Yearly Archives: 2009

TAMPA, FL - August 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that Thomas E. Stringer (Tampa, Florida) today pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud fore Magistrate Judge Mark A. Pizzo. Stringer faces a maximum penalty of thirty years in federal prison. However, because it appears that no one sustained a loss from the commission of the crime, the relevant sentencing guidelines contemplate the imposition of a non-custodial sentence. United States intends to seek forfeiture of $222,362.00, the amount of the proceeds from the fraud. A sentencing date has not been set

WASHINGTON, DC - August 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On July 15, The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the award of the HUD - VASH housing voucher allocations nationwide.

Initial Sustainability Goals Exceeded on Turner Projects. Miami, FL - August 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Turner Construction Company, the nation’s largest builder of Green buildings, is leading the Green building effort in the South Florida market through the company’s commitment to sustainable building practices.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - August 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced plans for her Bureau of Unclaimed Property’s Statewide Auction, an annual sell-off of unclaimed safe deposit box contents turned over to the state. The auction, which is open to the public, will be held October 24, 2009, in Ft. Lauderdale at the Embassy Suites Hotel. A public preview of the items up for bid will be held Friday, October 23.

ORLANDO, FL - August 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The latest gadgets and gizmos, motivating advice from leading real estate trainers and a chance to network with other real estate professionals: That’s what the Florida Association of Realtors’® (FAR) 2009 Convention & Trade Expo has to offer – opportunities to learn new practices, gain fresh approaches and boost business.

Tallahassee, FL - July 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Housing will hold a Universal Cycle Application Workshop on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 in Tallahassee. The purpose of the workshop is to present basic information about using the 2009 Universal Application and discuss the changes between the 2008 and 2009 Universal Applications. The workshop is open to the public.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum and The Florida Bar Foundation today announced a new foreclosure defense assistance program, funded by money obtained by the Attorney General through a settlement with Countrywide Financial. A total of $4 million will be available over two years to fund additional lawyer and paralegal positions devoted to providing free assistance to homeowners facing foreclosures who cannot afford legal defense. Florida currently has the fourth highest rate of foreclosures in the nation

EUSTIS - July 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Lake And Sumter Emergency Recovery (LASER) will be welcoming next week 23 groups of volunteers from as far away as Michigan to help repair homes damaged by Tropical Storm Fay

July 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- ORLANDO, FL – Florida’s existing home sales rose in June – the 10th consecutive month that sales activity showed gains in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). Statewide sales in June also increased over the previous month’s sales level in both the existing home and existing condominium markets. And, for the second month in a row, the statewide median sales price for existing homes was higher than the previous month’s statewide median.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Jensen Beach Pastor and his wife have been convicted of mortgage fraud by a Martin County Jury. Rodney McGill and his mortgage broker wife Shalonda face up to 170 years in prison after running a mortgage fraud scheme that enticed victims to participate in a real estate investment “opportunity” but instead was an effort to rid the McGills of their mortgages. The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution in partnership with the State Attorney Bruce Colton of the 19th Judicial Circuit.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced that the Florida Attorneys Saving Homes program, which pairs volunteer lawyers with Florida homeowners facing foreclosure, has produced almost triple the amount of successful outcomes since changes initiated with CFO Sink’s leadership this spring. CFO Sink cheered lawyers and Florida lenders after publication of a progress report showing a 168% increase in foreclosure preventions since the April 20, 2009 roundtable discussion between the two groups focused on finding solutions to keep more Floridians in their homes.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced his office has filed a lawsuit against a Central Florida company that allegedly charges homeowners facing foreclosure up-front fees for loan modification services. According to the lawsuit filed today in Orange County, Victor Lopez & Associates and its owners are in violation of Florida’s Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act. The company’s office is located in Orlando.

Washington, DC - July 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The following is a statement by the National Association of Realtors®: Many news outlets are erroneously reporting that Pamela Long Wiggins, charged today for murder in Florida, is a Realtor

WASHINGTON, DC - July 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Congressman Kendrick B. Meek today announced that Florida will receive up to $17,585,000 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for its state rebate program for consumer purchases of energy efficient appliances. The program will specifically fund home appliances designated as ENERGY STAR qualified.

Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program Runs Through Nov. 30. ORLANDO, FL - July 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Like thousands of first-time homebuyers around the state, Aaron Thorp is planning to take advantage of a new Florida economic stimulus initiative. Under the Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program, eligible buyers can receive up to $8,000 in immediate assistance for a downpayment or closing costs, rather than wait to receive their federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers.

Tallahassee, FL - July 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Florida Housing's upcoming Board of Directors' Meeting will be held on Friday, July 24 in Tallahassee. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. For Board Package information, please

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Florida Housing's State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program will hold a rule development workshop on July 23, 2009 in Tallahassee. The workshop will be held to receive comments and suggestions from interested persons relative to program requirements as specified in Rule Chapter 67-37, Florida Administrative Code.

ORLANDO, FL - July 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Across Florida, people are struggling to deal with some of the aftershocks caused by the current economy, including the alarming rise in foreclosed homes now devastating families and communities

The new hotel marks the 100th Holiday Inn Express to open this year. ATLANTA, CA - July 7, 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® and Suites Largo-Clearwater opened on June 4, as the 100th Holiday Inn Express to open this year under the new sign. The hotel brings 95 guest rooms and 35 job opportunities to downtown Largo, Fla

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - July 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — “The availability and affordability of property insurance is, at its core, a consumer issue,” said 2009 Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR) President Cynthia Shelton, testifying on the need for a national disaster insurance policy to the U.S. House Financial Services Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee during a hearing today in West Palm Beach. “The importance of available and affordable insurance to homeowners, commercial property owners, and those who would like to own their own home or place of business cannot be overstated.”