|
LICENSING FEES
Every real estate licensee in Florida can now enjoy a license renewal
fee holiday. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation
announced it is waiving license renewal fees for one complete two-year
cycle effective Sept. 30, 2006, through March 31, 2008.
Read the full story:
http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n1-07262006
__________________________
INSURANCE RATES
If people vote with their wallets, the rising cost of property
insurance likely will be a pivotal issue in the next election.
Some Democrats hope voters will rally around their plan to
create a state-run insurer that covers windstorm damage.
Read the full story:
http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n2-07262006
__________________________
HOME PRICES
In the coming months, NAR Chief Economist David Lereah says
he expects "price numbers to start deteriorating," though he still
projects home prices will be up 5.3 percent for the year.
Read the full story:
http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n3-07262006
__________________________
FLORIDA CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
Consumer confidence among Floridians rose one point to 89
in July, according to University of Florida economists. However,
"The rise in confidence among Floridians was weak and is
starting to show signs of the increased burden on consumers,"
says Chris McCarty, director of UF's survey research center.
Read the full story:
http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n4-07262006
__________________________
SEXUAL OFFENDERS
Homebuyers seeking information on possible sexual predators
now may find additional information posted on Florida's official
Web site, http://www.fdle.state.fl.us. Saying it's unfair to lump all
offenders into the same category, the state now includes details
of each crime and the date when it occurred.
Read the full story:
http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n5-07262006
**********************************************************
U.S. HOUSE PASSES FHA REFORM
House lawmakers have passed legislation to modernize the
Federal Housing Administration (FHA), including a boost in the
maximum insurable mortgage amount to align with Fannie Mae
and Freddie Mac's conforming-loan limit. This means that low-
income buyers in pricey housing markets have an alternative to
subprime loans. The measure also scraps the 3-percent down
payment requirement and replaces flat mortgage insurance
premiums with a tiered approach. The FHA now will consider
the borrower's credit history and debt-to-income ratio, the
loan-to-value ratio, and historical data when setting premiums.
Finally, the bill will repeal the cap on federally insured reverse
mortgages and enable Ginnie Mae, which securitizes most FHA
mortgages, to operate in high-cost markets. According to Rep.
Bob Nay (R-Ohio), "Modernizing FHA will improve competition in
the prime home loan mortgage industry and effectively assist the
industry in combating abusive and discriminatory lending
practices."
Source: Reuters (07/25/06) Lawder, David
© Copyright 2006 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD
(301) 215-4688
**********************************************************
PROMOTING PROMOTIONS
Looking for that "something extra" to help you compete in today's
competitive real estate market? Or if you have "something extra,"
are you willing to share it with your fellow Realtors? Florida
Realtor magazine's "You Inc." column features sales associates
and brokers with unique and sometimes off-the-wall promotional
ideas to generate sales. Take some tips from a Merritt Island
sales associate who promotes herself on DVD, a mother-
daughter team in Davie who walk their farm neighborhoods
towing a little red wagon, and a rookie Realtor in Stuart whose
zany marketing campaign includes sending fake brains, flip-flops
and coconuts. If you or a fellow Realtor already uses a unique
promotion or marketing program, Florida Realtor would like to
hear from you. You may even be featured in a future issue of
the magazine. To be considered, send an e-mail describing your
promotional strategies to Associate Editor Leslie Stone at
leslies@far.org.
**********************************************************
AROUND FLORIDA
For complete news coverage (password required):
http://planetrealtor.com/Florida/News
Lehigh Acres: Builders focus on less-expensive homes
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060726/NEWS0103/60725039/1005
Stuart: Four-story condo buildings going up
http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_4867838,00.html
Winter Park: Plans beat building moratorium
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-mcfbriefs25_706jul25,0,4518806.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-orange
|
