Yearly Archives: 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 6, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) today released the following statements in reaction to the recent reported arrests in connection with the insurance fraud investigation, “Operation Flames and Flood”. The two public adjusters arrested were not and have never been members of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 6, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Ander Crenshaw, Chairman of the House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, today( 2/5) announced his support for the Disaster Savings Account Act (HR 3989) - legislation allowing for the creation of tax-free savings accounts for homeowners to set aside up to $5,000 to strengthen their homes against hurricanes and other disasters.

Washington, DC - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Lois Frankel today called on the House to consider the bipartisan bill the Senate passed last week to delay flood insurance premium rate hikes by four years for homeowners.

TALLAHASSEE - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- CFO Jeff Atwater today announced the arrests of 14 individuals following a joint investigation between the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Arson Unit. “Operation Flames and Floods,” as it was termed upon its inception in November 2012, exposed an extensive scheme to defraud several insurance companies by staging fire and water damage claims to residential homes in Miami-Dade County, Lehigh Acres and Naples. The losses exceeded several million dollars after 13 homes were set on fire and five more reported extensive water damage

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Phil Kean, president of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park, Fla., has been honored as the Custom Builder of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

WASHINGTON, DC - January 31, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Joe Garcia released the following statement on the passage of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, S.1926, in the Senate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 29, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Alan Grayson (FL-09) has introduced twelve bills aimed at continuing certain tax deductions and credits for one year. These provisions, which save Americans money and boost the economy, have already expired or will expire this year.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - January 27, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that more than 1,700 Floridians will receive checks totaling more than $2.5 million next week. Under the National Mortgage Settlement, which Attorney General Bondi took a leading role in obtaining, eligible claimants will each receive a check in the amount of $1,480. The checks are being sent to claimants who lost their homes to foreclosure and who filed a claim under the National Mortgage Settlement. The $2.5 million total value of the distribution is second only to California's and is the latest distribution by the settling banks to eligible foreclosed homeowners. The total distribution to date to foreclosed homeowners in Florida under the settlement is approximately $109.5 million to 74,000 Floridians.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, II praised House and Senate negotiators for including a provision yesterday in the 2014 Omnibus Spending bill delaying flood insurance rate increase due to reforms in FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Southerland voted for the amendment in June and signed a letter to House leadership in September urging the language be included in the 2014 spending bill.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) announced today that relief from flood insurance rate increases is contained in the 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which likely will be voted on by the House of Representatives tomorrow.

TAVARES - January 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- All offices of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners, Clerk of Courts, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector will be closed Monday, Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Offices will reopen with regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, Jan. 21.