The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, November 25, 2013   MLS: RX-9984077   Offered for $699,000   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Eminent domain to fight foreclosures is divisive Irvington, N.J., plans to use eminent domain to allow the city to buy homes in foreclosure. But opponents point to concerns about legal and underwriting issues. Read more. ‘Resurgent housing sector’ to lead 2014 recovery Freddie Mac: The nation will see its economic recovery gain momentum next year, and a strengthening housing sector will drive the rebound train. Read more. Pending sales slip in Oct., expected to level out NAR economist: The weaker activity was expected due to the government shutdown and some lending restrictions. The pending sales index is 1.6% below Oct. 2012. Read mo... 11/25/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, November 18, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Builder claims drilling rights under Fla. homes Some Fla. builders now retain buyers' mineral rights, allowing them to drill, mine or explore the earth far below their buyers' homes. Read more.   Buying frenzy starting to cool? Real estate is cyclical and buyers' markets inevitably switch to sellers. But for now, the market appears headed toward stability - no bubble, no crash. Read more.   Tenant won't cooperate in showing house Real estate Q&A: A lease usually gives an investment homeowner the right to show it to buyers without a renter's consent - but try to avoid doing that. Read more.   Census: About 36M Americans moved in the last year About one in 10 U.S. residents ... 11/18/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, November 11, 2013 MLS: RX-3366330 Offered for $279k       TODAY'S TOP STORIES On Veterans Day, help a service member buy a home Realtors can give the ultimate thank you to the Americans who put their lives on the line by helping military men and women become homeowners. Read more.   Trends: The top issues that will impact real estate NAR convention: What issues are on the horizon that could potentially impact homeowners, real estate markets and the industry? Read more.   Rising seas haven't hurt property values - yet An annual real estate climate summit concluded that rising sea levels could one day impact coastal property values as owners face higher insurance costs. Read more.   Predictive analytics to boost rea... 11/11/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, November 4, 2013 MLS: RX-9977130 Offered for $179,900     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Some home insurers seek rate decreases Recent spikes in property insurance costs may be stabilizing. Since July, 20 insurers have requested an increase from regulators, but nine asked for a decrease. Read more.   Survey shows lingering impact of tight credit NAR's 2013 Home Buyers and Sellers Survey: Tight mortgage-lending standards blocking some from homeownership, notably singles and first-time buyers. Read more.   Many homeowners will lose Citizens' coverage Jan. 1 Program to take policies out of the state-owned insurer has been optional so far, but that will change. Many current homeowners must switch to a private carrier. Read more.... 11/04/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, October 28, 2013   MLS: RX-9985163 Offered for $189,000   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Pending home sales continue slide in Sept. It's the first time in 29 months that pending sales fell in a year-to-year comparison. NAR economist blames higher interest rates and home prices. Read more.   Florida senator to try fix of vacation rental rules A law enacted in 2011 limited local government control of homes used for short-term rentals, but a state senator hopes to change that law next year. Read more.     ISG: Selling the dream of a Miami condo It takes a special talent to sell yet-to-be built condos that are typically little more than a patch of dirt, a snazzy website and a glossy brochure. Read more.   Then and now: A decade ... 10/28/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, October 24, 2013  MLS: RX-3352478 Offered @ $442,900 TODAY'S TOP STORIES More home loans require smaller down payments Last month, the average FICO score for a closed home loan was 732, down from 750 a year ago, and average down payment was 19% vs. 22% a year ago. Read more.   RealtyTrac: Investors bought 14% of U.S. homes in Sept. 62% of Jacksonville sales were all-cash with high number (23%) bought by investors. Miami (69%) and Tampa (62%) also top-heavy on cash transactions. Read more.   Appraisal Institute: Expect continued growth Survey: Residential appraisers top areas of anticipated growth include mortgage lending, reviews, REO/foreclosures/short sales and litigation valuation. Read more.   Raise the hous... 10/24/2013

  Baby Hootie Comes for a Visit     Yesterday a baby owl found its way onto our patio through the screen enclosure. We have a section that is over our pool that needs to be re-screened. The entire screen is still there which is a wide area (6’x6’); however being it is not fastened would allow certain wildlife to come in. Yesterday morning I noticed baby Hootie on this cactus. I kept walking by the plant from the inside of our slider thinking how odd it was to see this bird and thought my wife had placed a fake one on it. As we spoke on the phone later that morning asking her about the owl it turned his head. It stayed there until my wife returned from work. Concerned it would not get what it needed to survive and be caught inside; we managed to help it outside of the enclosure. He stood... 10/24/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, October 21, 2013   MLS: RX-9984026 Offered for $775,000   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fla.'s housing market shows gains in Sept. Closed sales (18.8%), median price (17.2%) and pending sales (10.5%) rose for single-family homes. National total sales up 10.7% year to year - price up 11.7%. Read more.   FHA to real estate: Expect a few delays While most mortgage-funding functions weren't impacted by the shutdown, FHA says it still has a "considerable backlog of work" and asks for patience. Read more.   Rented single-family homes up in many areas USA Today analysis: At least 20% of occupied single-family homes in 32 top U.S. metropolitan areas were rentals last year, compared to seven areas in 2006. Read more.   Condos are ag... 10/21/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, October 14, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Police task force on homestead fraud reaps results Miami-Dade investigation: Many owners claim a homestead property tax exemption and don't deserve it. Task force found $6.2M in violations over two months. Read more.   Broker won’t be told name of HUD complainants In Hawaii, a federal appeals court ruled that the identities of people who filed a settlement procedures complaint with HUD can remain secret. Read more.   Organizers should start New Year planning Nov. 1 When real estate slows over the holidays, Realtors often take a break. But create a business plan now and keep marketing to make Jan. 2014 profitable. Read more.   Trading sugar land Ok'd for Everglades help Propos... 10/14/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, October 7, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Banks scale back on crucial step in homebuying Realtors often advise buyers to get a mortgage pre-approval, but lenders aren't as excited about issuing them. Many prefer to see a property appraisal first. Read more.   FHA answers questions about shutdown's impact While FHA-backed lending continues, banks that require IRS or Social Security info may not be able to get it. If so, a lender decides whether a loan moves forward. Read more.   Homeowners can challenge flood insurance rates A flood map isn't set in stone or pinpoint specific properties. Some details - such as a home's elevation - may help a homeowner cut his premium. Read more.   Social media tips for small business T... 10/07/2013

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, September 30, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES   FHA, VA loans 'safe' during government shutdown   Contrary to media reports, Florida Realtors confirmed that new FHA single-family home loans will be processed if the government shutdown occurs at midnight. Read more.     Study: International sales important to Florida   For the year ending July 2013, international real estate deals made up 8% of all Fla. existing homes sales and had a total value of $74B dollars. Read more.     Registration site live for HOAs and assoc. managers DBPR announced the launch of a website where homeowners associations (HOA) and Community Association Managers (CAM) must register by Nov. 22. Read more.   HUD proposes 'qualified mortgage' definition... 09/30/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News  Monday, September 23, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fla. offers $350M aid to underwater home borrowers At least 125% underwater on your current LTV ratio? Phone lines for Fla. Hardest Hit Fund open at 9 a.m. Friday - first come, first served. Read more.   Flood insurance changes are politically challenging Lawmakers from Oregon to Fla. say shocked owners can't pay flood ins. increases. But fiscal conservatives say NFIP can't survive without higher rates. Read more.   Realtor.com expands commercial listings content The NAR-owned website operated by Move Inc. added more commercial properties for sale or lease through an agreement with CommercialSearch. Read more.   Is business investment gap stalling recovery? Struggling comp... 09/23/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor NewsMonday, September 16, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES New HUD rule could make more eligible for mortgages Though it probably won't. An ex-owner could qualify for a new mortgage only one year post-foreclosure or bankruptcy, but most banks still won't take the risk. Read more.   Fla. CFO rolls out healthcare webpage for small biz Brokers: CFO Atwater unveiled small business Q&A webpage, scheduled webinars and offered a warning: Watch out for health insurance scams. Read more.   Complaints on Trump seminars extend south Fla. A.G. Bondi will take a second look at Donald Trump real estate investment seminars after a New York lawsuit cited complaints about Fla. events. Read more.   Real estate cold callers unlike TV brethren Tampa ... 09/16/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News. Monday, September 9, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Civil rights back on U.S. Supreme Court’s docket Will the Fair Housing Act lose some punch? Overt discrimination won't be affected, but "disparate impact" - when it's an action's unintended result - could be. Read more . Economists keep rosy view for 3% growth in 2014 Survey of top U.S. economists' expectations finds 3% growth by second quarter of 2014, low inflation and improving employment - but rising mortgage rates. Read more.   Fingerprint authentication on the way Next iPhone version debuts (probably) tomorrow. While shrouded in secrecy, it's almost official that a fingerprint I.D. will boost security and simplify use. Read more.   Hurricane season has been a dud so f... 09/09/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, September 4, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES More buyers canceling when faced with higher rates Some buyers with a home under contract and plans for a 30-year FRM at 3.5% are finding that 1% rate increases have priced the home out from under them. Read more.   Divorce and home values: Till equity do us part Many divorce-ready couples stayed together to avoid losing money on an underwater home sale. But with rising values, the number ready to sell has increased. Read more.   Homebuilders face rising lot prices In 27 leading markets, the average price of a finished lot was up 40% in the second quarter from a year ago, according to John Burns Real Estate Consulting. Read more.   Congress could consider tax-free disaste... 09/04/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Tuesday, September 3, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES There's more than one way to succeed in real estate There is more than one path to wealth. An expert identified seven successful marketing styles and suggests agents match one to their personality. Read more.   Healthcare Marketplace help available via phone? So far, new healthcare coverage is website-only. But phone numbers and hard-copy applications should appear by Oct. 1, and "navigators" will offer advice. Read more.   Some say rentals are ruining neighborhoods The increase in single-family home rentals has hurt neighborhoods, some say, by lowering community pride and creating an owner-versus-tenant mentality. Read more.   Homeowners get lift from rising prices At the en... 09/03/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Monday, August 26, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fla.'s housing market on positive track in July Statewide single-family home sales rose 20.9% year-to-year while median price rose 18.7%. Condo-townhome sales increased 16.8%; median price rose 21.9%. Read more.   7 trends in real estate Prepare for changes, Bruce Gardner told attendees at Florida Realtors Convention & Trade Expo. For one, agents must aggressively guard online reputations. Read more.   Condo reverses policy after uproar from activists Fla. condo assoc. is reversing policy that allows only singles and husband-wife couples to buy or lease units following a backlash from gay-rights activists. Read more.   Commercial real estate shows steady, moderate growth NAR: Va... 08/26/2013

  New Listings are Up in Palm Beach County   West Palm Beach – August 21, 2013 – July housing reports indicate year-over-year, new listings for single family homes increased 20.7 percent and townhomes and condos increased 4.4 percent. Timothy Harris, 2013 President of the Realtors® Association of the Palm Beaches said, “Clearly sellers are responding to the demand for inventory and increasing property values. At the same time, perspective buyers want to lock into what is still considered relatively low mortgage rates. As a result, the local real estate market is very active.”   Year-over-year, the number of closed sales for single family homes increased 20.5 percent and townhomes and condos decreased 2.3 percent. The number of pending sales for all property types increased substantially... 08/25/2013

  This Plumber Has Skills…. The Latest In Home Improvement   I received this email from a friend a couple of days ago, and thought this is a must see for all of those that like the latest technology. It is amazing what innovative breakthroughs come out these days, with smart phones, and Google glasses etc. Now you can enjoy endless night caps without even leaving your home and driving to the nearest watering hole. Did I also mention the conversation piece as well. Wow isn’t technology great!!!     Photo Source Unknown   08/24/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News   Monday, August 19, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES FHA cuts mortgage wait times after hard times FHA trimmed to one year the time some homebuyers must wait after a bankruptcy, foreclosure or short sale before it will back a new mortgage loan. Read more.   One sure thing about flood ins.: It’s complicated Insurance changes in Oct. and next year will up some owners' rates - a few significantly - but others will go down. New Florida Realtors toolkit helps explain it. Read more.   New home communities now featured on realtor.com Starting today, realtor.com includes new home plans and communities using content from Move Inc.'s joint venture partner Builders Digital Experience. Read more.   Higher prices sap foreign interest in re... 08/19/2013