TAMPA, FL - December 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today announced a change of leadership as the organization looks toward 2010. Kevin Kelso, chief marketing officer and executive vice president of the Farmers Group, will become IBHS chairman at the end of this year. In addition, Carl Hedde, vice president of Munich Re America, will become IBHS vice chairman. Both appointments were lauded during the Dec. 4 IBHS board of directors meeting.

Washington, DC - December 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13) voted for legislation today to help Florida homeowners suffering from toxic Chinese drywall avoid foreclosure. Buchanan is an original cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 197, which l passed the House 419 to 1. The bill would encourage banks and mortgage servicers to provide impacted homeowners with temporary forbearance on their mortgage payments.

Washington, DC - December 3, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The House of Representatives today passed a resolution cosponsored by Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) to encourage banks and mortgage service providers to work with families affected by contaminated drywall and to allow temporary forbearance without penalty on payments on their home mortgages. The resolution is nonbinding but serves to raise awareness to the unfortunate situation that has affected some homeowners in recent years.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - December 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) recently received a report stating the funds from the NeighborWorks® America’s National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program (NFMC) is a success with helping Floridians facing foreclosure in the state

ORLANDO, FL - December 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida high school seniors: Are you filling out college applications and poring over potential scholarship programs? Then make plans to enter the Florida Realtors®’ 2009-2010 Scholarship/Essay Contest for High School Seniors for a chance to win up to $6,000 in scholarship funding

Washington, DC - December 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Representative Kathy Castor released the following statement today. "Tampa Bay area families will benefit under the improved mortgage modification campaign announced by the Obama Administration today. Qualified families must be proactive and loan servicers must be held accountable for results.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - December 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 2010 U.S. Census is right around the corner. Florida Housing encourages all Floridians to do your part by completing and returning your mandatory Census forms.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- In late October, 2009, the Treasury, the Federal Housing Finance Administration, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced a new program under which housing bond issuers will have the opportunity to sell multifamily bonds to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the “GSEs”) that will in turn be securitized and sold to the Treasury. The new program is known as the HFA Initiative/ New Issue Bond Purchase (“NIBP”) program and has been created based on authority granted under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA).

TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today commended Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum for his proactive efforts to combat mortgage foreclosure rescue and loan modification scams in Florida. Yesterday, the FTC unveiled “Operation Stolen Hope,” a national sweep targeting these types of scams, and announced the filing of just over 100 state and federal legal actions throughout the country. These filings are in addition to the continuing efforts by Attorney General McCollum's office, which has filed 17 civil actions in the past year with more expected in the coming months.

ORLANDO, FL - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home sales rose in October, marking 14 months that sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. October’s statewide sales also increased over sales activity in September in both the existing home and existing condominium markets.Existing home sales rose 45 percent last month with a total of 15,160 homes sold statewide compared to 10,444 homes sold in October 2008, according to Florida Realtors. Statewide existing home sales last month increased 5.1 percent over statewide sales activity in September.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer advisory alerting homeowners whose homes contain allegedly defective Chinese drywall manufactured by Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. to an opportunity to ensure their claims against the company are preserved. Knauf is one of several Chinese drywall manufacturers accused in a private class action lawsuit pending in federal court in Louisiana, of importing defective drywall into the United States during the recent housing boom. The company has agreed to accept service of a single lawsuit that will be filed on December 9, 2009 in the Louisiana federal court However, under the court’s order, homeowners with homes containing the allegedly defective Knauf drywall who wish to be included in the lawsuit must submit claims to the lead counsel in the lawsuit on or before December 2, 2009

FERNDALE, FL - November 23, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lake County Parks & Trails Division announced this month that it is opening to the public the 192-acre Ferndale Preserve, which is located off County Road 455 in South Lake County, after several years of making improvements to the purchased property.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 17, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- In late October, 2009, the Treasury, the Federal Housing Finance Administration, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced a new program under which housing bond issuers will have the opportunity to sell multifamily bonds to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the “GSEs”) that will in turn be securitized and sold to the Treasury. The new program is known as the HFA Initiative/ New Issue Bond Purchase (“NIBP”) program and has been created based on authority granted under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA).

Non-profits applaud state’s affordable housing agency for expanding affordable housing opportunities for Florida’s most vulnerable citizens. TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) was recently awarded “State Agency of the Year” by the Florida Supportive Housing Coalition (FLSHC) and the Florida Coalition for the Homeless (FCH) during their Third Annual Statewide Housing and Homeless Conference last month in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

TAMPA, FL - November 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today announced that President and CEO Julie Rochman, along with representatives from Travelers and Ceres, will present “Mean and Green: The Need for Disaster Resistant Green Building,” Thursday, Nov. 12 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET at the Greenbuild 2009 Conference in Phoenix.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Housing will hold a Telephonic Board Meeting on November 13, 2009 beginning at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will address the consideration of necessary actions related to approval of credit underwriting reports and market studies.

ORLANDO, FL - November 10, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing single-family homes in Florida rose 33 percent in third quarter 2009 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Realtors®. A total of 44,345 existing homes sold statewide in 3Q 2009; during the same period the year before, a total of 33,311 existing homes sold. It marks the fifth 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 third quarter rose 56 percent compared to the same time the previous year. This marks the fourth consecutive quarter for increased statewide sales in both the existing home and condo markets compared to year-ago levels

TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against two Central Florida companies and their owner over allegations they charged up-front fees for foreclosure rescue-related services. National Payment Modification Company and The Bostonian Group, LLC, which conducts business under the name People’s First, allegedly charge up to $2,500 in up-front fees to homeowners trying to rescue their homes from foreclosure.

ORLANDO, FL - November 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Potential homebuyers have even more incentive to purchase a Florida home, according to Florida Realtors, thanks to the extension and expansion of the federal $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit.

SUNRISE, FL - November 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Attorney General’s Office and the Florida Interagency Mortgage Task Force today hosted a Broward County community forum to discuss the housing crisis. The event, designed to present a comprehensive approach for dealing with housing-related issues, provided community education and assistance to over 100 attendees. Participating agencies included state agencies, law enforcement, and regulatory authorities.