Florida Real Estate Blog, Blogging about Florida Real Estate, Florida Team Blog

Safety Tips for Labor Day Holiday

On September 3, 2010, in Florida Real Estate Blog, by Marc Vitorillo

This Labor Day weekend millions of drivers will take to the highway for one final summer getaway, making it one of the busiest holiday travel weekends of the year. America’s Road Team Captains, elite professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free miles, are offering advice on how to navigate through highway traffic and arrive at [...]

FHA Gives Home Buyers One-Month Window

On September 1, 2010, in Buyer Tips, Florida Real Estate Blog, by Marc Vitorillo

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is giving homeowners and buyers until October 4 to lock in a low monthly insurance premium, according to Gibran Nicholas, chairman of the CMPS Institute, an organization that trains and certifies mortgage bankers and brokers. “After October 4, the monthly insurance premiums on FHA loans will increase by over 63%.” [...]

Vacant Tampa Homes Pose Insurance Risks

On August 21, 2010, in Florida Real Estate Blog, Seller Tips, by Marc Vitorillo

As the U.S. housing market struggles to rebound, many homeowners are stuck with hard-to-sell properties longer than expected. Some frustrated home sellers who must relocate for a new job opportunity, want to downsize or simply want to buy a new place have left homes empty. Vacant or unoccupied homes can leave the homeowner exposed to [...]

Florida Back to School Safety Tips

On August 14, 2010, in Florida Real Estate Blog, by Marc Vitorillo

It’s almost time to send your children back to school, and some parents may be breathing a sigh of relief after the long summer. But before you pack the kids up and rush them out the door, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding their wellbeing. Universal Services of America gives you [...]

Florida in 2010: Rent or Buy a Home?

On June 14, 2010, in Buyer Tips, Florida Real Estate, Florida Real Estate Blog, by Marc Vitorillo

First time home buyers have a lot to consider this summer when making the decision to rent or buy a home: interest rates are at all-time lows, there’s still plenty of housing stock and prices are at or near their lowest in years. Still, deciding whether to buy a home or rent an apartment can [...]

Mortgage Rates Hit Low for Year

On June 14, 2010, in Buyer Tips, Florida Real Estate Blog, Mortgage, by Marc Vitorillo

Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages fell this week to the lowest level of the year and barely shy of the all-time low. Mortgage finance company Freddie Mac says the average rate sank to 4.72 percent, down from 4.79 percent last week. It was just above the record of 4.71 set last December. The average rate [...]

MultiFamily Builders Less Pessimistic

On June 11, 2010, in Florida Real Estate Blog, by Marc Vitorillo

The multifamily market showed signs of moving toward stability in the first quarter of 2010, according to NAHB’s Multifamily Market Index (MMI). The current production index for market-rent apartments jumped to 30.6 – 14 points higher than a year earlier – while future demand expectations for Class A apartments rose to 49.6 from 34 and [...]

Homeowners to Get Help with Troubled Loans

On June 10, 2010, in Florida Foreclosures, Florida Real Estate Blog, Seller Tips, by Marc Vitorillo

To reduce the number of foreclosure cases burdening the courts, the Florida Supreme Court ordered judges in the Sunshine State to implement a mediation program. The 12th Judicial Circuit covering Sarasota and Manatee counties has become the 10th to do so. Beginning June 21, owners of homestead properties in foreclosure will have an opportunity to [...]

Proposal: Florida Property Tax Breaks for Gulf Owners

On June 9, 2010, in Buyer Tips, Florida Property Tax, Florida Real Estate Blog, Seller Tips, by Marc Vitorillo

Gulf coast property owners impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill could get a property tax break. Gov. Charlie Crist wants that issue to be discussed as part of a special session of the Florida Legislature that he hopes to call as early as next month. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink pushed Crist to embrace [...]

HUD Adds Protected Category to Grant Program

On June 8, 2010, in Buyer Tips, Florida Real Estate Blog, HUD Grant Applications, by Marc Vitorillo

For the first time in its history, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will require grant applicants seeking HUD funding to comply with state and local anti-discrimination laws that protect lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. In HUD’s published notice, it listed general requirements of the new rule that will apply [...]