Tuesday, August 15, 2006
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FLORIDA: FREE HURRICANE INSPECTIONS & REPAIRS

Want a free hurricane home inspection? Want the state to pay half the
cost of any recommended repair to prepare your home for the next
storm? As of today, inspection applications are available at
http://www.mysafefloridahome.com, a Web site operated by the Florida
Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program. If you have an
inspection and hurricane upgrades are recommended, the state will pay
up to $5,000 in matching funds to qualified Florida homeowners; and
low-income homeowners will be eligible for $5,000 grants with no
match required. There are rules: The program applies only to Floridians
who own a single-family, site-built home with an insured value less than
$500,000; or owners in a residential building of up to four units
providing all unit owners agree to participate. Mobile homes,
manufactured homes, second homes, rental properties, apartments and
businesses are not eligible. Interested homeowners should apply as soon
as possible -- the program's funding, part of the state budget, has a limit.
For immediate assistance, visit the Web site or call toll-free:
(800) 342-2762 in Florida or out-of-state (850) 413-3089.

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HOME SALES

Florida's housing sector followed the national trend in second quarter
2006, showing signs of a market adjusting to a better balance between
buyers and sellers. Statewide sales of single-family existing homes
totaled 53,161 during the three-month period, a decrease of 27 percent
from a year earlier, according to FAR. The statewide existing-home
median sales price rose 9 percent to reach $254,800.

Read the full story:

http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n1-08152006
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PROPERTY INSURANCE

USAA Casualty, which primarily insures military personnel and
their families, has asked the state to increase its homeowner and
condominium premiums by an average of 40 percent. USAA
insures more than 280,000 people in Florida.

Read the full story:

http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n2-08152006
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CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE

Does Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida's insurer of last resort,
get a bad rap? Its board of governors thinks so. Yesterday, the board
authorized an advertising campaign to tell residents that Citizens covers
most mobile homes in the state and that half its single-family home
policies cover properties worth $150,000 or less.

Read the full story:

http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n3-08152006
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INTERNATIONAL

NAR formed a joint venture with the Mexican real estate association,
Association Mexicana de Profesionales Immobiliarios, to create more
uniform real estate business standards. It's NAR's first-ever
international joint venture.

Read the full story:

http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n4-08152006
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COST OF LIVING

Young adults are getting more creative with their living arrangements,
in part because of rising housing costs. Some are buying homes with
friends or siblings, while others barter for rent or live in buildings
where residents share occasional meals, childcare and sometimes a car.

Read the full story:

http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n5-08152006

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PROPERTY INSURANCE PAY-AS-YOU-GO

Shocked by your annual property insurance premium? Wish it was 50
percent less? Or even 75 percent less? Citizens Property Insurance Corp,
Florida's insurer of last resort, may fulfill that wish but the results won't
save you any money. Rather than face a once-per-year lump sum
payment, the insurer may allow homeowners to pay the premium every
six months or even quarterly. If confirmed, that option will be available
next year; but generally only for owners who don't have a mortgage.

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SMART MOVES

Have you made a business decision that turned out even better than you
hoped? For example, you may have designed your own Web site and it
consistently brings you business; or you decided to become a broker and
it increased your income; or you gambled on an expensive marketing
campaign that brought in a significant return on your investment.
Florida Realtor magazine is looking for your smart moves in
technology, marketing and business. We'll contact those selected and
could feature you in a future issue of the magazine. Please e-mail your
stories to Contributing Editor Tracey Velt at tracey@traceyvelt.com.

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AROUND FLORIDA
For complete news coverage (password required):
http://planetrealtor.com/Florida/News

Broward County: Affordable apartment stock to increase
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-pp13chousingaug13,0,7749776.story?coll=sfl-news-browardcomm

Central Florida: Retail 'village' rises in Winter Garden
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-real1406aug14,0,6689181.story?coll=orl-business-headlines

Sarasota: Urban development stresses 'smart growth'
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060813/REALESTATE/608130356