The Daily Hot Sheet of Top Real Estate News Trending Now Thursday, August 20, 2015   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Florida Realtors honors 2015 award winners The association honored its own today: Sherri Meadows, 2014 president, is 2015 Realtor of the Year, and Judy Ramella is Associate Realtor of the Year. Read more. Fla.'s single-family home sales rose 21.8% in July Florida Realtors July housing report found higher median prices, more pending sales and a tight inventory. Nationally, sales rose 2% despite fewer for-sale homes. Read more. All-cash sales hit 2009 levels - but not in Fla. While 22% of U.S. sales were all-cash in June, it jumps to 47.8% in Fla. Of the top five metros for cash sales, four are in Fla., with Miami heading the list. Read more. Fla. foreclosures up in July after 10-month... 08/20/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Top Real Estate News Trending Now Thursday, July 23, 2015   TODAY'S TOP STORIES   No-money-down green upgrades paid via prop. taxes The Fla. PACE-funding program allows homeowners to add energy efficient upgrades and pay them via property taxes. Unpaid balances can transfer to buyers. Read more.   Zillow says it's acquiring transaction-tool dotloop The acquisition, once closed, will give Zillow a tool that can manage a complete online paperless transaction, from listing agreements to closings. Read more.   RealtyTrac: June cash sales down, FHA loans up Overall, the U.S. is a real estate market in transition as investors back off purchases and owner-occupants step up. Read more.   Why isn't the condo market rebounding? Developers usually like condos because they g... 07/23/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Top Real Estate News Trending Now Thursday, July 16, 2015 TODAY'S TOP STORIES   Fla. foreclosure starts lower than they were in 2006 RealtyTrac: Crisis over? Banks continued to repossess Fla. homes in the first half of 2015, but the number of first-time foreclosure notices hit a 10-year low. Read more.   Builder confidence at highest level since Nov. 2005 "The fact that builder confidence has returned to levels not seen since 2005 shows that housing continues to improve at a steady pace," says NAHB chairman. Read more.   Real estate Q&A: Paying tenant not maintaining home A single-family home tenant pays the rent on time, but he's not keeping up the property, and warnings haven't done much good. What are the homeowner's options? Read more.   CFPB regulation could... 07/16/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Top Real Estate News Trending Now Thursday, July 9, 2015     TODAY'S TOP STORIES     RealtyTrac: Rent returns down in 59% of U.S. counties Counties in Jacksonville had year-over-year increase in potential rental returns; analysis found buying a home is more affordable than renting in 66% of U.S. counties. Read more.   What might 6.5 million homeowners be missing? A financial services study finds that at least 300 million homeowners could save about $200 per month simply by refinancing their mortgage. Read more.   More homeowners warm up to idea of selling Fannie Mae survey: Thanks to job and income growth, more Americans (52%) think it's a good time to sell a home, which could ease tight inventory conditions. Read more.   Rent hikes force small businesses to move... 07/09/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Top Real Estate News Trending Now Wednesday, June 24, 2015   TODAY'S TOP STORIES   Hispanics eye larger share of market New Hispanic households represented 40% of the total U.S. household growth in 2014; between 2010-2025, they're expected to be 7M of 17M new households. Read more.   Florida Realtors part of business mission to France Pres. Barbar, CEO Martin joined Gov. Scott, other business leaders to urge investment and "showcase Florida as the No. 1 location for businesses to move to." Read more.   When an elder loses a home Elder financial abuse cases often involve poor decisions, declining mental health and other issues. But the stark results can include homelessness. Read more.   Tax confusion 'financial headache' for developers After the recession, some i... 06/24/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Top Real Estate Stories Trending Now. Thursday, June 18, 2015   TODAY'S TOP STORIES   New Aug. 1 disclosure rules postponed until Oct. 1 CFPB announced the change yesterday, noting that the postponement doesn't cancel the previously announced enforcement buffer period for "good faith" compliance. Read more.   Housing trust funds get boost in state budget Fla. lawmakers are poised to vote on a $78.7 billion state budget tomorrow. It includes $175M for affordable housing – the highest amount in eight years. Read more.   When will Fed raise short-term interest rates? The Federal Reserve yesterday noted a strengthening economy and suggested interest rates that impact ARMs and influence FRMs will likely go up this year. Read more.   Foreclosure backlog eases, lenders ... 06/18/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet Of Top Real Estate Stories Trending Now Friday, June 12, 2015   TODAY'S TOP STORIES   Average 30-year mortgage rates top 4% It's the highest rate this year and the first time FRMs topped 4% since 2014. Will they keep going up? Most Bankrate.com experts (80%) say "yes." Read more.   Removing squatters: Rules vary by district Is removing a squatter a civil matter or a crime? Removal depends on a number of things, including local ordinances. Read more.   Website homepages an overlooked marketing tool Home pages are "often a battleground of competing interests, a hodge-podge of unfocused strategies ... and a circus of sheer confusion," says one expert. Read more.   Post-recession sellers rely more on emotions Coldwell Banker survey: Home sellers today are twice as likel... 06/12/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Top Real Estate News Trending Now  June 10, 2015  TODAY'S TOP STORIES Aug. 1 RESPA changes: Need-to-know requirementsA new Florida Realtors video featuring VP and General Counsel Margy Grant helps Realtors get up to speed on new closing requirements effective Aug. 1. Read more. UF: Fla. commercial brokers optimistic about futureThe Commercial Real Estate Sentiment Index, which gauges Fla. brokers' attitudes about their personal businesses, hit its highest level since 2006. Read more. 60% of contracts have issues, but most close on timeNAR study: 12% cited some kind of financing problem, 8% home inspections, and 7% appraisals. Overall, 10% of Realtors had a contract that failed to close. Read more. Fannie Mae: 'Things are looking up for housing'Attitudes about hous... 06/10/2015

When You’re Buying or Selling, Do You Know the Right Questions?  Whether you are looking to sell or looking to buy, think of us as your personal consultant. It’s our job to evaluate your property against what is active in the market place and understand your basic needs or wants. This will help determine how your home will compare to the completion to net the biggest return on your sale.  Here are a few questions that we can answer on your behalf. Does your home’s floor plan and property match well will other properties around it? How fast are homes closing in your community and surrounding areas? What are the properties selling the fastest? What type of buyers should we focus on that would be attracted to your property? 04/26/2015

Protect Yourself When Buying a Home in 10 Easy Steps There are few things in life as exciting as buying a home. However, since homes are one of the largest purchases most of us will ever make, buyers should take reasonable steps to protect themselves in the home buying process. Below are 10 general suggestions on how buyers can do this: Keep a copy of any signed contract after reading it.Have the home inspected by a licensed home inspector.Inspect the neighborhood, by driving after work and weekendsHave the home inspected for termites and other wood destroying organisms Thoroughly look over the property.Get a survey Make sure any undeveloped land can be developed.Buy an Owner’s Title Insurance Policy. Consider Purchasing a Home Warranty or appliance warranty.Choose a REALTOR®. Not just ... 04/12/2015

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & Florida News Thursday, April 9, 2015  TODAY'S TOP STORIES Upbeat economic forecast for Realtors: It's no joke An appraiser and two economists, including Florida Realtors' John Tuccillo, told Naples Realtors that "short sales are museum pieces" and "the future is rosy." Read more. Early recession foreclosures now off credit reports A foreclosure damages credit reports for up to seven years from the first missed payment. So far, 29% of ex-owners are free and clear, and 60% should be by Dec 31. Read more. Homeowner's direct water view can't be blocked Real estate Q&A: Is another property owner allowed to add trees and sheds that block a view of the ocean? Maybe, maybe not. The answer is complicated. Read more. Owning cheaper than renting in... 04/09/2015

The Top 10 Mistakes To Avoid in 2015 if You Are A FSBO.     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 damag... 04/05/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & Florida News Thursday, April 2, 2015    TODAY'S TOP STORIES Vacation home sales rose to record high in 2014 NAR survey: The 2014 sales totaled 1.13M, up 57.4% from 2013. Investment home sales totaled 1.02M, down 7.4% from 2013 and exclude institutional investors. Read more. U.S. construction spending slips 0.1% in Feb. The second month-to-month decline in 2015, it was due to a 1.4% drop in single-family home building. But overall construction spending rose 2.1% year-over-year. Read more. HUD cuts chances of reverse mortgage problems New rules protect spouses who still live in a home even if their name didn't appear on the paperwork for a reverse mortgage. Read more. FHA is exploring alternative credit scoring models HUD Sec. Julián Castro... 04/02/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Friday, March 20, 2015   TODAY'S TOP STORIES 1 in 9 Americans moved between 2013 and 2014 Census Bureau: The swing from cities to suburbs continues, and renters pack their bags more than homeowners. The biggest drop was seen in millennial movers. Read more. Written pact is key when buying home with sibling Real estate Q&A: A friend relayed some horror stories about co-buying a vacation home with a sibling. How do you avoid problems? Read more. 30-year mortgage rate falls to 3.78% Average mortgage rates continue to hover above their all-time loans. Only 25% of experts polled this week predict an increase over the short term. Read more. Education marketing helps buyers hungry for info Study: Buyers today do online research b... 03/20/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, March 12, 2015   TODAY'S TOP STORIES NAR Survey: Younger buyers are taking over The just-released 2015 generational trends study found, for the second year in a row, that one in three 2014 buyers (32%) was a millennial, age 34 or younger. Read more. Nonprofits urge Treasury to inspect foreign buyers A coalition of 17 nonprofits wants the Treasury Dept. to make the real estate industry verify foreign buyers' identities and vet them for money-laundering risk. Read more. Renter can bail on lease if repairs not fixed Real estate Q&A: What rights does a renter have if his apartment sustains major damage from something our of his control, like a sewage backup? Read more.   Consumers say getting a mortgage is easy Fanni... 03/12/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, March 5, 2015 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Realtors rock the capital Nearly 1,000 Realtors wearing blue T-shirts with the Realtor logo gathered in Tallahassee's Capitol Courtyard yesterday to rally for real estate issues. Read more. Flood insurance premiums can go up after April 1 Under last year's law that limits flood insurance rate increases, a single policy can go up 18%, providing the average premium in its rate class rises no more than 15%. Read more. Lots of Fla. HELOCs to reset within four years Of Fla.'s home equity lines of credit, seriously underwater homeowners hold 71%. However, rising values and a stronger economy may counter reset damage. Read more.   Surprise tops owners' list of needed features Energy eff... 03/05/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, February 26, 2015   TODAY'S TOP STORIES 4Q U.S. home prices rise higher than expected FHFA's study - considered accurate because it uses same-home prices over time - found almost a 1% price increase in Dec. Analysts predicted half that amount. Read more. Best Fla. home investments found in smaller cities Investment-advisor NerdWallet looked at market health, prices, population and property taxes to identify the top 10 Fla. cities for investment. At the top: Doral. Read more. Tax tips for the self-employed You get to be your own boss - but also your own accountant. The author of an investor's guide lists nine tax tips the self-employed should not overlook. Read more.   Court backs widow in homestead exemption figh... 02/26/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, February 11, 2015   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fla.'s housing market continues steady path in 4Q Florida Realtors Pres. Andrew Barbar: More closed sales, higher median prices and inventory gains showed strength. Nationally, home price growth rose slightly. Read more. HUD: 2015 is year of housing opportunity The "easing of credit will open the door to more buyers," says HUD Secretary Julian Castro, who cites the reduction in the FHA mortgage premium as an example. Read more. Freddie Mac ramps up small loans More apartment property loans are moving toward closing under its new Small Balance Loan program, which offers a 60-to-120-day interest rate lock process. Read more.   How do careers relate to homeownership? Study: M... 02/11/2015

Stats and facts about Lantana, Florida, are out for the month of December 2014.  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 5.6 month selling point which is down nearly 7.0% 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 31 years experience as a Realtor, construction was a passion of mine as well. This alone is worth so much more than the average sales person or company out there in the field. When ... 01/31/2015

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, January 29, 2015   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Smaller Fla. counties tops for residential investors RealtyTrac identified top counties for residential rental investments, and Fla.'s less-urban ones appear to offer a higher potential return than larger metro areas. Read more. 'Assigned benefits' a hidden property insurance cost A Fla. lawmaker issued a warning about "assignment of benefits" on insurance claims, saying many of them simply empower shady companies to overcharge. Read more. Condo owner: May I sell a parking place? Real estate Q&A: The owner of two parking places wants to sell one, but can he? It depends on how the condo defines parking space ownership. Read more.   NAR: Pending home sales stall in Dec. Year-t... 01/29/2015