The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate &  FL Realtor News  Monday, April 1, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES FEMA officials prep for sticker shock Vacation and rental home flood insurance premiums rose 25% Jan. 1 and will keep rising yearly until FEMA considers it enough to cover potential local claims. Read more.   Appraisals stop some home sales as market heats up An appraisal relies on recent sales in a comparison, but that makes an appraisal less reliable if a local market has rapidly rising or declining home prices. Read more.   Feds identified two key problems with property insurance forced on homeowners by lenders. It's considering rules and accepting public comments until May 28. Read more.   U.S. homeowners think it's a good time to renovate Houzz survey: 53% think now's t... 04/01/2013

How long have you been a professional??   Looking for the best modest to luxury properties in the county - from Boca to Jupiter? Get them from one that has studied the area with over 29 years expertise in the business. Having first obtained my Real Estate license in 1984, I have enjoyed this trade along with many other experiences of this industry. I have been self employed for more than 20 years surviving based on my own wit and passion to help my customers. The wealth of knowledge acquired from being a Realtor, Custom Builder, Public Insurance Adjuster, and Supreme Court Mediator have given me the skills, that exceed my counterparts. I look forward to the challenges of today's market whether it be a short sale, foreclosure, investment, or regular purchase. I presently have earned my G... 03/28/2013

  Atlantis of Palm Beach County, FL Market Stats for February 2013   Stats and facts about Atlantis, Florida, are out for the month of February 2013.  The report is packed with information about the county and the local city mentioned above. In a nut shell the inventory of single family homes available for sale are at a 8.3 month selling point which is down nearly 44.7% from a year ago. That’s a good sign things are loosening up and people are buying. Click on this LINK, for more graphs and stats. Whether you are buying or selling in this hot market of the County of Palm Beach, FL, choosing the right company will save you money, time and many sleepless nights. I not only have 29 years experience as a Realtor, construction was a passion of mine as well. This alone is worth so much more t... 03/26/2013

  Buyers: Shadow Inventory Of REO Properties     Buyers, it's become clear that the major banks are starting to unload their REO inventory.  We have seen it already in cities nationwide. The biggest reason is the rising values of homes.  Banks have been waiting for home values to return to normalcy and to begin an upward trend before releasing the unbelievable amount of shadow inventory they are holding on to.   Now that home values have had some wind at their back, banks are ramping up their REO sales teams and starting to dump the inventory.  Don't expect a huge flood all at once though.  It will come little by little  because the banks don't want to shock the housing market either. The opportunities exist but also risks of conditions with needed repairs, can’t be overlooked.   Let us... 03/25/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News   Monday, March 25, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Young adults’ finances may be hard to repair But Urban Institute finds that buying a home at age 40 rather than 30 can result in a $42,000 home equity loss by the time that homeowner reaches age 60. Read more.   Home equity rebound could push spending CoreLogic: Home equity is the biggest source of wealth, so if equity is increasing, that has a very large effect on household spending and consumer psychology. Read more.   Citizens CEO: Give insurance consumers more choice Barry Gilway says a "clearinghouse" could help new customers see other options in the private marketplace and as many as 30% find coverage outside of Citizens. Read more.   Home listings: 20 seconds for lov... 03/25/2013

  Buyers: 12 Secrets From Staging to Sold in 30 Days       Highlighting your homes strongest points while minimizing the homes flaws will grab the best possible pool of ready & able buyers with these tips.     Clutter be gone: The most important part to prepare your home is clearing the path of the excess knick knacks and extra furniture. Group your furniture: Setting your furniture together in a smart way adds structure and a friendly inviting feel. Furnishings that sing: Moving around your furniture and accessories will give a fresh new feeling to the space. Light it up: By adding simple lighting & wattage will welcome your prospects to the newly created space. Make it Bigger: By adding a uniform paint color will achieve this. Green is a great color to use. Also neutral colors and off... 03/22/2013

  The Top 10 Mistakes For Sale By Owner’s Make     1.    Drafting the real estate contract on your own is very dangerous.  Tackling the challenge to sell your property, do the marketing, showing and negotiating is something most for sale by owners should avoid.  It is a good practice to hire a lawyer to assist with your real estate purchase contract if a Realtor is not involved in the transaction.   2.   Failing to provide a seller’s disclosure.  Normally most real estate transactions involve a detailed disclosure provided by the seller outlining minor and major issues regarding the property being sold.  Things like mechanical and structural defects. Courts can determined that if particular items are not disclosed to the buyer that a contract could be resented or monetary damages could ... 03/18/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, March 18, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fla. unemployment rate now lower than national rate More jobs mean more home sales, says Florida Realtors research dept. At 7.8%, this month's Fla. unemployment rate hit its lowest level in five years. Read more.   Lenders easing up on down payment requirements? FHA mortgages used to be the only option for 3% down, but rising prices and a stronger economy have Fannie and Freddie OK with some 3-10% down payments. Read more.   New survey looks at multi-family rental properties 20% of households live in multi-family rental buildings. New HUD/Census study looks at how properties are financed as FHFA develops underwriting standards. Read more.   Foreclosures may ease shortage of hom... 03/18/2013

  10 Starter Tips To Prepare Your Home For Sale That Won’t Break The Bank   Now that you are ready to sell your home, there are a number of things you can do to improve the “showability” of your home. But first, let’s stand back and see what your buyer may see once they arrive at your doorstep and walk-in. . .   1.    Window coverings are nice but let the sun shine in too. Also remember window coverings should be cleaned and dust free. Make sure your windows are professionally cleaned too.   2.   Turn on all your lights - day or night. Make sure the light bulbs, and fixtures are clean too. The key here is to further brighten your home as best as possible   3.   Remove all clutter from each room to visually enlarge them (imagine a builder’s model home). Improve traffic flow removing unne... 03/17/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, March 11, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Courts unfairly blamed for long Fla. foreclosures? Expert: Lenders are biggest obstacle to speedier foreclosures. It should take one year, tops, but banks move slowly and continue to submit flawed documents. Read more. Florida Realtors receives two national PR awards Florida Realtors' "I Give Because ..." PAC campaign won top honors today from PR News in a ceremony held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Read more. EPA fails to revise lead standards Some EPA and outside experts are pushing tighter lead standards for homes. EPA considers its current soil standards effective, but it's reconsidering dust. Read more.   NAR-owned Realtor.com puts on a new face Move Inc., w... 03/11/2013

  http://www.treugroup.com - 561.352.3056 - If you are looking for the Atlantis Real Estate Stats and Market Conditions,your Atlantis Real Estate Team has the information that you need. The Treu Group has the marketing to help you get to the closing table on your Atlantis home. The Treu Group, sold 3 homes in Atlantis for best price deals and we can do the same for you.     The Atlantis, Florida real estate market stats are out for January and there is some interesting news.  Inventory of available homes are at 8.1 months which is down - 46.7% compared to last year. This is still a buyer’s market, however if you are an equity seller in Atlantis you most likely are already seeing signs of a seller's market.  There was record improvement which we certainly are happy to share with you.  I... 03/06/2013

  Top Tips For The First Time Home Buyer Buying your first home is an exciting proposition for most folks. It can be both exciting and frightening at the same time. For most individuals and families just starting out on the process of buying a home, their lack of experience means that they have many questions and concerns. This is a natural feeling, since buying a home is one of the largest investments and something we don’t do every day. Getting those questions answered correctly is the key to making a great deal and getting started with home ownership. We at Winston Realty, Inc love working with first time home buyers buy great homes. Here are some things to consider now that you are ready.   When Should You Buy that home? – How do you know if the time is right to buy your first home?... 03/04/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, March 4, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Many improving their bad credit as economy improves It's not easy to improve tainted credit, but ex-homeowners who had a job loss, foreclosure or bankruptcy are trying to do it - and many succeed. Read more. Realtors: FHA plays vital role for homeowners In testimony before a U.S. Senate committee last week, NAR encouraged lawmakers to retain the FHA mortgage program, saying it aided the recovery. Read more. Business exit option: ‘Sell’ to employees Employee stock ownership plan can allow a biz owner to retire while ceding power to employees. It breeds loyalty and, if done right, is a win-win for everyone. Read more.   Franchising means entrepreneurs don't go it alone A rising numb... 03/04/2013

    The items listed below are to be used as a guide to aid you in receiving a bank pre-approval letter Loan Information Check list ·            Picture I.D.: All borrowers can be driver’s license or passport if forwarding please enlarge and lighten so it legible. ·            Address: Cover the last two years should be the same addresses as appear on W-2”s ·            Employers: The last two years with accurate dates, please include address and Human Resource phone number for verbal verification of employment. ·            W-2’s for tax years 2010 & 2011 for each employer in those two tax years. ·            Tax returns: Last two years (2010 & 2011) all schedules (K-1’s, Schedule “C” etc.) all pages if tax was due copy of cancelled check payable to IRS. If self-employed will need corp... 03/01/2013

  Atlantis of Palm Beach County, FL Market Stats for January 2013 Stats and facts about Atlantis, Florida, are out for the month of January 2013.  The report is packed with information about the county and the local city mentioned above. In a nut shell the inventory of single family homes available for sale are at a 8.1 month selling point which is down nearly 46.7% from a year ago. That’s a good sign things are loosening up and people are buying. Click on this LINK, for more graphs and stats. Whether you are buying or selling in this hot market of the County of Palm Beach, FL, choosing the right company will save you money, time and many sleepless nights. I not only have 28 years experience as a Realtor, construction was a passion of mine as well. This alone is worth so much more than ... 02/26/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate &  FL Realtor News Monday, February 25, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Who's winning in the national mortgage settlement? Florida took in more than $7.7 billion, but consumer advocates say too much went to cancel short sale debt and too little helped keep owners in their home. Read more. More Americans within reach of homeownership NAHB: 75% of U.S. residents can afford a home. In Florida's top-ranked metro area, Lakeland-Winter Haven, 93% could afford to buy in 4Q 2012. Read more. HUD probes lenders for treatment of pregnancy Some lenders reject pregnant applicants, fearing they'll lose pay, their job, or decide not to return to work. That's illegal, but HUD has dozens of complaints. Read more.   More homeowners have equity again Data firms dis... 02/25/2013

  BASIC DAMAGE CLAIMS PROCESS & PROCEDURES FOR HOME & COMMERCIAL OWNERS STEP 1            Inspects damage and reviews customer’s insurance policy           Takes photos of the property damage along with measurements           Customer provides copies of declaration pages (first 2-3 pages) of policy           Customer to provide copies of prior repair bills or pictures if applicable           Customer signs retainer and is given a copy STEP 2          Parrot Public Adjusters prepares damage estimate           Parrot Public Adjusters calls in claim to customer’s insurance company           Customer’s insurance company assigns a claim number STEP 2A. If claim is re-opened, Parrot Public Adjusters may go directly to an appraisal process. Note: Process may take 3-5 weeks for response and app... 02/19/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, February 18, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Is real estate really on the mend in Florida? Demand is high and investors have money - but some experts say up to 1/10 of homes may face foreclosure, a number Florida Realtors' economist questions. Read more. Mortgage bill faces tough road in Congress NAR-backed bill could help responsible owners refinance. Proponents: It speeds recovery. Opponents: It's a short-term stimulus - focus on fixing system. Read more. Foreclosure maneuver benefits investors New investment tactic: Buy homes cheap when a community association forecloses and turn a profit off monthly rents while waiting for lender to foreclose. Read more.   Bank helps find jobs for troubled homeowners Many homeowners ... 02/18/2013

  10 Things Your Dog Would Tell You.... If They Spoke English 1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be painful: remember that before you get me. 2. Give me time to understand what you want of me. 3. Place your trust in me- it is crucial to my well being. 4. Do not be angry at me for long, and do not lock me up as punishment. 5. You have your work, your entertainment, and your friends. I only have you. 6. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it is speaking to me. 7. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget. 8. Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that could easily hurt you, but I choose not to bite you because I love you. 9. Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinat... 02/17/2013

  Stuff you didn't know you didn't know!   Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better. Coca-Cola was originally green.   It is impossible to lick your elbow. The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska   The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...) The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%   The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $ 16,400 The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour: 61,000   Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair The first novel ever written on a typewriter, Tom Sawyer. The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades ... 02/16/2013