Nov. home sales, prices higher than expected…

November home sales saw the second-highest year-over-year increase in 2012, with a 15.7 percent rise from November 2011, according to Re/Max’s November National Housing Report. http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=284876

Americans mostly trust, help neighbors…

Americans are a neighborly lot, and increasingly so, says a national study that finds 76 percent trust most or some neighbors, 44 percent talk to them frequently and 65 percent exchange favors. http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=284958

Top economists: FL’s housing market growing stronger, U.S. on same trend…

ORLANDO, Fla. – Dec. 12, 2012 – Florida’s residential real estate market will continue its upward trend into 2013, though the pace of recovery may be slower than the U.S. as a whole, according to leading U.S. economists speaking today at Florida Realtors® 2013 Real Estate and Economic Forecast Conference in Orlando. http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=284687

Survey: Buyers should comparison shop for a mortgage…

The study examined how consumers across different demographic groups and income levels shop for a mortgage. http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=284267

Home prices: Biggest rise in more than 2 years…

In another sign of a housing market rebound, home prices posted the biggest percentage gain in more than two years in the third quarter, according to the closely followed S&P/Case-Shiller index. http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/27/real_estate/home-prices/index.html

Volusia set to launch new economic incentive program…

DAYTONA BEACH — While the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity already offers incentives to attract high-paying jobs to the Sunshine State, economic development officials here are creating an additional incentive to get companies to specifically consider relocating and/or expanding to Volusia County. http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20121129/BUSINESS/311299961/1024?p=all&tc=pgall

FL ‘business climate’ No. 10 nationally!

Florida tied for the No. 6 spot with Georgia in the 2012 Executive Survey Business Climate rankings, according to Site Selection magazine. In the larger survey that includes the executive info – Top State Business Climate Rankings – Florida ranked No. 10 in the nation. http://65.117.180.225/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=283105