– Scam alert: Man posing as client robs Orlando Realtor, others The Realtor says a homebuyer posing as a military officer ended up stealing cash and credit cards – a tactic that appears he also used in other states. PAC-backed candidates, some Realtors, win local elections Florida Realtors PAC...
– How would tax plan alter mortgage interest deduction? Analysis: A buyer paying at least $305,000 today still qualifies for the deduction, but only homes worth $801,000 or more would under latest Trump tax proposal. Lennar upbeat on housing market after storms The homebuilder said orders and deliveries rose...
– With flood ins., what does 'substantial damage' mean? In the national flood program (NFIP), “substantial damage” means that repair costs for a home in a Special Flood Hazard Area are at least 50% of its market value. Hurricane victims: A recap of key IRS tax relief The Treasury...
– 'We're open for business,' Fla. tells the world The world watched scary news reports and saw worst-case Irma photos after the hurricane, but most attractions are still open, including Key West’s Fantasy Fest. Congress considers post-hurricane flood insurance programs On the one hand, the recent onslaught of hurricanes...
– Hard lessons businesses learned after the hurricane When you plan effectively for a hurricane and get 90% right, the 10% you missed will still frustrate you. These biz owners will plan better the next time. How will buyers and sellers bridge the pricing gap? Still-climbing property values are...
– Merritt Island Realtor is NAR Good Neighbor Award winner Louise McLean, Florida Realtors 2014 Humanitarian of Year, founded the Space Coast Assoc.’s charitable arm that helps over 2.2K homeless children in Brevard County. Tax reform: Deduct property taxes or mortgage interest? The U.S. House continues to consider tax...
– Another foreclosure wave as HELOCs default? Didn't happen Many owners took out interest-only home equity lines of credit before the market collapse, but most owners refinanced before they reset to a higher interest rate. Fla.'s Irma-related insurance claims continue to mount FEMA has approved 144,407 applications and provided...
– It's getting easier to crowdfund a downpayment Crowdfunding tools help everyone to “pitch in” when a buyer needs downpayment help, and the newest ones charge no fees and make it easy to do. Scott declares emergency amid Puerto Rico crisis If up to 100K Puerto Ricans relocate to...
– Real estate QandA: Mortgage relief after Hurricane Irma? Many Floridians missed work and spent money on repairs after Hurricane Irma departed. Now some can’t make their next mortgage payment, but they may have options. NAR unhappy with Washington tax proposal The just-proposed tax reform measure put together by six...
– Harsh reality hitting Floridians without flood policies In five years, the number of federal flood policies in Fla. fell by 15%, and many non-covered people are now wondering how they can afford to fix their homes. What will the housing market look like in 2018? According to Freddie...
