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ORLANDO, FL - November 3, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Across Florida, voters went to the polls on Election Day and decisively rejected Amendment 4, the anti-growth measure that would have required voter approval for all changes to local comprehensive land use plans.

ORLANDO, FL - October 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing condominiums in Florida rose 10 percent in September, with a total of 5,675 condos sold statewide compared to 5,140 units sold in September 2009, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors

WASHINGTON, DC - October 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it is charging the owners of a single-family home in Gibsonton, Florida with violating the Fair Housing Act for engaging in discriminatory housing practices, including reneging on their agreement to rent the house to a mother and her children because they are African American. HUD’s charge also alleges that the owners used racial slurs when referring to and addressing the family.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - October 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced an on-going effort to rein in mortgage servicers and protect Floridians from purported deceptive and unfair practices. Attorney General McCollum, along with 48 other Attorneys General, are part of a multistate effort to stop mortgage loan servicers from allegedly submitting affidavits or signing notices that appear to have procedural defects of either a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure.

Miami, FL - October 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) today announced that Patricia A. Nooney has been named Senior Managing Director-Institutional Services for Florida, a new position. In this role, Ms. Nooney will oversee the delivery of Brokerage, Project Management, Asset Services and other services to CBRE’s property owner clients, including its 37 million sq.-ft. portfolio throughout the state. She will also coordinate with CBRE’s Capital Markets professionals in delivering debt and equity solutions to these clients.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - October 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today sent a letter to Scott Wallace, President and Executive Director of Citizens Property Insurance Corp., outlining proposed changes to Citizens’ procurement policy and contracting procedures. On August 13, CFO Sink called upon Citizens to review its contracting procedures and competitively bid its contracts after news reports revealed that the company did not competitively bid 33 contracts worth close to $50 million.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - October 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced a multi state agreement with Wells Fargo Bank over allegations of deceptive marketing of payment option adjustable rate mortgage loans (POA’s) by Wachovia Corporation and Golden West Corporation, before Wells Fargo acquired the companies. From April 1, 2010 through the term of the agreement, more than 4,000 Florida POA borrowers will be eligible for loan modifications that are expected to provide almost $388 million in mortgage relief in Florida. This sum includes more than $208 million in principal forgiveness for Florida homeowners. Overall, loan modifications will be offered to 8,700 borrowers in eight states with a total economic value estimated to be more than $772 million through mid-2013.

Tampa, FL - October 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- This is Fire Prevention Week (October 3-9) and, with 85 new wildfires burning today throughout the United States, and many areas of the country under fire watches, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) offers effective ways to reduce the risk of wildfire-related property damage.

Washington, D.C. - September 30, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22) led the entire Florida Delegation to the U.S. House, including all Republicans and Democrats, in a letter today calling for urgent action on the Homeowners’ Defense Act. This bipartisan letter expresses strong support for Congressman Klein’s bipartisan legislation to reduce the cost of homeowners’ insurance for families in Floridaand around the country.

ORLANDO, FL - September 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing homes in Florida rose 1 percent in August, with a total of 13,997 homes sold statewide compared to 13,908 homes sold in August 2009, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Statewide existing home sales in August increased 3 percent over statewide sales activity in July.Ten of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported higher existing home sales last month, while 13 MSAs posted increased existing condo sales. Florida’s median sales price for existing homes last month was $134,000; a year ago, it was $146,500 for a decrease of 9 percent. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less

Tampa, FL - September 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Each year in the United States, more than $35 billion in direct property loss is caused by natural disasters. Yet, while states and municipalities are seeking to adopt ordinances that require “green” or “sustainable” construction, they are overlooking disaster-resistance construction.

TAVARES, FL - September 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The deadline of Sept. 30 is fast approaching for Lake County homeowners and small business owners to submit applications for the County’s energy efficiency retrofit pilot program.

ORLANDO, FL - September 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink’s Department of Financial Services will offer a Florida Housing Help workshop tomorrow in Orlando. Struggling homeowners will be able talk to lenders and certified HUD counselors about foreclosure issues and options. Representatives of various banks including SunTrust, Chase, Bank of America, Fifth Third, Freddie Mac, HSBC, Wachovia/Wells Fargo will be available, along with counselors from In Charge, HANDS, Consumer Credit Counseling Services, the Internal Revenue Service and Community Legal Services.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - September 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced the arrest of Aylin Hernandez, 23, of Miami, for fraudulently diverting mail and stealing payments intended for Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Hernandez was arrested this morning and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County on charges of organized fraud and grand theft. The arrest results from an investigation by CFO Sink’s Division of Insurance Fraud, with assistance by Citizens Property Insurance Corporations’ Special Investigations Unit, and if convicted, she faces up to 45 years behind bars

TALLAHASSEE, FL - September 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink announced today the culmination of an extensive insurance fraud investigation with the arrest of Luis M. Espinosa, 60, and Rene M. Cambert, 55, on eight first degree felony counts each for filing false or misleading financial statements for First Commercial Insurance Company (FCIC) and its affiliated company, First Commercial Transportation and Property Insurance Company (FCTPIC) with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). Espinosa was the president and CEO and Cambert was the vice president and chief operating officer of FCIC/ FCTPIC at the time the companies were ordered into receivership for liquidation in 2009. Each felony count carries a potential 30-year sentence.

ORLANDO, FL - September 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Oakland Park, a traditional neighborhood development between the historic towns of Oakland and Winter Garden in Central Florida, has won the 23rd Residential Environmental Award from Florida Realtors®. The award, popularly known as the ENVY, was presented at the state association’s recent 94th annual Convention and Trade Expo at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla

TAVARES, FL - September 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, Lake County is conducting a pilot program by selecting one home and one small commercial building to receive free energy efficiency retrofits (up to a $3,000 value) to show how small investments in energy efficiency reduce energy costs.

Tampa, FL - August 31, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Home and business owners can reduce their chances of property damage by taking measures ahead of time to protect their unoccupied house or business, according to the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)

ORLANDO, FL - August 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing condominiums in Florida rose 11 percent in July, with a total of 5,557 condos sold statewide compared to 4,991 units sold in July 2009, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.Eleven of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported higher existing condo sales in July, according to Florida Realtors. The statewide existing condo median sales price last month was $87,200; in July 2009 it was $108,500 for a 20 percent decrease. The national median existing condo price was $181,300 in June, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR

Tampa, FL - August 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Five years after Hurricane Katrina, building codes along the Gulf Coast today are, for the most part, inadequate, according to a report from the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)