Archives

TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Realtors® has announced the findings of its unique Face of Foreclosure research project, designed to study the impact of foreclosures on both the Florida housing market and on individual Florida homeowners facing foreclosure. The project’s goal was to develop in-depth information on the causes of foreclosures in Florida, which in turn will help lawmakers as they work on crafting legislation on this complex issue.

Washington, DC - April 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Kathy Castor released the following statement today regarding changes announced to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program

ORLANDO, FL - April 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The countdown has begun: Only a month remains before the federal homebuyer tax credit expires, so now is the time for house hunters to find the home they’ve always wanted in Florida.

TALLAHASSEE, FL- Florida CFO Alex Sink today issued the following statement urging the Florida Legislature to pass Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) legislation. Utilizing local government bonding capacity, this innovative approach lends money to residential and commercial property owners who are seeking financing for more efficient, clean-energy property retrofits and wind-resistant improvements

JACKSONVILLE, FL - March 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Attorney A. Brian Albritton and James Casey, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, announce today that, following a two-week trial, a federal jury has found Marshall Craig Scott (age 59, of Jacksonville) guilty of commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Scott faces a maximum penalty of 145 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 24, 2010. Scott was indicted on October 29, 2009.

TAVARES, FL - March 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lake County Department of Community Services and its partner Homes in Partnership are advertising several homes for sale online that were purchased through the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)

March 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General McCollum today sent letters to the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate President regarding the impact commercial real estate foreclosures could have on Florida's economy and encouraging the legislature to be proactive in addressing the pending crisis

ORLANDO, FL - March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp today sentenced Mark J. Moncher (age 53, of Orlando) to 57 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme. The court also ordered Moncher to pay more than $1.9 million in restitution. Moncher had pleaded guilty on December 29, 2009.

Tampa, FL - March 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- With an El Nino winter almost behind us, it is time to start preparing for what forecasters predict will be an active spring for tornadoes, warns the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).

MIAMI, FL - March 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum and the Florida Interagency Mortgage Task Force today hosted a community forum in Miami to discuss the housing crisis. The event was designed to present a comprehensive approach for dealing with housing-related issues and provide information and assistance to consumers. Participating agencies included state agencies, law enforcement and regulatory authorities

TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property today announced that last month marked the largest amount of unclaimed property returned to owners recorded in state history, totaling over $22 million. So far this fiscal year (July 1, 2009 through March 8, 2010) unclaimed property payments have totaled $121.4 million, with the Bureau of Unclaimed Property on pace to return more than $180 million by fiscal year end, which would also be a new annual record.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer advisory on foreclosure rescue services and foreclosure-related loan modification offers, one of the most frequent subjects of complaints to the Attorney General’s Office during 2009. With a second wave of mortgage fraud and foreclosure rescue fraud predicted for 2010, the Attorney General warned homeowners that disreputable companies and individuals will likely continue trying to capitalize on the current economic climate and consumers’ credit and mortgage concerns.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - March 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Alex Sink's Bureau of Unclaimed Property today announced that last month marked the largest amount of unclaimed property returned to owners recorded in state history, totaling over $22 million. So far this fiscal year (July 1, 2009 through March 8, 2010) unclaimed property payments have totaled $121.4 million, with the Bureau of Unclaimed Property on pace to return more than $180 million by fiscal year end, which would also be a new annual record

March 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- “One of the major tragedies in our nation is homelessness among our veterans,” stated Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Sixth). “There are over 130,000 homeless veterans, and we have a duty to provide shelter and care, especially to those who are disabled and with special medical needs. The opening of the HONOR Center in Gainesville represents a major step forward in serving these veterans.”

WASHINGTON, DC - March 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department today announced that landlord James Stevens, his company Fountain View Apartments Inc., and his former rental manager, Mildred Chastain, have agreed to pay $415,000 in monetary damages and civil penalties to settle a Fair Housing Act lawsuit alleging that they discriminated against African Americans and families with children at Fountain View Apartments, a 42-unit apartment complex in Orange City, Fla.

Tampa, FL - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The tragedies of the recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti serve as a reminder that parts of the United States are highly vulnerable to the devastating effects of this unpredictable natural disaster.

ORLANDO, FL - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home sales rose in January, marking 17 months that sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.Existing home sales increased 24 percent last month with a total of 10,465 homes sold statewide compared to 8,444 homes sold in January 2009, according to Florida Realtors. January’s statewide sales of existing condos rose 81 percent compared to the previous year’s sales figure

ORLANDO, FL - February 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Do you have kids currently in college, or maybe one who is about to graduate high school? Are they interested in a possible real estate-related career? Then find out more about the Florida Association of Realtors® Education Foundation Inc., a new not-for-profit corporation established to provide real estate-related educational scholarships and grants. But act fast: The application deadline for this year’s program is March 15

WASHINGTON, DC - February 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Kendrick Meek today released the following statement regarding President Obama's decision to use funding from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to support Florida homeowners and stabilize the housing market

ORLANDO, FL - February 11, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Salesof existing single-family homes in Florida rose 44 percent in fourth quarter 2009 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Realtors®. A total of 43,926 existing homes sold statewide in 4Q 2009; during the same period the year before, a total of 30,610 existing homes sold. It marks the sixth consecutive quarter that Florida has seen higher existing year-to-year home sales, according to the state association.Statewide sales of existing condominiums in the fourth quarter rose 93 percent compared to the same time the previous year. This marks the fifth consecutive quarter for increased statewide sales in both the existing home and condo markets compared to year-ago levels.