Hot Property

Congress Delay on Flood Insurance Holding Up Real Estate Closings.

The National Association of Realtors estimates that for each day Congress delays, 1,400 sales are tied up. In Florida, it’s affecting about 175 deals a day. The flood insurance program expired May 31. Since then, some lenders have been willing to accept binders, or promises, to write flood insurance policies as soon as Congress reauthorizes [...]

Florida’s existing home, condo sales rise in May

ORLANDO, Fla., June 22, 2010 – Sales of existing homes in Florida rose 18 percent in May, marking 21 months that sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. A total of 16,745 single-family existing homes sold statewide last month compared to 14,172 homes sold [...]

Pending Home Sales on an Upswing

Pending home sales increased again in March, affirming that a surge of home sales is unfolding for the spring home buying season, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in March, rose 5.3 percent to 102.9 from 97.7 in February, and is 21.1 [...]

Some Lawmakers say NO to Fire Sprinklers in New Homes.

Lawmakers: No sprinklers for new houses TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – March 5, 2010 – A House committee moved Wednesday to block the Florida Building Commission from adopting a provision that would require all newly constructed homes to install fire sprinklers. The proposal (PCB GAP 10-22) was unanimously adopted by the House Governmental Affairs Policy committee, but [...]

Florida Population Growth Expected to Return.

Florida expected to start adding residents again after population decline GAINESVILLE, Fla. – March 3, 2010 – It’s a small bounce, but Florida’s population should rebound this year from its first loss in more than half a century in a hopeful sign for the struggling state economy, new estimates from the University of Florida (UF) [...]

Three Florida Home Warraney Companies SHUT DOWN

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Feb. 17, 2010 – The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued cease and desist orders to three home warranty companies yesterday, including their subsidiaries, for the unauthorized sale of warranty products and service agreements. The companies include National Home Protection, National Home Warranty and National Automotive Services. Office investigators determined National Home [...]

Hillsborough County Considers Temporary Housing for Chinese Drywall Problem

TAMPA – Mobile homes and recreational vehicles soon could be parked next to permanent homes in Hillsborough County, as residents rid their residences of defective Chinese drywall.And federal grants may pay for some of the work. Commissioners are considering a change to the county’s temporary housing ordinance to allow temporary housing for “non-natural” disasters, including [...]

Property Appraisal is an ART, NOT a SCIENCE.

PROPERTY APPRAISAL IS AN ART, NOT A SCIENCE. That’s what Florida law says.   It’s an art!  However, unlike a piece of art you may purchase from a gallery,  you have no choice in who the artist is or the quality of the piece you are buying.  That is if you are involved in a real [...]

Florida is Offering Bridge Loans for Down Payment

Team Sumberg with Keller Williams Realty would like to share the long awaited guidelines for the bridge loans offered by the The City of Tampa and the State of Florida to help you become a homeowner. For a very short period, funds are available to help you take advantage of a special federal income tax refund [...]

Facing the Foreclosure Crisis

    Team Sumberg with Keller Williams Realty would like to announce the following broadcast event to the general public in the Tampa Bay area. Walter Walker, author and Director of Education and Counseling at Housing and Education Alliance, Inc. will be appearing on WEDUs Facing the Forclosure Crisis live on tomorrow night and the show [...]