The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News   Tuesday, April 23, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Condo residents find way around pet-free buildings A pet-free condo must often allow "emotional support animals" under fair housing laws. But some residents may stretch the definition in order to own a pet. Read more.   Fla. adds 400K names to do-not-call list in one year Realtors need to check both state and federal do-not-call lists. Fla. had 71,460 names on its list last year when people had to pay a fee. Now there are 464,047. Read more.   Fla. Realtor NAR 'Volunteering Works' winner Robert Schwartz with LaRosa Realty in Celebration co-founded program to help 100 kids without permanent housing. He'll receive $1,000 and mentoring. Read more.   New-homes sales rise 1.5% in... 04/23/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Tuesday, April 16, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Housing starts surpass 1 million in March U.S. builders broke the 1 million mark for the first time since June 2008. The gain signals continued strength for the housing recovery. Read more.   Census Bureau: Nation’s rental vacancy rates down According to American Community Survey, rents increased in four metro areas for every area that saw a decline. Percent of renters grew from 34.1% to 35.4%. Read more.   Fla. Insurance Commissioner: Buy flood insurance now One reason: A policy doesn't become effective for 30 days and hurricane season starts in 45 days. Second reason: Lock rates in now. Many policies go up Oct. 1. Read more.   Meet your new landlord, Wall Street Corporate ... 04/16/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate &  FL Realtor News Tuesday, April 9, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Mortgage Fraud Index hits 5-year low Fla. had a spike in fraud dollar volume in 4Q 2012, however. One quarter earlier, the state wasn't even in the top five. In 4Q, it tied for first place. Read more.   On tap tomorrow: First-ever ‘Rally for Homeownership’ Florida Realtors' Rally debuts tomorrow, part of Great American Realtor Days. It includes a salute to U.S. military families and honors their service to America. Read more.   Jury: State Farm committed fraud against government Federal jury says State Farm submitted false records to say Katrina damage caused by flood and not wind, forcing national flood insurance program to pay claims. Read more.     Foreclosure agreement che... 04/09/2013

  Should you buy a fixer-upper in this market?   April Buying Advice: With fewer houses to choose from, more buyers are considering purchasing homes with problems. Here's what you need to know, and which issues might be too much to take on. With housing inventory tight and many bank-owned homes on the market, some buyers are starting to consider homes that they previously would have dismissed as problems. (Bing: How tight is housing inventory right now?) How much of a project should you take on? We asked real-estate agents and a home inspector what buyers should consider when evaluating a home that needs work. In this month's Buying Advice, we'll also check in with the latest housing statistics and help define a real-estate phrase that's commonly used but not universally understood. Rep... 04/07/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate &  FL Realtor News Tuesday, April 2, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Millennials want to buy – boomers want to sell The perfect real estate storm? A survey finds strong demand soon from buyers 18 to 34, while an urban planner expects high inventory from retiring baby boomers. Read more.   NAR: More vacation homebuyers, fewer investors Vacation home sales rose 10.1% in 2012. And while investor home purchases fell 2.1% compared to 2011, they remain high compared to most earlier years. Read more.   Divorcing couples could be lucrative sales niche Selling homes to newly married buyers can be fun; but it can be profitable to sell homes for couples ending a marriage if an agent has patience and compassion. Read more.     Fannie earns $17.2B in 2012... 04/02/2013

  Buyers: The Difference between a Preapproval & A Prequalification Letter       Preapproval means that the mortgage lender is ready to make you a loan based on the information and documentation (verification of income, debt, credit, tax returns, and available funds) you provided at the time you requested a preapproval. The preapproval will say how long it is valid for and may contain some other conditions for you to get your loan. Your lender may not require that you pay any fees, but will require the cost of a credit report. Prequalification is a mortgage lender’s calculation of how much you could borrow based on information you supplied at the time of the inquiry. A prequalification does not mean you will get the loan, it simply is a guide based on what you provided. They are usually... 03/31/2013

    Buyers: Do You Know When To Buy vs. Renting??       Buyers here is a simple calculation process I picked up from one on the leading promoters of real estate services. It’s is easy to follow and puts you on the right path to see if now is the time to buy or continue renting.   Below is the 'Price-to-Rent Ratio' Definition It is a mathematical calculation that compares the total costs of homeownership with the total cost of renting a similar property. The total costs of homeownership use the items below to figure the proper ratio. Mortgage principal and interest, Taxes & Ins. (PITI) Closing costs (Points, Survey, Appraisal, Taxes, Doc. Stamps etc.) HOA dues (if applied) Mortgage insurance (loans w/ less than a 20% down payment) Tax advantages for owning (mortgage interest deduction) a... 03/30/2013

  Lake Worth of Palm Beach County, FL Market Stats for February 2013 Stats and facts about Lake Worth, 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 3.1 month selling point which is down nearly 62.9% 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... 03/27/2013

  The Do’s & Don’ts During A Mortgage Loan Process Show Me The Money   The Do’s DO bring a cashier’s check made out to the title company for your closing costs. However must are requiring you to wire funds directly.   DO notify the lender if your salary or other compensation has changed from what has been noted on your loan application, to what it is currently. DO inform of any address changes from what appears on your original loan application. The lender will complete rental and mortgage verifications for all of your residences within the last two years. DO obtain homeowner’s insurance with minimum coverage equal to the amount of your total loan or the replacement value of the house. Make sure the agent’s name and phone number are known at least 10 days before closing. DO keep documen... 03/26/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Tuesday, March 26, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Affordable housing money up for grabs despite surplus Lawmakers plan to spend $200M from national settlement on affordable housing, but intend to raid equal amount from Sadowski trust fund for other "priorities." Read more.   U.S. home prices rise 8.1%, most since June 2006 The S&P/Case-Shiller index found prices rose in all 20 metro areas it tracks from Jan. to Jan. In Miami, prices were up 10.8%; in Tampa, 8.9%. Read more.   Sales of new U.S. homes slip 4.6% in February Commerce Dept.: Jan.'s sales pace had been the strongest in four years, but the rate dropped to 411,000 in Feb. - it's still up 12.3% from year-ago figure. Read more.   CoreLogic: Shadow inventory down 28% ... 03/26/2013

  THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST FIVE RIDDLES I HAVE SEEN... THE ANSWERS ARE AT THE BOTTOM. RIDDLE 5 IS AMAZING. IT SHARPENS THOSE GENES IN YOUR BRAIN AND STALLS ALZHEIMER'S FOR YEARS.   1. A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms.     The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with     loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 yrs.     Which room is safest for him? 2. A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water     for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him.  But 5 minutes later they     both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be? 3. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, & gray when you throw it away?   4. Can you name three consecutive days without usi... 03/24/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Tuesday, March 19, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES U.S. housing starts rise, permits at 4 ½-year high It's the second-fastest pace since June 2008, behind Dec.'s pace of 982,000. Apartment construction rose, and single-family starts also hit a 4 ½-year high. Read more. 200K homes no longer underwater in 4Q 2012 CoreLogic: Rising home values helped homeowners emerge from negative equity. Florida is No. 2 in nation for underwater mortgages, however, at 40.2%. Read more. When prices of homes with pools take a dip Study: A home with a pool sells for about 0.22% more in the dog days of summer, or $2,500 more on a $500K listing. But pool homes net about 1.5% less in Jan. Read more.   U.S. economy is beating expectations Economy fina... 03/19/2013

  What is the difference between HomePath and FHA?     Many of my buyers fall into one of  these camps when it comes to financing. Since we are located in Florida, one of the top five hardest hit areas in the states it would stand to reason  REO’s and short sales make up the majority of our sales. My estimation is 60% short-sales, 35% foreclosures and 5% standard or regular sales under a $275k price point. That is where both of these programs start to differ. HomePath properties, are Fannie Mae owned properties that use this vehicle to finance their properties through approved lenders. These are properties that have been foreclosed on and now have become REO (Real Estate Owned) properties. They do not require an appraisal, they have no mortgage insurance premiums, and can be financed wi... 03/16/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Tuesday, March 12, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Economist: Big discounts on foreclosures fading Capital Economics: A foreclosure still sells at a discount from "normal" listings, but it's only about 12% now - the same percentage seen before the slowdown. Read more. Beyond social media: build your digital footprint Marketing today isn't about reaching clients - it's about clients reaching out to you. Use social media to engage with the world and become a thought leader. Read more. Appraisals to evaluate more ‘green’ features The Appraisal Institute updated its green-features used by Fannie, Freddie and FHA. Info could also help Realtors include accurate green in listings. Read more.   To have HOA voice heard, join the board Re... 03/12/2013

  Seven Top Tax Breaks For Any Homeowner With taxes on everyone’s mind especially the upcoming date of April 15, I put together a short list of tips to help ease the mind.    While homeowners and investors debate whether buying a home it is still part of the American dream. It also is undeniable the tax code remains highly favorable to people who rather own instead of rent. Whether you were a first-time buyer, a longtime homeowner who refinanced or a seller, there are a host of important deductions available. The best way for a family to get more than just the standard deduction is to claim tax breaks related to a house. Charitable deductions or health care costs might not get you above the $5,950 deduction for individuals or the $11,900 mark for married couples. But a few big-time brea... 03/11/2013

  Checklist of Items After Your Home is Listed The following are the steps that go into the process of how your property is marketed once the listing is completed and ready to go on the open market. Submit Info into Multiple Listing Service & company’s website Turn in all forms and information to office of record Upload photos (25-30) to MLS Input info and upload photos to company web site Input data and upload photos to agent web site Input data and upload photos to the MLS Place for-sale sign on property (if applicable) Add flyer box in front of home (if applicable) Send sellers copies of documents Send sellers “thank you” card or letter for listing. Prepare advertising copy Update any MLS or Internet web site remarks Prepare flyers for flyer box (if applicable) Notify top agents in y... 03/09/2013

    http://www.treugroup.com - 561.352.3056 - If you are looking for the Lake Worth Real Estate Stats and Market Conditions, your Lake Worth 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 Lake Worth home. Let us help you find the best price deals for you.   The Lake Worth, Florida real estate market stats are out for January and there is some interesting news.  Inventory of available homes are at 3.4 months which is down - 58.7% compared to last year.  Lake Worth has a strong seller's market number and it is one of the bright spots in Palm Beach County this month.  In fact, you should be dancing with excitement.  There was record improvement which we certainly are happy to share with you.  The lack of in... 03/07/2013

3rd Annual Polo Park Golf Scramble Fundraiser | May 11th, 2013 Polo Park Middle School is holding their 3rd Annual Polo Park Golf Scramble to raise money for their athletic programs on May 11th, 2013 at the Winston Trails Golf Club. Unfortunately middle school athletic programs do not receive a budget from the county, so they are responsible for raising funds in order to provide students with an opportunity to participate in interscholastic sports and Polo Park has put together this amazing fundraiser.The 3rd Annual Polo Park Golf Scramble will not only include a golf tournament, there will also be a dinner buffet, awards presentation & auction.WHAT:3rd Annual Polo Park Golf Scramble & Dinner FundraiserFour man best ball tournamentFREE on course beverages - Closest to the Pin - Long Dri... 03/07/2013

  Do I Really Need To Stage My Home? The Answers May Amaze You.. Selling a home is perhaps the most stressful no matter what or where the market is headed; home staging on the other hand can give sellers a competitive advantage by hiring a professional stager and relieving some of that pressure. Have you ever walked through a builder’s model home? They spend mega dollars having professional designers select furniture and accessories to wow their customers. Think of home staging as taking the ‘secrets’ that were once available only to those selling new construction and bringing them to your resale market. What exactly is thing called Home Staging? When someone moves into a new house, they personalize it with their furniture, accessories, and treasured items. They impart their personal st... 03/05/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Tuesday, March 5, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Jan. Home Price Index up almost 10% year over year CoreLogic: Prices record biggest yearly jump since 2006 at 9.7%; prices increased 9% even when backing distressed sales out of the calculation. Read more. Jumbo mortgage comeback helps lift luxury sales An increase in luxury sales can be tied to rising demand, but it also owes a lot to the return of jumbo loans that almost disappeared during the recession. Read more. BofA mortgage exec talks about Fla. housing market Bank of America is No. 4 nationally and has top market share in Fla.; Sr. VP Robertson has a "bullish" outlook as he discusses short sales and emerging trends. Read more.   To succeed, companies need to fire up socia... 03/05/2013