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Wednesday, August 16, 2006
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PROPERTY TAX PORTABILITY
Members of the governor's Property Tax Reform Committee met for
the first time Tuesday. "Is there a way to balance the intent of Save
Our Homes with what's happening to new Florida homeowners or
those who would like to move?" asks Realtor Cynthia Shelton, a
member of the group. "We've got to consider the potential
consequences."
Read the full story:
http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n1-08162006
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COMMERCIAL INSURANCE
Gov. Jeb Bush's Cabinet yesterday created a state-backed commercial
reinsurer in Florida, which it hopes will stimulate the private insurance
market to offer more business coverage in the state. A July survey
indicated that 49 percent of Florida businesses cannot afford property
insurance and 17 percent have no coverage at all.
Read the full story:
http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n2-08162006
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HURRICANE INSPECTIONS
Florida homeowners flocked to a new state program Tuesday that offers
free hurricane-preparedness inspections and grants to help cover the cost
of improvements. More than 3,500 people applied online
(http://www.mysafefloridahome.com) within hours.
Read the full story:
http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n3-08162006
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BUILDERS INSURANCE
The state's insurer of last resort covered buildings under construction,
dropped the coverage, and agreed to cover it again -- but it will come
at a cost. Citizens Property Insurance Corp. says a rate hike on wind-
only coverage will increase an average of 150.6 percent statewide.
Read the full story:
http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n4-08162006
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HOUSING MARKET
New home starts fell 2.5 percent in July -- the fifth decline in the past
six months, according to the U.S. Commerce Department's latest report.
Meanwhile, NAR reported that appreciation in existing single-family
home prices cooled to single digit rates in most metro areas during
second quarter 2006.
Read the full story:
http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n5-08162006
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A GOOD NEIGHBOR LIVES IN FLORIDA
Ten Realtors have been named finalists for NAR's 2006 Good Neighbor
Awards, and one hails from Florida -- Williemae Stanberry, GRI, with
Stanberry Realty in Pensacola. In 2002, Stanberry founded A Will &
Way Inc., which counsels women in prison to help them break free of
poverty, domestic violence and substance abuse. As the wife of a jail
chaplain, Stanberry understands these women and helps them reclaim
their lives and reunite with their children. Stanberry runs weekly
counseling sessions, opened a transitional home for women released
from prison, and provides assistance with education, medical care,
employment and permanent housing as the women start new lives.
Five winners will be selected from among the 10 finalists and will
receive travel expenses to the Realtors Conference & Expo in New
Orleans in November, national media exposure for their community
efforts, and a $10,000 grant for their cause, up from $7,500 in 2005.
In addition to the winners, five honorable mentions will each receive
a $2,500 grant, up from $1,500. The winners will be announced in
November. More info: http://www.realtor.org/realtormag.
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AROUND FLORIDA
For complete news coverage (password required):
http://planetrealtor.com/Florida/News
Hernando County: Developer keeps trying for ''clusters'
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/15/Hernando/Developer_keeps_tryin.shtml
Palm Beach County: Residents will get to keep their homes
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pbpmeadow15aug15,0,4199215.story?coll=sfla-news-palm
Sarasota: Office vacancy rate drops
http://www.globest.com/news/672_672/tampa/148140-1.html
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