News

CFO Jeff Atwater: Check for Unclaimed Property before Statewide Auction

TALLAHASSEE – May 13, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today asked Floridians to check for unclaimed property prior to his Bureau of Unclaimed Property’s Statewide Auction, an annual sale of unclaimed safe deposit box contents turned over to the state. The auction, which is open to the public, will be held June 8, in Tampa, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel

WINTER PARK RECEPTION HIGHLIGHTS HOMELESSNESS

ORLANDO, FL – May 13, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — On Tuesday evening, April 30, 2013, more than 135 Winter Park residents and their guests gathered at Interlachen Country Club to enjoy camaraderie, cocktails and canapĆ©s, and to focus on a very serious message – the realities of homelessness in Central Florida. The event was hosted by a committee of 11 community leaders,* chaired by Rick Wack of Mediation Services of Central Florida, Inc., in partnership with Coalition for the Homeless. It was underwritten by an anonymous donor, a generous expression of endorsement for the cause.

CFO Jeff Atwater Announces Arrest of Three North Florida Roofers for Unlicensed Insurance Activity

TALLAHASSEE, FL – May 13, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced today the arrests of Derek Shawn Kellog, 31, Crawfordville; Corey Jermaine Brownlee, 30, Jacksonville; and Sean McCaslin, 49, Tallahassee; employees of Roofmasters, Inc., for acting as unlicensed public adjusters while soliciting homeowners for roof repairs in the Tallahassee area.

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Statement on National Mortgage Settlement Servicing Standards

TALLAHASSEE, FL – May 7, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Pam Bondi released the following statement regarding the National Mortgage Settlement Servicing Standards

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater Joins Governor Scott in Signing Legislation Automating Unclaimed Property Claims

TALLAHASSEE – May 2, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today joined Governor Rick Scott, Senator Flores (R-Miami) and Representative Mayfield (R-Vero Beach) at a bill signing ceremony for SB 464, which allows the CFO’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property to create a fully automated claims process.

Attorney General Bondi’s Statement on Appropriation of $200 Million of the National Mortgage Settlement Funds

TALLAHASSEE, FL – May 1, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Pam Bondi released the following statement on the passage of Senate Bill 1852 regarding funding from the national mortgage settlement.

HUD ASSUMES CONTROL OF COCOA, FLORIDA HOUSING AUTHORITY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 24, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that, effectively immediately, it is taking control of the Housing Authority of the City of Cocoa (HACC)

Ross Earns Award for Support of Pro-Growth Policies

WASHINGTON, DC – April 17, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15) received the Chamber of Commerce’s ā€œSpirit of Enterpriseā€ award for his support of pro-business issues during the second session of the 112th Congress.

Broward County Receives HUD Grant of More Than $8 Million to Assist Homeless Population

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 12, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership has received a grant totaling more than $8 million to fund 17 local projects from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Feds to audit Florida homeowner mortgage assistance program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 12, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The federal government today disclosed it was launching an investigation of Florida’s $1 billion Hardest Hit mortgage assistance program, a probe requested by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson

Regional Fair Housing Summit to discuss ā€˜approaches to creating inclusive communities’

TAVARES – April 9, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Lake County is cosponsoring the second-annual Regional Fair Housing Summit, with the theme of ā€œOne Community, Growing Together: Regional Approaches to Creating Inclusive Communities.ā€ The featured speaker will be James H. Carr, senior fellow with the Center for American Progress and Distinguished Scholar with The Opportunity Agenda

Senator calls for more scrutiny of Florida’s program to help homeowners avert foreclosure

TALLAHASSEE – March 28, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Florida’s senior U.S. senator has called on President Obama’s special inspector general to investigate mismanagement and inaction by Florida officials administering the state’s $1 billion share of federal mortgage assistance money, as disclosed in a recent newspaper account.

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Statement on the Senate Subcommittee’s Plan for National Mortgage Settlement Funds

TALLAHASSEE, FL – March 27, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Pam Bondi released the following statement on the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development’s draft legislation regarding more than $200 million in National Mortgage Settlement funds.

Broward County Celebrates Fair Housing Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 21, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Broward County’s Human Rights Section, HOPE Inc. and Broward County Housing Finance and Community Development Division are sponsoring a Fair Housing Symposium ā€œRebuilding the American Dreamā€ on Friday, April 5, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Signature Grand located at 6900 State Road 84, Davie. The purpose of the workshop is to educate the public on emerging issues and laws surrounding fair housing in Broward County

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Statement on the Passage of Legislation Relating to National Mortgage Settlement Funds in the House Appropriations Committee

TALLAHASSEE, FL – March 21, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Pam Bondi released the following statement on the passage of legislation relating to the remaining $200 million of the National Mortgage Settlement in the House Appropriations Committee