 condos sold statewide compared to 5,140 units sold in September 2009, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors

TALLAHASSEE, FL - October 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced an on-going effort to rein in mortgage servicers and protect Floridians from purported deceptive and unfair practices. Attorney General McCollum, along with 48 other Attorneys General, are part of a multistate effort to stop mortgage loan servicers from allegedly submitting affidavits or signing notices that appear to have procedural defects of either a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - October 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today sent a letter to Scott Wallace, President and Executive Director of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., outlining proposed changes to Citizens’ procurement policy and contracting procedures. On August 13, CFO Sink called upon Citizens to review its contracting procedures and competitively bid its contracts after news reports revealed that the company did not competitively bid 33 contracts worth close to $50 million.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - October 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced a multi state agreement with Wells Fargo Bank over allegations of deceptive marketing of payment option adjustable rate mortgage loans (POA’s) by Wachovia Corporation and Golden West Corporation, before Wells Fargo acquired the companies. From April 1, 2010 through the term of the agreement, more than 4,000 Florida POA borrowers will be eligible for loan modifications that are expected to provide almost $388 million in mortgage relief in Florida. This sum includes more than $208 million in principal forgiveness for Florida homeowners. Overall, loan modifications will be offered to 8,700 borrowers in eight states with a total economic value estimated to be more than $772 million through mid-2013.

Tampa, FL - October 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- This is Fire Prevention Week (October 3-9) and, with 85 new wildfires burning today throughout the United States, and many areas of the country under fire watches, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) offers effective ways to reduce the risk of wildfire-related property damage.

Washington, D.C. - September 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22) led the entire Florida Delegation to the U.S. House, including all Republicans and Democrats, in a letter today calling for urgent action on the Homeowners’ Defense Act. This bipartisan letter expresses strong support for Congressman Klein’s bipartisan legislation to reduce the cost of homeowners’ insurance for families in Floridaand around the country.

EUGENE, OR - September 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. and Realtor Shana Larson have joined forces to bring Mid-Florida Regional MLS (MFRMLS) to online home seekers instantaneously, on her website. The dynamic IDX Broker software extracts raw listing data from the MFRMLS and syncs it to the search page Larson represents, giving potential buyers thousands of opportunities to find the perfect property around Orlando, Florida. With the customizable tools her IDX solution provides on the website of Larson, the online property search process has never been easier or more effective.

EUGENE, OR - September 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is announcing today, the addition of Pete Riveiro to the growing number of real estate agents and brokers choosing to upgrade their professional websites with a customizable IDX solution. The IDX Broker software now enabled on the website of Riveiro extracts raw listing data directly from the Florida Keys MLS (FLKMLS) and displays these listings seamlessly on his search page. With the FLKMLS properties on his site, home seekers in the Florida Keys can scan thousands of listings without ever leaving the convenience of the website Riveiro hosts.

ORLANDO, FL - September 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing homes in Florida rose 1 percent in August, with a total of 13,997 homes sold statewide compared to 13,908 homes sold in August 2009, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Statewide existing home sales in August increased 3 percent over statewide sales activity in July.Ten of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported higher existing home sales last month, while 13 MSAs posted increased existing condo sales. Florida’s median sales price for existing homes last month was $134,000; a year ago, it was $146,500 for a decrease of 9 percent. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less

Tampa, FL - September 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Each year in the United States, more than $35 billion in direct property loss is caused by natural disasters. Yet, while states and municipalities are seeking to adopt ordinances that require “green” or “sustainable” construction, they are overlooking disaster-resistance construction.

TAVARES, FL - September 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The deadline of Sept. 30 is fast approaching for Lake County homeowners and small business owners to submit applications for the County’s energy efficiency retrofit pilot program.

ORLANDO, FL - September 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink’s Department of Financial Services will offer a Florida Housing Help workshop tomorrow in Orlando. Struggling homeowners will be able talk to lenders and certified HUD counselors about foreclosure issues and options. Representatives of various banks including SunTrust, Chase, Bank of America, Fifth Third, Freddie Mac, HSBC, Wachovia/Wells Fargo will be available, along with counselors from In Charge, HANDS, Consumer Credit Counseling Services, the Internal Revenue Service and Community Legal Services.

ORLANDO, FL - September 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Realtor, the Business Magazine of Florida Real Estate and monthly trade publication of Florida Realtors®, recently won five awards in the 2010 Florida Magazine Association’s (FMA) Charlie Awards competition.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - September 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced the arrest of Aylin Hernandez, 23, of Miami, for fraudulently diverting mail and stealing payments intended for Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Hernandez was arrested this morning and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County on charges of organized fraud and grand theft. The arrest results from an investigation by CFO Sink’s Division of Insurance Fraud, with assistance by Citizens Property Insurance Corporations’ Special Investigations Unit, and if convicted, she faces up to 45 years behind bars

Tampa, FL - September 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Because September is National Preparedness Month (NPM), the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is offering simple, inexpensive ways home and business owners can prepare their property to better withstand many different kinds of natural disasters

TALLAHASSEE, FL - September 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink announced today the culmination of an extensive insurance fraud investigation with the arrest of Luis M. Espinosa, 60, and Rene M. Cambert, 55, on eight first degree felony counts each for filing false or misleading financial statements for First Commercial Insurance Company (FCIC) and its affiliated company, First Commercial Transportation and Property Insurance Company (FCTPIC) with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). Espinosa was the president and CEO and Cambert was the vice president and chief operating officer of FCIC/ FCTPIC at the time the companies were ordered into receivership for liquidation in 2009. Each felony count carries a potential 30-year sentence.

Tampa, FL - September 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The uptick in the number of hurricanes is a harsh reminder of the importance of having a business continuity plan, according to the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).

ORLANDO, FL - September 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Realtors® has named Connie Johnson, a member of the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors®, as its 2010 Humanitarian of the Year. The award was presented during the state association’s recent 94th annual Convention & Trade Expo at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla

ORLANDO, FL - September 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Oakland Park, a traditional neighborhood development between the historic towns of Oakland and Winter Garden in Central Florida, has won the 23rd Residential Environmental Award from Florida Realtors®. The award, popularly known as the ENVY, was presented at the state association’s recent 94th annual Convention and Trade Expo at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla

Tampa, FL - September 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) urges residents and businesses along the U.S. coastline from North Carolina to Maine to take steps now to minimize potential wind and water damage from Hurricane Earl.

TAVARES, FL - September 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, Lake County is conducting a pilot program by selecting one home and one small commercial building to receive free energy efficiency retrofits (up to a $3,000 value) to show how small investments in energy efficiency reduce energy costs.

EUGENE, OR - September 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real estate broker Dennis Stevick of DND Realtors has chosen to adopt the dynamic IDX, Inc. product of IDX Broker software. This unique technology automatically draws raw listing data from the Fort Lauderdale MLS (FAR) and displays it on the website Stevick hosts. By enabling such an innovative IDX solution, Stevick has simplified the online home search for home seekers shopping around Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Finding the perfect waterfront or vacation property on the beaches of coastal Florida town has never been easier than now, thanks to Stevick and his adoption of IDX Broker software.

Tampa, FL - August 31, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home and business owners can reduce their chances of property damage by taking measures ahead of time to protect their unoccupied house or business, according to the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)