Florida RealEstateRama

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that the second 2017 unclaimed property auction, hosted Saturday in Orlando, earned $1.186M. Nearly 60,000 individual items went up for auction, and every item sold. The highest individual grossing item was a pair of 17.6-carat diamond and platinum earrings with a starting reserve value of $19,000 that sold for $75,000. The pair features two 5.78-carat diamonds, flanked by a total of 112 diamonds

Twenty-five years ago today Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida. The Category 5 storm caused more than $25 billion worth of property damage and caused 44 direct and indirect fatalities in Florida. In the aftermath of the storm, looting, repair scams and price gouging complaints were reported to law enforcement and the Florida Attorney General’s Office.

Just like the weather, Florida’s housing market was hot in July with more closed sales, higher median prices, increased pending sales and more new listings, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 24,546 last month, up 2 percent compared to July 2016.

This morning, Congressman Tom Rooney (FL-17) and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue observed critical water quality and land conservation projects during a helicopter tour over South Florida and discussed the importance of reauthorizing these programs in the upcoming Farm Bill. These water and conservation projects help Florida’s farmers and ranchers coordinate with state and federal agencies to share in the stewardship of preserving and protecting the state’s natural beauty

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced the recent arrest of Juan Jose Castro, owner of JACM Construction Corp., after his alleged attempt to operate a shell company with the sole intent of circumventing the state’s workers’ compensation laws. A “shell company” is an entity that conducts no significant business operations and can be used as vehicle to conduct fraudulent financial transactions, such as workers’ compensation fraud.

Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) has announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded Midway Airport a $246,250 grant to reconstruct runway lighting at the airport and improve safety.

Congressman Tom Rooney (FL-17) announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be awarding a $415,775 grant to Sebring Regional Airport to help upgrade the airport’s aging infrastructure.

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced the appointment of John M. McKay to the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Board of Governors.

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that the first of two 2017 unclaimed property auctions, held Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, earned $1.194 million. All of the auction’s nearly 48,000 individual items sold, and the highest grossing individual auction item was a 14k gold ring with a 4.02-carat European cut diamond that sold for $11,500.

U.S. Rep. Dennis A. Ross (R-FL-15), Senior Deputy Majority Whip, and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) today reintroduced the bipartisan Housing Accountability Act to hold property owners of low-income housing accountable for poor living conditions. This legislation would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to survey tenants living in subsidized housing twice a year about property conditions and management performance and create new penalties for property owners who repeatedly fail the tenant surveys

Florida’s housing market had more closed sales, higher median prices and more new listings in June, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 28,205 last month, up 4.3 percent compared to June 2016.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the 2018 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, which includes key provisions proposed by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) that would help advance critical Everglades restoration projects to benefit South Florida’s environment and economy, and help protect drinking water supplies.

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that the Florida Division of Unclaimed Property returned an astonishing $313 million during the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the highest annual return figure in the program’s 56-year history. More than 513,000 individual claims were paid throughout the 2016-2017 fiscal year, a double-digit increase over the previous fiscal year. One in five Floridians has an unclaimed account in their name, and all are encouraged to regularly search for accounts on the Division’s website.

With nearly two months remaining in the fiscal year, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today announced that the Florida Division of Unclaimed Property has broken its annual fiscal year return record. More than 425,000 individual claims worth a combined value of $275 million have already been processed, surpassing the previous annual record of $271.8 million reached during the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

Have big plans for July 4th? You’re not alone. Many families across Florida and the nation will spend the Fourth of July holiday away from home, traveling to see relatives and a big fireworks show or maybe basking in the sunshine on the state’s beautiful beaches

All offices of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector; the Lake County Animal Shelter, the Lake County Extension Center and Discovery Gardens, and all 15 Lake County Library System libraries will be closed on Tuesday, July 4.

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) today announced that Miami-Dade County would receive $4.092 million in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Last year, Miami-Dade County lost over $5 million in funding for essential homeless programs in the county. HUD’s homeless assistance program has become increasingly competitive as HUD directs more funding to grantees that allocate resources to projects known to deliver better outcomes like permanent housing and rapid re-housing.

The sprawling 44 acre North Boulevard Homes community built in December 1940, was the Tampa Housing Authority’s oldest and largest public housing community and an answer to the prayers of many Tampa residents seeking an affordable place to live. Comprised of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 bedroom units, this community became home to more than 3,100 residents. In March of 1966, the need for more affordable housing was crucial and another 65 units was added to accommodate the growing need, bringing the total number of units to 832.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), the Ranking Democrat on the House Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MCVA) Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after passage in the full Appropriations Committee of the subcommittee’s Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) appropriations bill:

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension in Lake County is offering the following educational classes this month: Saturday in the Gardens: Water Wise Landscapes from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, June 17 at the Lake County Extension Center, 1951 Woodlea Road, Tavares.