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Washington, DC - May 6, 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.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Jeff Atwater today announced the arrest of Jose Claudio Pereira, owner of BR Mortgage Group Corporation, on charges of racketeering for his part in fraudulent mortgage transactions in Broward, St. Lucie and Brevard counties.

ORLANDO, FL - April 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales rose in March, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 12 percent last month with a total of 18,522 homes sold statewide compared to 16,540 homes sold in March 2010, according to Florida Realtors. Statewide sales of existing condos last month rose 24 percent compared to the year-ago sales figure.Seventeen of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported higher existing home and existing condo sales in March; 17 MSAs also had higher condo sales. It’s the fourth consecutive month that Florida Realtors has reported higher year-over-year existing home and existing condo sales statewide.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae today announced the opening of the Tampa Mortgage Help Center to provide free education and counseling services to struggling homeowners in the Greater Tampa Bay area. The Tampa Center, the seventh Mortgage Help Center to open across the country, is part of Fannie Mae's nationwide initiative to educate families about the options and tools available to help them stay in their homes.

Tallahassee, FL - April 121, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a complaint against a home loan modification company for allegedly requiring consumers to pay an upfront fee for services. According to an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Mitigators, LLC, a company providing home loan modification services, was allegedly requiring consumers to pay an upfront fee of $2,100 before services were rendered. Many consumers reported paying the $2,100 fee and an additional $399 application fee for services they never received. The Attorney General’s complaint against the company seeks more than $48,000 in restitution for consumers

ORLANDO, FL - April 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Don’t wait to enter Florida Realtors® annual Environmental Award program, or you may be green with ENVY when the winner is chosen. Popularly known as the “ENVY” award, the honor goes to a development that best preserves Florida’s natural quality of life. The award may be given in two categories: one for residential development and one for commercial development.Oakland Park, a traditional neighborhood development between the historic towns of Oakland and Winter Garden in Central Florida, won Florida Realtors’ 23rd ENVY Award in 2010. The community includes about 258 acres stretching from the shores of Lake Apopka to Oakland Avenue.

Destin, FL - April 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- There’s some good news in the U.S. housing market, and starting this week Housing Predictor is introducing a new real estate index to keep closer track of cities that are about to break into a housing recovery and those that are bottoming out.

ORLANDO, FL - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- What do a number of educators, Realtors, business executives, media representatives, civic organizers and elected officials across Florida have in common? They all can add serving as a district judge for Florida Realtors® 2010-2011 Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors to their resumes of community service.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a first-of-its-kind settlement against attorney Marshall C. Watson and his law firm, one of the largest foreclosure firms in Florida, for alleged improprieties in the prosecution of foreclosure cases throughout Florida. This settlement, which calls for a $2 million payment and imposition of certain requirements to conduct business, is the first stemming from numerous investigations into Florida foreclosure law firms.

ORLANDO, FL - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In two days, Realtors® will open doors to homeownership through thousands of open houses being held across the state as part of Florida Open House Weekend, March 26-27, sponsored by Florida Realtors®.“This exciting event will help homebuyers find their Florida dream home,” says 2011 Florida Realtors President Patricia Fitzgerald, manager/broker-associate with Illustrated Properties in Hobe Sound and Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart.

ORLANDO, FL - March 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales rose in February, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 13 percent last month with a total of 13,701 homes sold statewide compared to 12,164 homes sold in February 2010, according to Florida Realtors. February’s statewide sales of existing condos rose 29 percent compared to the previous year’s sales figure.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new study this week says Florida continues to have a dismal-performing housing market, but the state’s governor is stalling federal emergency assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure, according to two recent letters by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

ORLANDO, FL - March 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott and members of Florida’s Cabinet signed a resolution recognizing March 21-27, 2011, as “Welcome Home Week” in Florida.The resolution reads, in part: “Whereas, Realtors throughout Florida are dedicated to helping improve the quality of life for all Floridians as they promote the benefits of homeownership, with studies demonstrating that for every two home sales, one job is created, with every home purchased pumping up to $60,000 into the economy.

March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Hillsborough County’s Affordable Housing Department recently received favorable reviews from the State and Federal government for the management of two of its programs. The annual reviews were of the department’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program and its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

February 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an effort to encourage first-time homebuyers into the market, Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Department has $1 million in funding available to help qualifying households purchase their first home. The funds are available through the County’s First Time Homebuyer (FHTB) Program from State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program Funds. The Program helps low to moderate-income homebuyers with closing costs and down payment assistance. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

ORLANDO, FL - February 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales rose in January, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 14 percent last month with a total of 12,151 homes sold statewide compared to 10,702 homes sold in January 2010, according to Florida Realtors. January’s statewide sales of existing condos rose 36 percent compared to the previous year’s sales figure.Seventeen of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported increased existing home sales in January; 16 MSAs had higher condo sales.

February 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- HillsboroughCountyhomeowners have until March, 31, 2011, to apply for a Sinkhole Assistance Grant. The Grant is to provide qualified homeowners with financial assistance to recover from the damages of sinkhole impacts from January 2010 through March 2010, and to assist them in the maintenance and support of their families.

Tampa, FL - February 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Julie Rochman, CEO and president of the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) will be a guest speaker at Engineer News-Records’ Mitigating Disaster Through Design and Construction conference March 2-3 in Washington, D.C

February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Deadline to submit a Multifamily Rental Housing New Construction and Rehabilitation RFP is Friday, February 25, 2011, no later than 3:00 p.m. A Technical Workshop will be held on February 14, 2011, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. at the Affordable Housing Department, 1208 Tech Blvd, Ste 300, Tampa, FL 33619.

Tampa, FL - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Timothy Reinhold, PhD, senior vice president of research and chief engineer for the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) has been named an Engineering News-Records’ Top 25 Newsmaker for 2010. According to the Engineering News-Record (ENR), top newsmakers are chosen for their innovations and achievements, for giving back to the industry and the public, and for going beyond the duties of their day-to-day jobs. The winners will be honored at a gala in New York City on April 7.