S. Fla. home prices rise, some condo prices fall

March was a great month for single-family-home sellers in South Florida. But it was a different story for those trying to sell condominiums in Miami-Dade County. READ MORE

School Board considers housing bonuses to lure teachers

By this time next year, the Miami-Dade district could start giving teachers $20,000 or more for new teachers to make down payments. The School Board created a task force last week to explore the idea and begin fleshing out the details. READ MORE

Number of unsold homes South Florida balloons over 2005 levels

A deluge of homes for sale is hampering South Florida's housing market, causing sales to slow considerably and prices to retreat from last fall's record high. READ MORE

Home prices continue to level off in South Florida

Prices of South Florida used homes continued to level off in March, the Florida Association of Realtors said on Tuesday.

Palm Beach County's median price rose just 6 percent to $393,700 over March 2005. In Broward County, the median increased 11 percent to $368,100. Miami-Dade's median increased 19 percent to $383,100. READ MORE

UTD’S FIRST-EVER EDUCATION SUMMIT

Home Financing Center has joined forces with Miami Dade Schools through Dr. Crew's Parent Academy Program allowing for educational workshops pertaining to real estate and financing options to be offered to the teachers and parents throughout the Miami Dade school district.

Superintendent Dr. Rudy Crew and Realtor, Robert Brutus, Home Financing Center, meet at the United Teachers of Dade Summit and discuss the advances made in these workshops.

UTD’S FIRST-EVER EDUCATION SUMMIT

Public Education - The Foundation of Our Community


For the first time ever, the education experts of our community--public school teachers--are hosting an Education Summit for all those who care about the foundation of our community, our public schools.

The United Teachers of Dade Education Summit will launch a community-wide effort to create a blueprint for public education in Miami-Dade. This event will provide a unique opportunity for business leaders, philanthropists, religious and community leaders, parents and school administrators to share ideas with teachers and school-related personnel about how to shape policy for our public school system in Miami-Dade County. To meet the needs of our globalized local economy, we must prepare our students, support our teachers and educate our community.

Among the topics discuss was the issue of "Affordable House" and "Employee Retention" within the school system.

Home Financing Center was on site sharing their expertise in today's real estate market, offering solutions such as government assistance through grants and subsides and Employer Assisted Housing programs. Mr. Patrick Butler, President of Home Financing Center Realty, was one of the speakers at this event.

"Educating the homebuyer and presenting them with solutions to their financial needs by way of these grants and subsides currently available will create stability and a sense of belonging for our teachers." Said Mr. Butler.

Poof! A $100 tax rebate vanishes

TALLAHASSEE - Remember those hefty tax cuts -- as much as $2 billion -- Gov. Jeb Bush and lawmakers wanted to give all Floridians this year?

Don't spend the money just yet. READ MORE

Florida No. 1 in new resident gain

From 2000 to 2004, the number of people moving to Florida from within the United States made the Sunshine State the national leader in population gain from domestic migration. READ MORE

Bills would assist affordable housing, but repeal of spending cap unlikely

TALLAHASSEE · What's the most important thing the Florida Legislature could do this year?

Ask Annetta Jenkins, a housing program director in Riviera Beach; or Tom Greer, a School Board member in Osceola County; or Realtors like Dorine Longhini of Fort Lauderdale.

They say the same three words: "Scrap the cap!" READ MORE

The most expensive states to insure a home

The 5 most expensive states

Rank State Average yearly cost

1. Texas $1,328
2. Louisiana $975
3. Oklahoma $925
4. Florida $810
5. District of Columbia $806

READ MORE

Don't let credit score outpace common sense

One thing that definitely befuddles many consumers is the credit scoring system.

And things got a little more confusing when the three major credit bureaus -- Equifax, TransUnion and Experian -- recently announced they had joined together and created their own branded credit scoring model that they hope will replace FICO, the one now widely used by lenders. READ MORE

DOGGING YOUR CREDIT

Fido's expired rabies tags could take a bite out of your credit score. An unpaid ambulance ride to Jackson Memorial Hospital could cost you a trip to a debt counselor.
Throughout South Florida, local governments are wielding a big stick in the battle to collect the hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid fees and fines from residents - and taking a whack at their credit scores.

Depending on the locality, everything from unpaid solid waste bills to fees for cremation documents from the medical examiner could end up knocking points off that highly guarded three digit number - which marks an individual's credit worthiness - forcing borrowers to pay higher interest rates. READ MORE

Homestead: Growth, diversity, tradition

Homestead has become a South Florida destination and an alternative for many escaping the more crowded and expensive areas of Miami-Dade County. READ MORE

What's going on here?

Legislation would give housing aid to public workers such as teachers, police

TALLAHASSEE · The boldest legislative effort in years to ease Florida's affordable housing crisis would find new help for crucial public employees and unleash hundreds of millions of dollars -- including almost $60 million in Broward County and $40 million in Palm Beach County -- now held back by a spending cap. READ MORE

Bubble watch: 10 cities where prices will deflate

From Las Vegas to Edison, N.J., these bubble busters are facing everything from a lack of new building and job loss, to price appreciation that simply can't be maintained. READ MORE

THE ROAD TO HOME

Miami Herald, Ellen James Martin

Investing in a home on a busy street isn’t necessarily a poor choice:

for some potential buyers, the convenience and the often-affordable price overshadows the lack of tranquility. But before buying a home that fronts a main road, there are things for buyers to consider, such as understanding that a bargain works both ways. The resale price is likely to be low, too, so don’t overpay. Look at plans for infrastructure and development in the area. A busy street is one thing, but a freeway in the front yard is another. Avoid deteriorating eighborhoods. Even if the house is nice, its price still will be affected by what’s around it.

Miami leaders unveil housing, wage initiatives

Miami leaders Thursday tackled two problems that together pose big challenges to the local economy -- low wages and spiraling housing costs.

City commissioners created a pilot program Mayor Manny Diaz called a South Florida first, one that offers $25,000 to municipal employees for down payments on home purchases within city limits. READ MORE

The new rules of real estate

NEW YORK --April 5, 2006 -- Rising mortgage rates, a surge in inventory and slower home sales in some areas are changing the ways in which buyers and sellers approach the housing market. Real estate agents are placing a great deal of emphasis on pricing, as buyers who use the Web to conduct home searches steer clear of properties that appear to be overpriced. READ MORE

Gov. Bush supports using tax dollars to ease insurance costs to homeowners

TALLAHASSEE · Faced with forcing Florida homeowners to shore up the insurance industry's hurricane fund, Gov. Jeb Bush on Tuesday said he supports using state tax dollars to ease consumers' skyrocketing insurance costs. READ MORE

Home buyers rake in the perks

As the real estate market cools, homebuilders are piling on the extras. They’re hoping to lure buyers with everything from deals on closing costs to granite counter tops, free landscaping and fancy flooring. READ MORE

How can the state's program help you afford a home of your own?

What are the benefits of using the Florida Housing Finance Corporation's loan program?

Who is eligible for the program?

How do I begin?

How do I qualify for a loan?

What type of home can I purchase?

READ MORE

Shifting home market gives buyers an edge

Around South Florida, many are doing what would have been unthinkable six months earlier: They're slashing the asking price of their houses, townhomes and condos -- and even throwing in incentives, from a canoe to adding granite kitchen counters to helping pay the buyer's closing costs. READ MORE

Help on way for home buyers

State loan program offers aid in high-priced marketby robin benedick South Florida Sun-Sentinel Posted March 31 2006

After years of watching prices soar out of their reach, low- and middle-income families may be getting help as they look to buy a home. READ MORE

NAR Asks Home Owners: If You Sell It, Will Buyers Come?

“Selling a home is like climbing Mount Everest,” said Thomas M. Stevens, NAR president and senior vice president of NRT Inc., from Vienna, Va. “If you don’t prepare correctly, you’ll never achieve your goal. Getting a signed contract is like reaching the peak, but that’s only half the journey. Many things can happen on the way back down the mountain. Savvy sellers know to hire a Realtor® to protect their interests and guide them through.”

Stephanie Singer