Florida RealEstateRama

Tallahassee, FL - April 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Florida Housing's upcoming Board of Directors' Meeting will be held on Friday, April 24,...

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today unveiled a new website designed to help homeowners avoid mortgage fraud-related scams. The website, at provides consumers with easy access to current investigations, complaint forms, and tips to identify and avoid foreclosure rescue fraud. Foreclosure rescue fraud, or fraud involving loan modifications related to foreclosures, is the complaint topic most commonly reported to the Attorney General’s Office and involves the charging of an up-front fee for foreclosure rescue services before any services are provided, if they are provided at all.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Ten Realtors® from across Florida met with Gov. Charlie Crist this morning to discuss increased home sales and other positive trends in their markets, as well as offer insight into some current issues facing the real estate industry. It’s part of this year’s Great American Realtor Days, April 14-15, when about 1,000 Realtors from throughout the state join forces at the state capital to meet with their legislators and discuss concerns affecting all Florida residents.

April 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — By mid 2010, Florida Power and Light (FPL) will construct the Martin Next-Generation Solar Energy Center, a 75-megawatt (MW) plant that will sit on 500 acres near Indiantown, Florida—adjacent to FPL's combined-cycle power facility. The solar plant will be the world's first hybrid energy facility and the largest solar plant of any kind outside of California. Two other solar facilities have homes in Florida—one at NASA's Kennedy Space Center and the other roughly 70 miles southwest of St. Petersburg—and with the new plant, they will collectively produce 110 MW of electric power.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property announced that last month marked the largest amount of unclaimed property returned to owners recorded in state history, totaling over $19.7 million. So far this fiscal year (July 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009) unclaimed property payments have totaled $132.3 million, with the Bureau of Unclaimed Property on pace to return over $174 million by fiscal year end.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 09, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has obtained a court order temporarily prohibiting a Jacksonville company from charging up-front fees for foreclosure-related rescue services. According to the order issued by the Duval County Circuit Court, National Foreclosure Counseling Services Corp. is barred from charging homeowners any fee in advance for providing foreclosure-related rescue services. The order was agreed upon by the state and the company.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 07, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) —Attorney General Bill McCollum announced today that his office has obtained a settlement with an Orlando company that provided foreclosure services to consumers. Homestead Protection Services, LLC has agreed to dissolve the company and must refrain from any future violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The company must also pay $20,000 in consumer restitution and must reimburse the state $5,000 for fees and costs of the investigation.

ORLANDO, FL - April 07, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Finding a way to turn a new $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers into money that they can use right away for a downpayment would spark the recovery of Florida’s housing market and boost the state’s economy, says Cynthia Shelton, 2009 president of the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR).

ORLANDO, FL - April 01, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Is spring fever prompting you to head for the beaches or some other vacation getaway? If you’re planning to travel during the spring holidays this year, you can help protect your home while you’re away by following these tips from the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR)

TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today obtained a temporary injunction against Lincoln Lending Services, LLC and owner Rita Gomez, prohibiting the company from engaging in any type of consumer-debt related service or mortgage modification service and from taking payment from consumers for such services until further order of the court. The company will also be required to preserve and allow inspection of its records and refrain from liquidating its assets.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has obtained an emergency court order temporarily prohibiting a Central Florida company from charging up-front fees for foreclosure-related rescue services. According to the order issued by the Orange County Circuit Court, Wineberg, Lopez, & Rodriguez Company is barred from charging homeowners any fee in advance for providing foreclosure-related rescue services. Wineberg Lopez, & Rodriguez Company must comply with written notice requirements contained in the Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act, which became law on October 1, 2008

TAVARES, FL - March 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Lake County Department of Community Services is alerting local homeowners to a recently launched federal government Web site (www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov) that outlines information about the President’s loan modification and refinancing program

TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 26, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that he has sent a letter to several state agencies and associations, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Office of Financial Regulation, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Bar, calling for a cooperative approach to the state’s mortgage fraud crisis. The Attorney General noted that his office has received hundreds, if not thousands, of complaints on various issues related to mortgage fraud including criminal fraud and foreclosure rescue fraud

MOUNT DORA, FL - March 26, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Lake County Green Team is presenting the on Thursday, June 11, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday, June 12, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Lakeside Inn, located at 100 N. Alexander St. in Mount Dora.

March 26, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced today that the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Orlando-Ocoee East has opened. The hotel is the third Holiday Inn Express to open in the Orlando area this year and marks the fourth property in the market to showcase the brand's new sign.

ORLANDO, FL - March 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Florida’s existing home sales rose in February, making it the sixth consecutive month that sales activity showed increases in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). February’s statewide sales also increased over January’s figures in both the existing home and existing condo markets

TAMPA, FL - March 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Spring showers can bring more than May flowers. Seasonal changes in temperature and moisture levels could lead to costly leaks. According to the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), five areas of the home need a closer look this time of year, and if necessary, simple maintenance.

TAVARES, FL - March 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Lake County Department of Facilities Development & Management presented its quarterly construction update to the Lake County Board of County Commissioners at its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday with the ongoing downtown projects as the top highlight.

WASHINGTON - March 20, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today announced a First-Time Homebuyer Forum Saturday, March 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to be held at Miami Dade College in Miami, FL. The seminar will provide information about down payment assistance programs, applying for a FHA loan, first-time homebuyer tax credits, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, buying a HUD home, and credit counseling.

INDIANAPOLIS - March 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The NCAA and Habitat for Humanity International, in conjunction with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Habitat for Humanity Orlando, have joined forces to frame a house in partnership with a local Orlando family at the 29^th annual Florida Classic presented by State Farm.