Florida RealEstateRama

ORLANDO, FL - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In two days, Realtors® will open doors to homeownership through thousands of open houses being held across the state as part of Florida Open House Weekend, March 26-27, sponsored by Florida Realtors®.“This exciting event will help homebuyers find their Florida dream home,” says 2011 Florida Realtors President Patricia Fitzgerald, manager/broker-associate with Illustrated Properties in Hobe Sound and Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart.

ORLANDO, FL - March 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales rose in February, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 13 percent last month with a total of 13,701 homes sold statewide compared to 12,164 homes sold in February 2010, according to Florida Realtors. February’s statewide sales of existing condos rose 29 percent compared to the previous year’s sales figure.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new study this week says Florida continues to have a dismal-performing housing market, but the state’s governor is stalling federal emergency assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure, according to two recent letters by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

ORLANDO, FL - March 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott and members of Florida’s Cabinet signed a resolution recognizing March 21-27, 2011, as “Welcome Home Week” in Florida.The resolution reads, in part: “Whereas, Realtors throughout Florida are dedicated to helping improve the quality of life for all Floridians as they promote the benefits of homeownership, with studies demonstrating that for every two home sales, one job is created, with every home purchased pumping up to $60,000 into the economy.

March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hillsborough County’s Affordable Housing Department recently received favorable reviews from the State and Federal government for the management of two of its programs. The annual reviews were of the department’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program and its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

ORLANDO, FL - March 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- From the Panhandle to Central Florida to the Keys, Realtors® across the Sunshine State are getting ready for Florida Open House Weekend, March 26-27, 2011 – a prime opportunity for buyers to visit many homes for sale in a single weekend.According to research conducted for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), every time a house is built, bought or sold, jobs are created. NAR found

February 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an effort to encourage first-time homebuyers into the market, Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Department has $1 million in funding available to help qualifying households purchase their first home. The funds are available through the County’s First Time Homebuyer (FHTB) Program from State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program Funds. The Program helps low to moderate-income homebuyers with closing costs and down payment assistance. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

ORLANDO, FL - February 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales rose in January, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 14 percent last month with a total of 12,151 homes sold statewide compared to 10,702 homes sold in January 2010, according to Florida Realtors. January’s statewide sales of existing condos rose 36 percent compared to the previous year’s sales figure.Seventeen of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported increased existing home sales in January; 16 MSAs had higher condo sales.

February 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HillsboroughCountyhomeowners have until March, 31, 2011, to apply for a Sinkhole Assistance Grant. The Grant is to provide qualified homeowners with financial assistance to recover from the damages of sinkhole impacts from January 2010 through March 2010, and to assist them in the maintenance and support of their families.

ORLANDO, FL - February 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Meet the neighbors and find your Florida dream home at the same time by taking part in Florida Open House Weekend, set for March 26-27, 2011. Realtors will host open houses on behalf of home sellers in neighborhoods and communities across the Sunshine State, giving buyers a rare opportunity to visit many homes for sale in just one weekend. Sponsored by the 115,000-member Florida Realtors®, the 2011 statewide open house plans to build on the success of last year’s inaugural event.“It’s a home shopper’s dream,” says 2011 Florida Realtors® President Patricia Fitzgerald, manager/broker-associate with Illustrated Properties in Hobe Sound and Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart.

Tampa, FL - February 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Julie Rochman, CEO and president of the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) will be a guest speaker at Engineer News-Records’ Mitigating Disaster Through Design and Construction conference March 2-3 in Washington, D.C

Tampa, FL - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and the International Code Council (ICC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which will increase the role IBHS building science data plays in the creation of new building codes by the ICC

February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Deadline to submit a Multifamily Rental Housing New Construction and Rehabilitation RFP is Friday, February 25, 2011, no later than 3:00 p.m. A Technical Workshop will be held on February 14, 2011, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. at the Affordable Housing Department, 1208 Tech Blvd, Ste 300, Tampa, FL 33619.

ORLANDO, FL - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing condominiums in Florida rose 6 percent in fourth quarter 2010 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Realtors®. A total of 17,231 existing condos sold statewide in 4Q 2010; during the same period the year before, a total of 16,229 units changed hands.Thirteen of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported higher existing condo sales in the fourth quarter, according to Florida Realtors. The statewide existing-condo median sales price was $86,400 for the three-month period; in 4Q 2009, it was $105,600 for a decrease of 18 percent. The statewide existing-condo median price in the fourth quarter was nearly 2.9 percent higher than it was in 3Q 2010.

MIAMI, FL - February 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- ST Residential, a world-class asset management company with a $4.5 billion real estate portfolio nationwide, launched its South Florida portfolio at an exclusive event sponsored by Ocean Drive Magazine. The event was held at one of their luxury properties, Mint at Riverfront

ORLANDO, FL - February 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Barry Grooms, sales associate, RE/MAX Alliance Group in Bradenton, has been installed as District 13 vice president of Florida Realtors®, the state's largest professional association. Grooms will serve his fellow professionals in District 13, which encompasses Manatee, Hardee, Sarasota, DeSoto and Charlotte counties. He is a member of the Manatee Association of Realtors."I see great opportunities in the international market, as buyers from other countries have confidence in America," says Grooms, who is active in residential and commercial brokerage. "Foreign buyers recognize that now is the time to buy in Florida."

Tampa, FL - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Timothy Reinhold, PhD, senior vice president of research and chief engineer for the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) has been named an Engineering News-Records’ Top 25 Newsmaker for 2010. According to the Engineering News-Record (ENR), top newsmakers are chosen for their innovations and achievements, for giving back to the industry and the public, and for going beyond the duties of their day-to-day jobs. The winners will be honored at a gala in New York City on April 7.

Fort Lauderdale, FL - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Low rents, free months, flexible terms, every broker and landlord has them these days. But one Broward landlord is thinking out of the box to attract tenants to his office/warehouse buildings in Fort Lauderdale.

EUSTIS, FL - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lake And Sumter Emergency Recovery (LASER) is soliciting donations from the community for residents who sustained damage to their homes during the Jan. 25 storm that passed through Lake County.

TAVARES, FL - January 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lake County Department of Public Safety would like to remind all County residents about the importance of having a battery-powered, tone-alert NOAA weather radio in their homes for severe weather events.