Weak 2013 Atlantic hurricane season draws to a close

MIAMI (AP) – Nov. 26, 2013 – The 2013 Atlantic season has delivered the fewest hurricanes since 1982, U.S. forecasters said Monday, despite their predictions in May that it would be a busier than normal year. Forecasters had predicted 13 to 20 named Atlantic storms, seven to 11 that strengthen into hurricanes and three to…

Read More

More investors should consider 1031 Exchange

SAN FRANCISCO – Nov. 13, 2013 – Before the property investment deal is sealed, a seller should ask himself one important question: Do I know if I’ll owe taxes on the sale of the property, even if I’m taking a loss on it? That question might be key to avoiding a common misconception: no profit…

Read More

Who Owns the Mineral Rights under your Home?

October 16, 2013 When Robert and Julie Davidson paid $255,385 in 2011 for their house at the Valencia Golf and Country Club in Naples, Florida, they didn’t know that they had, in essence, bought only from the ground up, and that their homebuilder, D.R. Horton, had kept everything underneath, says Reuters. In golf clubs, gated…

Read More

Fla.’s housing market continues upswing in 3Q 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. – Nov. 6, 2013 – Florida’s housing market continued to improve in third quarter 2013 with more closed sales, higher median prices, more pending sales and a stabilizing supply of homes for sale compared to the same quarter in 2012, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. “Data from the…

Read More

House-Senate plan could delay flood ins. increase

WASHINGTON – Oct. 29, 2013 – A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate, including Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, announced an agreement to delay flood insurance rate increases under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The bill – The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act – will be introduced today. Important note, however:…

Read More

Suntrust to pay more than $1Billion in Settlements

ATLANTA – Oct. 11, 2013 – SunTrust Banks Inc. said Thursday that it agreed to cash payments and consumer relief totaling more than $1 billion to settle claims over its handling of government-backed mortgages. The Atlanta-based banking company said that it agreed to provide $500 million in consumer relief and pay $468 million in cash…

Read More

FAQs for Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Oct. 7, 2013 – Homeowners hit with substantial increases in their flood insurance as a result of recent changes in the federal program should do their homework, experts say, because there may be ways to lower their bills. “A lot of people don’t know the flood map is not set in stone,”…

Read More

White House: President ‘committed’ to Everglades restoration

WASHINGTON – Oct. 1, 2013 – The White House highlighted its continued support for working with Florida to restore the Everglades, after Gov. Rick Scott requested that President Barack Obama personally inspect damage caused by increased water releases from Lake Okeechobee. “The president remains committed to the administration’s partnership with the state of Florida in…

Read More