Sw Fl Real Estate News http://swflrealestatenews.com Local Real Estate News & Information Tue, 15 May 2012 18:45:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Homes for Sale Grow Scarce as Sellers Await Higher Prices http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/15/homes-for-sale-grow-scarce-as-sellers-await-higher-prices/ http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/15/homes-for-sale-grow-scarce-as-sellers-await-higher-prices/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 18:45:13 +0000 Mike http://swflrealestatenews.com/?p=764 Can you believe that there is becoming a scarcity of homes for sale? Slowly, but surely. Read More.

]]> http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/15/homes-for-sale-grow-scarce-as-sellers-await-higher-prices/feed/ 0 Fla. justices hear homestead exemption argument http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/09/fla-justices-hear-homestead-exemption-argument/ http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/09/fla-justices-hear-homestead-exemption-argument/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 13:09:30 +0000 Mike http://swflrealestatenews.com/?p=762 The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in the case of a Honduras couple that could determine if they and other non-resident homeowners, whether they are from foreign countries or other states, can obtain homestead property tax exemptions. Read More.

]]> http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/09/fla-justices-hear-homestead-exemption-argument/feed/ 0 How can I recover my loss due to my ceiling being flooded? http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/06/how-can-i-recover-my-loss-due-to-my-ceiling-being-flooded/ http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/06/how-can-i-recover-my-loss-due-to-my-ceiling-being-flooded/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 13:29:48 +0000 Mike http://swflrealestatenews.com/?p=759 Continue reading →]]> I had a flood from the unit above me and I suffered a total loss of my ceiling. The condominium had a vote to opt out of insurance coverage for drywall for storm or condominium piping breakage or flooding. Read More.

]]> http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/06/how-can-i-recover-my-loss-due-to-my-ceiling-being-flooded/feed/ 0 Fla. second-best U.S. state for business http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/04/fla-second-best-u-s-state-for-business/ http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/04/fla-second-best-u-s-state-for-business/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 12:09:30 +0000 Mike http://swflrealestatenews.com/?p=756 Annual CEO survey finds that only Texas is better for taxes, workforce quality, regulations and other criteria. Read more.

]]> http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/04/fla-second-best-u-s-state-for-business/feed/ 0 Fannie, Freddie to make short sales faster http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/04/fannie-freddie-to-make-short-sales-faster/ http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/04/fannie-freddie-to-make-short-sales-faster/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 12:07:41 +0000 Mike http://swflrealestatenews.com/?p=754 Government-backed housing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are adopting new guidelines to streamline the process for short sales, which most real estate observers expect will outpace foreclosures in the coming year. Read More.

]]> http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/05/04/fannie-freddie-to-make-short-sales-faster/feed/ 0 In Recovery? Local, national experts say Collier real estate market on the rebound http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/30/in-recovery-local-national-experts-say-collier-real-estate-market-on-the-rebound/ http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/30/in-recovery-local-national-experts-say-collier-real-estate-market-on-the-rebound/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:47:59 +0000 Mike http://swflrealestatenews.com/?p=751 Talk to real estate insiders and experts about the market in Southwest Florida and these terms are bound to come up. Read More.

]]> http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/30/in-recovery-local-national-experts-say-collier-real-estate-market-on-the-rebound/feed/ 0 Naples home prices to appreciate by 10 percent this year http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/14/naples-home-prices-to-appreciate-by-10-percent-this-year/ http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/14/naples-home-prices-to-appreciate-by-10-percent-this-year/#comments Sat, 14 Apr 2012 12:56:39 +0000 Mike http://swflrealestatenews.com/?p=747 Continue reading →]]> Naples homeowners can expect as much as a 10 percent increase in the value of their homes by the end of the year, a national economist told a packed house of Realtors at an economic summit held Friday in North Naples.

In fact, all the speakers at the 2012 Economic Summit were optimistic about the real estate market in Southwest Florida.
Read More

]]> http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/14/naples-home-prices-to-appreciate-by-10-percent-this-year/feed/ 0 Bill could help short sale sellers in 2013 http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/03/bill-could-help-short-sale-sellers-in-2013/ http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/03/bill-could-help-short-sale-sellers-in-2013/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:36:08 +0000 Mike http://swflrealestatenews.com/?p=743 Continue reading →]]> WASHINGTON – April 2, 2012 – Under U.S. law, a homeowner with an underwater mortgage who goes through a short sale has part of his or her debt forgiven by a bank. The amount forgiven is legally considered income, as if the lender gave the owner a monetary gift by saying, “You no longer have to pay this.”
As a gift, that money is income and taxable by the IRS when the homeowner fills out his yearly income taxes. However, a temporary law effective through Dec. 31, 2012, nixes that amount as homeowner income, making the debt forgiveness tax-free. A short sale in 2012, then, allows a homeowner to walk away free of debt.
As it stands now, that rule expires next year, and underwater homeowners who go through a short sale could be taxed on the amount forgiven.
However, a bipartisan bill introduced late last week by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Dean Heller (R-NV) – the Mortgage Relief Act – would extend that rule past Dec. 31 if approved by both the House and Senate and signed by President Obama. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) cosponsored the legislation.
“It is bad enough that so many families are faced with mortgages that now exceed the value of their home,” says Stabenow. “But to add insult to injury, without this bill, the IRS would once again require these families to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in additional income tax when they sell or refinance their home. That’s just wrong.”
Stabenow championed the original Mortgage Relief Act of 2007 designed to fix the problem that now expires at the end of 2012. Stabenow and Heller’s new bill will extend this tax protection for underwater homeowners through 2015.
Approximately, 20 to 25 percent of American homeowners are currently underwater on their mortgages.
© 2012 Florida Realtors®

]]> http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/03/bill-could-help-short-sale-sellers-in-2013/feed/ 0 Compensation for directors is not allowed http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/01/compensation-for-directors-is-not-allowed/ http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/01/compensation-for-directors-is-not-allowed/#comments Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:22:16 +0000 Mike http://swflrealestatenews.com/?p=739 Richard White explains this and more. Read More.

]]> http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/04/01/compensation-for-directors-is-not-allowed/feed/ 0 Is there a law that limits the number of rentals in a condominium community? http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/03/26/is-there-a-law-that-limits-the-number-of-rentals-in-a-condominium-community/ http://swflrealestatenews.com/2012/03/26/is-there-a-law-that-limits-the-number-of-rentals-in-a-condominium-community/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:39:11 +0000 Mike http://swflrealestatenews.com/?p=736 Richard White answers this and other questions. Read More.

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