Florida RealEstateRama

ORLANDO, FL - August 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing condo sales rose 8 percent in June with a total of 7,922 units sold statewide compared to 7,330 sold in June 2010, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. The statewide existing condo median sales price last month was $94,100; a year earlier, it was $92,300 for a 2 percent increase. The national median existing condo sales price was $165,400 in May 2011, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).Statewide home and condo sales in the second quarter also increased over 1Q 2011’s sales figures, Florida Realtors’ records show. For 2Q 2011, statewide sales of existing homes rose 17.7 percent over the previous quarter’s activity; statewide existing condo sales increased 8.1 percent over the 1Q 2011 level.

WASHINGTON, DC - August 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Four Florida men were arrested today on charges that they defrauded homeowners in Massachusetts and elsewhere in connection with a home loan modification scam, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz for the District of Massachusetts and Christy Romero, Acting Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP).

Tampa, FL - August 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- To create jobs in the Tampa Bay region, we must reinvigorate our efforts to heal the housing market, Congresswoman Kathy Castor said today as she sent a letter to the White House. Following up on a recent discussion with President Obama, Castor’s letter contains suggestions to tackle the housing crisis in Florida and the nation. Castor outlined viable ways to spur the housing market, help distressed homeowners, improve property values and, as a result, help our community and our country’s economy toward more jobs and economic recovery.

TAVARES, FL - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Beginning Monday, Aug. 1, the Lake County Department of Growth Management, Building Services Division, located on the fifth floor of the Lake County Administration Building at 315 W. Main St. in Tavares, will change the days that building inspections are performed to Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) — Hillsborough County Affordable Housing and the Tampa Housing Authority (THA) are considering a merger of their Section 8 programs - the housing assistance program for low-income families. Following are answers to some questions that are important in the decision.

TAVARES, FL - July 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lake County Parks & Trails Division is set to open three public land properties beginning July 26 for passive recreation. The properties include Ellis Acres Reserve, located off County Road 42 in Paisley; The Pasture Reserve, located off Lake Erie Road in South Lake; and Lake May Reserve located off County Road 44A in Eustis.

Washington, D.C. - July 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- This week, Rep. Ted Deutch (FL-19) and Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-16) announced new legislation to strengthen federal efforts to end homelessness among America’s veterans.

ORLANDO, FL - July 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing condo sales rose 8 percent in June with a total of 7,941 units sold statewide compared to 7,330 sold in June 2010, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. The statewide existing condo median sales price last month was $93,900; a year earlier, it was $92,300 for a 2 percent increase.

ORLANDO, FL - July 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The latest gadgets, motivational advice from top trainers and a chance to network with other real estate professionals: That’s what the Florida Realtors® 2011 Convention & Trade Expo has to offer – opportunities to learn new best practices, discover innovative marketing approaches and boost business.Realtors® from across Florida are expected to attend the state association’s 95th annual convention on Aug. 24-28, 2011, at the Rosen Shingle Creek resort in Orlando. The event features more than 54 educational sessions on topics as varied as handling short sales, social media trends, personal branding and home pricing strategies.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - July 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced today that he is expanding the availability of Spanish-speaking staff to the Department of Financial Services’ Unclaimed Property Helpline.

TAVARES, FL - July 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Lake County Board of County Commissioners launched today, the GO GREEN GET GREEN energy efficiency rebate program for Lake County small commercial business owners and residents. Participants who GO GREEN by installing energy efficient products can GET GREEN through the new rebate program funded by an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG).

ORLANDO, FL - June 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Many families across Florida and the rest of the nation will spend the Fourth of July holiday away from home, basking on the state’s beautiful beaches, traveling to see relatives or maybe just visiting friends for a backyard barbecue.To fully enjoy those activities and other summertime pursuits spent away from home, Florida Realtors® suggests that homeowners take precautions to safeguard their residences when they’re not around. Crime rates across the country often start to peak as temperatures rise during warm weather months – the same time that many families leave their homes unoccupied and unprotected.

Miami, FL - June 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Cervera Real Estate leadership welcomed new additions to the team with a new agent cocktail reception, held June 2 at the new, upscale Kyma lounge at the EPIC Miami Residences and Hotel in Brickell. Cervera’s new agents had the opportunity to network and mingle over wine and hors d’oeuvres. Discussions centered around reasons for joining the company and the work Cervera’s commercial division played in leasing the lounge.

Oak Brook, IL - June 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In adramatic expansion outside its established markets in the Midwest, triple-playmedia provider Access Media 3 has merged with Peoples Choice Cable in BocaRaton, Florida. The deal,completed June 14, 2011, nearly doubles AM3’s addressable market, stretchingthe company’s footprint far beyond its existing customer bases in Chicago andMinneapolis/St. Paul. Merging withPeoples Choice brings AM3 approximately 7,000 new subscribers in 180 buildingslocated between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida.

ORLANDO, FL - June 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales rose in May, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 3 percent last month with a total of 17,228 homes sold statewide compared to 16,790 homes sold in May 2010, according to Florida Realtors.

MONTREAL, FL - June 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representing Florida’s Realtors and the interests of the state’s real estate industry, Florida Realtors® President Patricia Fitzgerald is in Canada this week working alongside Gov. Rick Scott and other key business leaders to encourage Canadian companies to do business in Florida.

ORLANDO, FL - June 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Want to recognize an environmentally conscious Florida builder or developer, one whose projects prove that responsible growth and environmental protection can co-exist? Then remind builders to enter to win Florida Realtors® annual Environmental Award, popularly known as the ENVY, before the July 7, 2011, deadline.

Washington, DC - June 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL) was joined by 17 of his House colleagues in introducing legislation to aid economic recovery by preventing federal bank regulators from arbitrarily penalizing community banks for working with borrowers to modify their loans or accepting mortgage payments from someone other than the borrower. Since the 2008 financial crisis, federal bank regulators have been unnecessarily obstructing the ability of community banks to make and modify loans to small businesses and mortgage recipients.

Washington, DC - June 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- West Palm Beach Coalition for Independent Living Options (CILO) and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) have filed a housing discrimination lawsuit against Cornerstone Group Development Corporation (www.cornerstonegrp.com), one of the largest multifamily housing developers in Florida and the United States. The organizations allege discrimination by Cornerstone Group and several of its affiliates against people with disabilities under the federal Fair Housing Act.

MIAMI, FL - June 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Miami enjoyed a unique industry streak of penthouse sales from its luxury condo inventory in April throughout the Downtown and Brickell neighborhoods to the tune of just under $ 13 million. The condominium penthouses sold by Cervera Real Estate included a two-story Epic Tower penthouse located at 200 Biscayne Boulevard Way, the Marquis Residences located at 1100 Biscayne Boulevard; 500 Brickell and the Plaza both located on Brickell Avenue.