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Average 30-year loan rate falls to 3.92%
October 24, 2014
Almost every industry expert (92%) polled this week by Bankrate.com expects rates to remain stable over the short term. None predict further drops, and the remaining 8% predict an increase.
Fla. Aug. sales up 4.2% year-to-year, prices up 3.4%
September 22, 2014
Existing home sales lose a bit of momentum in August.
July 2014 Press Release & Market Indicators
August 25, 2014
Home sales and prices continue to climb in Lee County
Gov. Scott signs Fla. flood insurance bill
June 17, 2014
A Florida bill to ease the burden of skyrocketing flood insurance costs became law on Friday when signed by Gov. Rick Scott.
Home ‘value’ isn’t absolute – it’s subjective
June 13, 2014
The concept of value is subjective when it comes to home amenities, and sellers often find that price and cost do not equal value.
FEMA outlines next steps for flood insurance law
March 27, 2014
National Flood Insurance Act: Take 2 How will the new flood insurance law impact homeowners and your buyers? Lisa S. Jones outlines the changes in a recorded 30-minute Webex presentation that is available online.
Flood insurance relief becomes law
March 24, 2014
President Obama signed H.R. 3370 on Friday, cementing at least short-term relief for homeowners hit by skyrocketing flood insurance rates and sellers afraid their homes will be worth less after buyers factor in the yearly cost of significantly higher flood insurance coverage.
U.S. House postpones vote on flood insurance bill
February 27, 2014
Leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives postponed a bill to roll back flood insurance rate increases that had been scheduled for a vote this week.
U.S. House prepares its own flood insurance bill
February 13, 2014
Yesterday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced that the U.S. House “will consider a modified version of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act the week of Feb. 24.”
Men and women fall in love with a home differently
February 12, 2014
Realtor.com® released the results of its Home Crush Survey, which studied the way men and women react to homes on the market.
Senate acts on bill to delay flood insurance hikes
January 28, 2014
Bipartisan legislation that would delay flood insurance premium hikes for hundreds of thousands of people living in coastal and low-lying areas cleared its first hurdle in the Senate on Monday.
Congress agrees to incremental flood insurance fix
January 15, 2014
Some change....but not enough, but at least it is in motion!
Short-sale surge may end as foreclosures gain favor
December 03, 2013
As home prices rise, lenders are showing less willingness to grant short sales, RealtyTrac reports.
Principal forgiveness gains traction as a money saver
April 11, 2012
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could save $1.7 billion if they forgave principal on some distressed mortgages, a new analysis shows.
Florida Home Prices are Rising!
April 04, 2012
April 4, 2012 – CoreLogic today released its February Home Price Index (HPI) report. Excluding distressed sales, month-over-month prices nationally increased 0.7 percent in February from January, but fell year-over-year by 0.8 percent if distressed sales are backed out of the equation and 2.0 percent if they’re included.
Gone, but not forgotten: Canceled debt
March 07, 2012
Like former lovers who send you friend requests on Facebook, old debts can come back to haunt you.
Growth picture enjoys uptick
October 25, 2011
Economists have significantly raised their estimates of third-quarter economic growth ahead of the government’s official report Thursday, easing near-term fears of another recession.
Economic reports may calm fears
October 20, 2011
Inflation slowed from its summertime blip in September, housing starts rebounded, and the Federal Reserve reported signs of modest economic growth, suggesting that fears of a double-dip U.S. recession may have been overblown.
Mortgage rates bounce back
October 17, 2011
Home loans expected to remain affordable in the long term
Credit scores poised to get more personal
October 17, 2011
Many consumers applying for a mortgage are going to start sharing more personal information with lenders next year, like it or not.
Wells Fargo's John Stumpf: How to fix the mortgage mess
April 06, 2011
FORTUNE -- For most Americans, their home is the largest and most important investment they will ever make. Ensuring that they have the right kind of mortgage is critical to their financial well-being and -- as we've seen recently -- critical to our entire economy.
Admin could faze out Fannie and Freddie
February 09, 2011
President Obama is expected to release a “white paper” on Friday outlining plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two secondary mortgage companies taken over by the federal government during the recent housing crisis.
Bank can go after other assets in Florida if you default on mortgage
January 10, 2011
Bank can go after other assets in Florida if you default on mortgage
Florida’s existing home, condo sales rise in June 2010
July 23, 2010
Existing-home sales slow in June, above year-ago levels.
Mortgage rates remain at lowest level in decades
July 16, 2010
Mortgage Rate Trend Index Don’t expect rate changes over the short term, say 55% of experts polled by Bankrate.com this week. Most of the others (40%) foresee an increase, however – only 5% think rates will go lower.
Flood premiums cause some to take storm-season risk
July 15, 2010
Florida homeowners face mounting flood-insurance challenges this year as they wade deeper into hurricane season.
Local Real Estate Stats
July 11, 2010
Average prices are up by $10,0000 from 2009. Numbers of Sales drops 18%.
Congress gives homebuyers more time to close for tax credit
July 03, 2010
Congress gives homebuyers more time to close for tax credit Obama signs extension bills On July 2, Pres. Obama signed into law HR 5623, the Homebuyers Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010, which extends the homebuyer tax credit closing date to Sept. 30, 2010, for qualified buyers with a purchase contract that was signed by April 30, 2010. He also signed HR 5569, which retroactively reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to enter into new contracts for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program through Sept. 30, 2010.
SW Florida Beaches
July 03, 2010
This is an up to the minute website for what is going on in our local Gulf water ways.
Tough Time for Sellers
June 30, 2010
For Sellers who are not in financial distress, it is very difficult to sell at a price that would be reasonable for them. They have to compete with Foreclose pricing/
New Laws Designed to Help Property Owners
May 01, 2010
Passage of legislation that stimulates condo sales? A law requiring oversight of appraisal management companies? Killing a disclosure that would have reduced the prices of coastal properties? Tax breaks for homeowners impacted by tainted drywall? Consider it done.
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.
Foreclosures drive nearby home prices down
June 17, 2009
Foreclosures drive down the value of neighboring homes an average of $7,200 per home
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Florida Realtors continue efforts to support ‘Yes on 1’
December 21, 2007
For more information about Amendment 1, go to: www.Yeson1Florida.com.
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
NAR: Home prices to recover in 2008
July 15, 2007
National Association of Realtors prediction for 2008 home sales.
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...
Florida Legislature may agree on method of property tax reform
May 17, 2007
Update on Progress to lower Florida property tax