Monthly Archives: March 2016

The MIAMI Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI) will promote South Florida real estate at the world’s largest property show in France. In partnership with the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), MIAMI leaders and members will market South Florida in an expanded U.S. pavilion at the annual MIPIM International Real Estate Show on March 15-18 in Cannes, France

Tampa residents and property owners are reminded to check their timer settings on irrigation system controllers this weekend when changing from Eastern Standard to Daylight Saving Time

“Having a working smoke alarm allows residents time to get out of a burning home, and cuts the chances of dying in a residential fire in half,” said Lake County Fire Rescue Fire Marshal Capt. Michael Vitta. “Most home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes without a proper smoke alarm, which is why it is so important to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home, and to make sure they are working at all times.”

Today, the House Financial Services Committee passed the Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act introduced by U.S. Representatives Dennis Ross (FL-15) and Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18), both members of the committee. This bipartisan bill would encourage the development of a robust private flood insurance market that will provide homeowners more coverage options and lower costs. Having been ordered out of the committee with broad bipartisan support, the bill now is in line for consideration by the full House of Representatives.

U.S. Representatives Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) and Curt Clawson (FL-19) introduced legislation to enact an advanced deadline for completion of repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee to help bring relief to our waterways that are currently in crisis. The bipartisan bill calls for an emergency appropriation of $800 million to carry out these expedited repairs so that once completed, more water can safely be stored within the lake, reducing the need for damaging discharges east and west into local estuaries.

the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed H.R. 1684, the Foreign Spill Protection Act, introduced by U.S. Representatives Carlos Curbelo (FL-26) and Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18). In the event of an oil spill, the legislation would require the responsible party, regardless of origin, to pay for all American cleanup costs by applying the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) to them. Furthermore, this bipartisan bill would apply the Clean Water Act penalties on the responsible foreign party.

When a family member passes away life insurance policies can help cover things like the funeral and outstanding debts—really anything. But what if the surviving family members don’t know about the policy? Well when that happens the money stays with the insurance company earning interest. Rep. Bill Hager (R-Delray Beach) wants to see insurers getting more proactive about policies. He says just look at annuities

The Justice Department announced today that Thomas Mere, the owner and operator of Mere’s Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Park in North Fort Myers, Florida, has agreed to pay $40,000 to resolve allegations that he discriminated against African Americans in violation of the Fair Housing Act.  The settlement, which is in the form of a consent order, must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida