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July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hillsborough County Affordable Housing and the Tampa Housing Authority (THA) are considering a merger of their Section...

TAVARES, FL - July 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lake County Parks & Trails Division is set to open three public land properties beginning July 26 for passive recreation. The properties include Ellis Acres Reserve, located off County Road 42 in Paisley; The Pasture Reserve, located off Lake Erie Road in South Lake; and Lake May Reserve located off County Road 44A in Eustis.

Washington, D.C. - July 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- This week, Rep. Ted Deutch (FL-19) and Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-16) announced new legislation to strengthen federal efforts to end homelessness among America’s veterans.

ORLANDO, FL - July 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing condo sales rose 8 percent in June with a total of 7,941 units sold statewide compared to 7,330 sold in June 2010, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. The statewide existing condo median sales price last month was $93,900; a year earlier, it was $92,300 for a 2 percent increase.

ORLANDO, FL - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The latest gadgets, motivational advice from top trainers and a chance to network with other real estate professionals: That’s what the Florida Realtors® 2011 Convention & Trade Expo has to offer – opportunities to learn new best practices, discover innovative marketing approaches and boost business.Realtors® from across Florida are expected to attend the state association’s 95th annual convention on Aug. 24-28, 2011, at the Rosen Shingle Creek resort in Orlando. The event features more than 54 educational sessions on topics as varied as handling short sales, social media trends, personal branding and home pricing strategies.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced today that he is expanding the availability of Spanish-speaking staff to the Department of Financial Services’ Unclaimed Property Helpline.

TAVARES, FL - July 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lake County Board of County Commissioners launched today, the GO GREEN GET GREEN energy efficiency rebate program for Lake County small commercial business owners and residents. Participants who GO GREEN by installing energy efficient products can GET GREEN through the new rebate program funded by an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG).

ORLANDO, FL - June 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Many families across Florida and the rest of the nation will spend the Fourth of July holiday away from home, basking on the state’s beautiful beaches, traveling to see relatives or maybe just visiting friends for a backyard barbecue.To fully enjoy those activities and other summertime pursuits spent away from home, Florida Realtors® suggests that homeowners take precautions to safeguard their residences when they’re not around. Crime rates across the country often start to peak as temperatures rise during warm weather months – the same time that many families leave their homes unoccupied and unprotected.

Tampa, FL - June 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis announced today the sale of the last vacant site on the Hillsborough River. The parcel, once to be the site of Trump Tower Tampa, a 52-story luxury condominium tower, was the topic of great controversy when development plans fell through during the height of the real estate recession

ORLANDO, FL - June 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales rose in May, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 3 percent last month with a total of 17,228 homes sold statewide compared to 16,790 homes sold in May 2010, according to Florida Realtors.

MONTREAL, FL - June 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representing Florida’s Realtors and the interests of the state’s real estate industry, Florida Realtors® President Patricia Fitzgerald is in Canada this week working alongside Gov. Rick Scott and other key business leaders to encourage Canadian companies to do business in Florida.

ORLANDO, FL - June 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Want to recognize an environmentally conscious Florida builder or developer, one whose projects prove that responsible growth and environmental protection can co-exist? Then remind builders to enter to win Florida Realtors® annual Environmental Award, popularly known as the ENVY, before the July 7, 2011, deadline.

Washington, DC - June 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL) was joined by 17 of his House colleagues in introducing legislation to aid economic recovery by preventing federal bank regulators from arbitrarily penalizing community banks for working with borrowers to modify their loans or accepting mortgage payments from someone other than the borrower. Since the 2008 financial crisis, federal bank regulators have been unnecessarily obstructing the ability of community banks to make and modify loans to small businesses and mortgage recipients.

Washington, DC - June 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- West Palm Beach Coalition for Independent Living Options (CILO) and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) have filed a housing discrimination lawsuit against Cornerstone Group Development Corporation (www.cornerstonegrp.com), one of the largest multifamily housing developers in Florida and the United States. The organizations allege discrimination by Cornerstone Group and several of its affiliates against people with disabilities under the federal Fair Housing Act.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that USA4SALE Network, Inc., has agreed to pay $15,000 to settle claims that it violated the Fair Housing Act when it posted ads on its Web sites that discriminated against families with children. In addition, the company has also agreed to change the way its Web sites filter discriminatory language.

ORLANDO, FL - May 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hearing “the check is in the mail,” is welcome news for 113 well-deserving young people who live in communities across Florida. Why? It’s because the announcement means that these students — high school graduates about to enter their first year of college and others already enrolled in a college, or university — recently were notified they are recipients of scholarships through the Florida Realtors® Education Foundation Inc.A not-for-profit corporation established by the state Realtor association, the Florida Realtors® Education Foundation Inc. provides real estate-related educational scholarships and grants. The Foundation’s Board of Directors awarded $263,000 in scholarships to help pay for higher education expenses for these students in the 2011-2012 school year. All recipients are Florida residents and will be attending community colleges, four-year universities, graduate programs or law schools. Many students said they hope to pursue careers in real estate.

MIAMI, FL - May 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater joined the Florida Marlins and Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) on the field today to announce the “Protect Your Home Base” initiative, encouraging Floridians to prepare and protect their homes and families before the beginning of hurricane season on June 1. This signature event is one of several highlighted in FLASH’s 2011 Great Hurricane Blowout preparedness campaign to raise awareness about strengthening homes and safeguarding families. The event took place at the Sun Life Stadium before the start of the Florida Marlins vs. Tampa Bay Rays baseball game

ORLANDO, FL - May 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales rose in April, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 2 percent last month with a total of 17,192 homes sold statewide compared to 16,781 homes sold in April 2010, according to Florida Realtors. Statewide sales of existing condos last month rose 17 percent compared to the year-ago sales figure.Twelve of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported higher existing home sales in April; 14 MSAs also had higher condo sales. It’s the fifth consecutive month that Florida Realtors has reported higher year-over-year existing home and existing condo sales statewide.

ORLANDO, FL - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales rose in first quarter 2011 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 13 percent in 1Q 2011 with a total of 44,531 homes sold statewide; during the same period the year before, a total of 39,406 homes changed hands according to Florida Realtors.

ORLANDO, FL - May 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the state Legislature’s passage of HJR 381/SJR 658, lawmakers have made it clear today that they share the goal of Florida Realtors® in bringing fairness to Florida's property tax system. As Florida leaders seek ways to attract businesses, out-of-state buyers and investors to the Sunshine State, the appeal of a property tax incentive is a strong one.HJR 381/SJR 658 would, among other things, provide property tax relief to non-homestead owners and first-time buyers.