New Florida laws become effective July 1

"A few new Florida laws – ones passed by the Florida Legislature – have an effective date of July 1 and go into effect on Monday."

http://flip.it/3XA0Y 

Florida Realtors advises homeowners to take summer holiday safety precautions…

"To fully enjoy activities and other summertime pursuits away from home, Florida Realtors® suggests homeowners take precautions to safeguard their residences when they’re not around."

http://flip.it/QpUcM 

How Interest Rates Affect The Housing Market…

"A basic understanding of interest rates and the economic influences that determine the future course of interest rates can help consumers make financially sound mortgage decisions, such as making the choice between a fixed-rate mortgage or adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) or deciding whether to refinance out of an adjustable-rate mortgage."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/investopedia/2013/06/27/how-interest-rates-affect-the-housing-market/

Valuable tips…

For More... - Budget Home Security Options - Bob Vila

©mikeh727

If the cost of a high-tech security system is beyond your means, consider these low-cost options to keep your home safe.bobvila.com 

Sinkhole insurance, check your policy…

Sinkhole: A Case for More Insurance?

©dstroup92

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/03/12/doris-jenkins-pennsylvania-sinkhole-insurance/

Improving signs…

Construction Job Gains a Sign of Positive Growth The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released its February Employment Report, and the numbers are promising for the housing market.realtormag.realtor.org

Questions to Ask Your Loan Officer…

Good questions to know…
6 Questions to Ask Your Loan Officer Before Starting the Loan Process | A Real Estate News & Tips...

http://blog.homes.com/2013/03/6-questions-to-ask-your-loan-officer-before-starting-the-loan-process/

How a smart security system can do more…

Now you know… How a smart security system can do more than just protect your homeThanks to technological advances, a security system can do more than just keep burglars away. In fact, some security systems can control the temperature of your home, monitor your children's whereabouts, and even more…
http://homes.yahoo.com/news/surprising-benefits-of-home-security-system-201928070.html

Protect your home: Lessons from Sandy

You can never be totally prepared for a natural disaster. But you can learn from the experience and take steps to reduce the destruction the next time Mother Nature throws a curve ball. Here, four key things homeowners should take to heart in the wake of the historic storm Sandy.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/01/real_estate/home-storm-protection.moneymag/index.html?section=money_realestate

FL releases info on state insurance companies

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has released its 2012 Fast Facts report, created to give interested parties statistical data about Florida’s insurance market. The report compiles financial and regulatory information, insurance premium volume, number of domestic insurance companies and related entities, enforcement actions/consumer recoveries, public hearings and more.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=285522

Special Report: Real estate provisions in 'fiscal cliff' bill

Daily Briefing: Wednesday, January 2, 2013
A service for members of Florida Realtors

Special Report: Real estate provisions in 'fiscal cliff' bill WASHINGTON - Jan. 2, 2013 - Yesterday, the House and Senate passed H.R. 8, legislation to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff." Following are real estate-related provisions of the bill, which President Obama plans to sign into law today: • Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act extended to January 1, 2014. In place since 2007, the act provided a tax break for homeowners who struggled through financial hardship such as a foreclosure, and were granted mortgage debt forgiveness. In the past several months, National Association of Realtors (NAR) issued numerous calls to action urging its million-plus Realtor members to ask lawmakers to extend the tax break for another year. More than a quarter of all transactions involve distressed properties, the NAR said in its plea. "Homeowners shouldn't be forced to pay a tax on money they've already lost with cash they never received." • Deduction for mortgage insurance premiums for filers making below $110,000 is extended through 2013 and made retroactive to cover 2012. • The 15-year straight-line cost recovery for qualified leasehold improvements on commercial properties is extended through 2013 and made retroactive to cover 2012. • The 10 percent tax credit (up to $500) for homeowners for energy efficiency improvements to existing homes is extended through 2013 and made retroactive to cover 2012. • "Pease limitations" that reduce the value of itemized deductions are permanently repealed for most taxpayers but will be reinstituted for high-income filers. "Pease" limitations will only apply to individuals earning more than $250,000 and joint filers earning more than $300,000. The thresholds are indexed for inflation so will rise over time. Under the formula, filers gradually lose the value of their total itemized deductions up to a total of a 20% reduction. First enacted in 1990 and named for Ohio Congressman Don Pease, who proposed the idea, the limitations continued throughout the Clinton years. The limitations were gradually phased out starting in 2003 and eliminated in 2010. Reinstitution of these limits has far less impact on the mortgage interest deduction than a hard dollar deduction cap, percentage deduction cap or reduction of the amount of mortgage interest deduction that can be claimed. • The capital gains rate remains at 15 percent for individuals earning less than $400,000 per year and couples earning less than $450,000.  Any gains above these amounts will be taxed at 20 percent. The $250,000/$500,000 exclusion for the sale of principle residence remains.

Study: Trulia, Zillow less effective than Realtors

The WAV Group, an independent real estate industry research analyst, studied 33 zip codes in 11 U.S. markets to analyze the accuracy of website listing services.

According to the study funded by Redfin, online listing services such as Trulia and Zillow didn’t have the same accuracy as broker-owned websites, in large part because licensed agents have direct access to a local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Read more… http://65.117.180.225/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=281967

FL’s housing market continues positive trend in August

“Buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines should see this as a sign to jump in before the market escapes them again. Sellers who have been hesitant to sell should put their homes on the market now." ~regional manager of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida. Read more…http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=281284

Average Florida mortgage reduction tops $114,000…

More than 1,000 Florida homeowners have seen an average debt reduction of $114,015 on their primary mortgage since the February approval of the settlement between leading lenders and state attorneys general. Read more…http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=280888

Homes selling quickly, time on market down…

“As inventory has tightened, homes have been selling more quickly,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “A notable shortening of time on market began this spring, and this has created a general balance between home buyers and sellers in much of the country. This equilibrium is supporting sustained price growth, and homes that are correctly priced tend to sell quickly…" Read more: http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=280679

Jump in Florida consumer confidence…

Consumer confidence among Floridians rose in July by three points from the revised June figure to 76. The index is nine points higher than it was last year at this time, according to a monthly University of Florida (UF) survey. Read more… http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=279105

Making sure a home gets appraised accurately…

Appraisers make the final call, of course, but here are steps that sellers and their agents can take to ensure that valuations are fair and accurate. Read more…http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=278815

Insurance tips for first-time buyers…

Property insurance is confusing. At a minimum, new buyers should understand the levels and types of coverage, and take a few additional steps to protect themselves. Read more…http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=278351