The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, March 5, 2014   TODAY'S TOP STORIES U.S. House repeals some flood insurance hikes Supporters say the bill offers relief to homeowners burdened by excessive premiums while ensuring the NFIP stays solvent; it passed with bipartisan approval. Read more. Fla. Health Choices launches state exchange The Florida Health Choices program launched its online insurance exchange Tuesday - it's separate from the fed Affordable Care Act marketplace. Read more. Homebuying experience improving for Hispanics TD Bank's Mortgage Service Index: 68% of Hispanics ranked their homebuying experience as excellent or very good this year, compared to 62% last year. Read more.   Kiplinger predicts more modest housing gains This year's avera... 03/05/2014

The Daily Hot Sheet Of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, February 27, 2014   TODAY'S TOP STORIES 'Boomerang' buyers get another chance at ownership Many ex-owners now qualify. While foreclosure requires a seven-year wait, a bankruptcy that includes foreclosure takes only four years and a short sale only two. Read more. Big investors bought less real estate in Jan. RealtyTrac: Fla. cities had fewer big investors that buy 10-plus homes per year. Top of the list: Cape Coral (down 70%), Tampa (49%) and Jacksonville (21%). Read more. U.S. House postpones vote on flood insurance bill Fast-track passage is delayed until at least next week. Some lawmakers worry flood relief will cost taxpayers; others want to tinker with the details. Read more.   Student debt holds buyers back... 02/27/2014

    The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor NewsFriday, January 31, 2014   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Senate passes four-year flood insurance delays But the U.S. House is the real hurdle. Backers claim 180 bill co-sponsors, but opponents, including the House Speaker, worry about the flood program's cost. Read more. Fannie Mae eyes “quality monitoring” of appraisers Banks that sell their loans to Fannie Mae must now check a roster of blacklisted appraisers. If they don't, Fannie says it might reject the loan. Read more. FHA to accept more docs with electronic signatures New policy allows e-signatures on origination, servicing and loss mitigation documents; and FHA insurance claims, REO sales contracts and related addenda. Read more.   Average rate on 30-year loan at 4.32% It'... 01/31/2014

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, January 22, 2014     TODAY'S TOP STORIES 2013 profile of Fla. homebuyers and sellers More (66%) buyers were married, most (62%) found a Realtor without friend/family advice; and one in four (26%) older than 50 opted for age-restricted housing. Read more. 5 ways buying a house just changed New mortgage standards tightened the application process, but they also added rules lenders must follow when servicing mortgage loans after the sale. Read more. Fitch Ratings paints rosy picture of 2014 economy Single-family starts to improve 20%; multifamily volume up 9%; new home sales to advance 20%; existing homes up 2%; new home prices up 3.5%. Read more.   Federal ban on drones doesn't stop photography A loophole? A drone... 01/22/2014

If you're looking for the perfect place to take the kids for a fun little field trip, especially during this Christmas and Chanukah season, or if you just simply have a sweet tooth and cannot resist the sight of chocolate, then come and visit Hoffman's Chocolate Factory in Greenacres, Florida! They have the best chocolate in the East Coast! In this 15,000 square-foot Bavarian castle, you'll get to see how each decadent piece of chocolate is made. Chocolates made of pianos, bunnies, and even buildings - name it, and they have it! They also have a restaurant and a huge chocolate shop where you can satisfy your chocolate cravings. This place becomes even more magical during the Christmas and Chanukah season! Every year in their gardens, Hoffman's Chocolate Factory hosts a beautiful display... 12/24/2013

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Friday, December 20, 2013 MLS: RX-3257989 Offered for $1,649,000 Boca Raton, FL     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Florida Realtors News' top stories for 2013 The editors again created their annual slideshow focusing on the key issues that impacted Fla. real estate. At the top: This housing recovery is real. View slideshow.   U.S. economy expands at 4.1% rate Good news all around as solid 3Q gain surprises analysts. More positive news: Fla. jobs report released today finds a 0.3% unemployment drop to 6.4%. Read more.   Fla. to get most relief from $2B mortgage settlement Ocwen, the nation's largest non-bank mortgage servicer, will pay $2.1B to settle allegations. Fla. A.G. Bondi says state's $342M share is nation's highest. Read more... 12/20/2013

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Tuesday, December 10, 2013   MLS: RX-3369438 Offered for $650k Boca Raton, FL   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fed official hints at early taper The Federal Reserve's bond-buying program has helped keep mortgage rates low, but stronger economic reports could lead to a cutback in early 2014. Read more.   Prospective real estate agents flood Fla. classrooms About 42,000 people took the real estate test this year - double the number in recent years. Of that number, about 16,000 got their sales associate license. Read more.   Consider this 2014 niche: multigenerational buyers In 2013, NAR found that multigenerational families made up 14% of all buyers - a unique niche often overlooked by many Realtors. Read more.   Local leaders planning... 12/10/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, November 27, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fla.’s consumer confidence bounces back in Nov. In contrast to national outlook, Floridians are feeling more optimistic: UF's index rose 6 points - and many think it's a good time to buy big-ticket items. Read more.   Conforming loan limits unchanged in 2014 FHFA announced yesterday that Fannie and Freddie's $417,000 conforming loan limit in most Fla. areas would remain the same through next year. Read more.   Foreclosure auction and bank-owned sales up in Oct. RealtyTrac: Short sales down in part due to rapid home price increases. However, Fla. is No. 2 for states with highest percentage of short sales (13.9%). Read more.   Real estate contingencies on the rise Sellers may... 11/27/2013

  Greenacres housing report just out for October 2103 shows a continuing trend with Median Sales Prices on the rise with lower inventory available..  The biggest benefit in this monthly marketing report for our readers is to provide content rich local information from a trustworthy source The Realtors® Association of the Palm Beaches. . Understanding that an educated buyer and seller when provided with the latest facts in our marketplace creates trust and develops relationships to make educated decisions when it comes to buying and selling real estate. I hope you enjoy the reports and look forward in discussing any questions that you might have in one of the most desirable real estate markets in Palm Beach County Florida.   11/25/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Friday, November 15, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Rental-home business moves to Wall Street Blackstone Group, one of the biggest corporate owners of Fla. homes, now bundles rent checks and sells them as securities. Move has good and bad implications. Read more.   NAR: Commercial market recovery remains uneven Smaller transactions - properties under $1 million - are moving incrementally, but expensive properties priced above $2 million are doing much better. Read more.   Average rate on 30-year mortgage at 4.35% Rates rose for the second week in a row following signs of economic strength. Only 20% of experts foresee more increases in the short term, however. Read more.   Foreclosure auctions jump in South Florida Lenders are a... 11/15/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, November 13, 2013 MLS: RX-9988694Offered for $259k West Palm Beach, FL   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Realtors should communicate more with appraisers New laws created confusion, but Realtors, buyers and sellers may ask appraisers to consider additional info. Best tactic: Make your case early in the process. Read more.   More investors should consider 1031 Exchange Even some underwater property investors could benefit from a 1031 Exchange. Claiming depreciation, for example, could make an underwater property taxable. Read more.   Train for service and the law will be on your side Most agent training focuses on rules and regulations, but clients can feel slighted if agents act differently. Consistent, positive actions ar... 11/13/2013

601 Harbour Point Way in Greenacres, FL 33413 is currently available for rent.  This is a perfect condo for someone looking for a secure gated community overlooking a spectacular lake setting.  Located on the first floor within walking distance to the community pool.  Located in the Harbour Point section of River Bridge.  The condo features three spacious bedroom, two full baths and over 1,225 living square feet with private screened patio area.  There a spacious living room/dining room area with a large kitchen that has been updated with newer appliances.  All the guest/kid bedrooms have nice size walk-in closets and both have been freshly painted.  Upgraded lighting and ceiling fans thru-out the condo. River Bridge in Greenacres, FL is centrally located in Palm Beach County - just min... 11/08/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Friday, October 25, 2013   MLS: RX-9983183 Offered @ $87,000   TODAY'S TOP STORIES White paper: New mortgage rules are reasonable Proposed qualified mortgage rules "limit risk of default without excluding large numbers of creditworthy borrowers," says advocacy group that includes NAR. Read more.   Hit pause button on law to protect Florida's economy Editorial: Florida Realtors' President Dean Asher tells Orlando Sentinel readers why U.S. should delay new flood insurance rules in order to study impact. Read more.   Average rate on 30-year mortgage at 4.13% The 30-year FRM hit its lowest point since June 20, and most experts this week expect them to continue dropping over the short term. Read more.   Some real estate funds ... 10/25/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News   Thursday, October 10, 2013 MLS: RX-9972118     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fla. led nation in completed Aug. foreclosures CoreLogic: No other state was even close - 17% (111,000) of all U.S. foreclosures were in Fla.; No. 2 Michigan had 60,000, and No. 3 California saw 58,000. Read more.   Housing's biggest thorn: Student loan debt Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: "Three-fourths of the fall in household formation can be directly correlated to student debt." Read more.   5 ways borrowers can land the best mortgage On your to-do checklist: Do your homework, get preapproved, choose a mortgage rate, lock in a rate and decide the length of a loan. Read more.   3-D set to transform real estate market? A traditional virtual tour ... 10/10/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, October 3, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fla. has lots of REOs, but they’re not for sale RealtyTrac: More than half of Fla.'s bank-owned homes aren't for sale and remain "home" to the ex-owners. In Miami, they live in two out of three REOs. Read more.   NAHB: Single-family starts to rise 31% in 2014 Construction increase by the end of 2013 should be 18% for all housing, 17% for single-family and 20% for multifamily - a "decent and fairly strong recovery." Read more.   Senator: Flood insurance bill blocked by politics Fla. real estate agents, governor and others met in Clearwater yesterday to answer questions about flood insurance rate hikes now hurting some homeowners. Read more.   NY suing Wells Fargo in mortgage cr... 10/03/2013

Property For Sale   1553 Pebble Beach, Greenacres, FL 33413 3/2/2 1850 sq. ft. under air, 2,528 total Olive Tree Community Standard Sale Offered for $250,000 MLS: RX-3375198     This beautiful pool home is located just minutes from the Wellington Green Mall and fabulous schools. Must See!! CASH OR CONVENTIONAL LOAN ONLY, Schedule a showing today. You will not be disappointed.                                                           09/29/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, September 26, 2013   MLS: RX-9975112           Offered @ $119,900     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Floridians scramble for mortgage reduction funds At 9 a.m. Wed., underwater homeowners started applying online for a mortgage principal reduction. At 10 a.m. today, the website was still accepting applications. Read more.   ‘Outside the box’ solutions for flood ins. increases? The fight against onerous flood premium increases on Oct. 1 is being fought on two fronts: A delay by Congress and a look at Fla.'s non-federal options. Read more.   45% of U.S. sales in August were cash purchases RealtyTrac: Of five top large cities for all-cash purchases, three are in Fla.: Miami (69% were cash), Tampa (64%) and Jacksonville (65%). ... 09/26/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Friday, September 20, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES 30-year mortgage rate dips to 4.50% Fed's surprise decision to keep buying bonds sparked a decline in 30-year FRM this week. Most experts predict further drops or stability over the short term. Read more.   Sales tactics that just don't work Since an effective selling technique can make the difference between success and failure, Inc. magazine compiled a list of "surprisingly common" mistakes. Read more.   Lenders revive 'lock and shop' programs In another sign lenders have eased up a bit on mortgage requirements, a few offer "lock and shop" options where buyers lock in a rate before home shopping. Read more.   Protect yourself, especially when buying foreclosure Real est... 09/20/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, September 5, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES   More homeowners have enough equity to sell RealtyTrac: 8.3 million U.S. homeowners can soon sell their home without resorting to a short sale. Fla. No. 3 for percent of mortgaged homes underwater. Read more.   Study: Vacation rental performance remains strong HomeAway Inc. says investors who rent vacation homes had a 77% occupancy rate and 19% year-to-year weekly rental increase. Fla. Panhandle tops list. Read more.   Does new health care law affect you? Analysts are still trying to figure out some of the law's nuances. It's unclear, for example, how it applies if someone already has expensive employer coverage. Read more.   Bank might offer 2nd loan modification Real ... 09/05/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, August 29, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Florida leads nation in cash-only home sales RealtyTrac: State led the nation last month with what one expert called an "astounding" rate of all-cash home sales: 66%. In Brevard, it was 70%. Read more.   Scott offers $90M: Elevate road, aid Everglades flow Dated Everglades "fixes" cause problems today. New bridge should add water flow to Everglades and ease problems on St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers. Read more.   Census: More Americans living alone More than one in four households had just a single person in 2012 - people marrying later, having fewer kids and living longer are factors. Read more.   Three lessons learned from home flippers With home prices rising, more peo... 08/29/2013