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The emerging Florida residential real estate market during 2012 experienced a prodigious number of sales and the momentum is ongoing. The state, and especially Southwest Florida, has now witnessed twenty-four months of solid “comeback,” with strong sales and prices continuing positive trends. As we move into 2013, critical indicators and …

For the Florida housing industry, 2012 has been a good year. Crucial housing statistics have improved steadily. Inventory is down; average days a property is listed for sale is down and the number of pending and closed sales are up. These trends are very encouraging signs for the Sunshine State.
Statewide …

Homebuilders across the U.S. are happy today, and for good reason.
According to newly released stats from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau, sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 5.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 389,000 units in September. This is the fastest sales pace …

 
Pending home sales rose in July to the highest level in over two years and remain well above year-ago levels, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).
The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 2.4 percent to 101.7 in July from 99.3 in …

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that short sales on homes under Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would get easier after Nov. 1, 2012. It issued new guidelines that help homeowners hit by a financial hardship, moved by the military or held back by a home’s second mortgage.
“The new …

Florida officials say the housing recovery is on solid ground in Florida. Pending sales, closed sales and median prices rose, while the inventory of homes and condos for sale dropped in Florida’s housing market in July, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors. Read more from the …

 
Four Florida cities rank among cities getting smarter the fastest
It’s a commonplace among pundits and economic developers that smart people flock to “smart” places like sparrows to Capistrano. Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa/St. Petersburg were named to a new list of U.S. Cities Getting Smarter the Fastest.
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For real-estate investors interested in a “hot” market, Florida is once again the place to purchase a home.
Sales of existing homes in Florida rose in April and remain at a higher level than a year ago. The median sales prices in April for single family homes increased 10.2% to $144,350 …

 
SARASOTA– New customers face price increases up to 30% to insure their property through the state-run insurance plan, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., if a controversial plan to uncap rates for new customers is passed.
The plan is part of Citizen’s aggressive push to reduce risk and shrink in size. A 10 …

As the French elite scramble for an economic exit plan across the pond to London, Californians would enjoy similar benefits from a continental shift to Florida. High earners in France face enormous tax increases in the coming years if the newly elected Presidente Hollande follows through with his …