WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Aug. 17, 2010 – The number of homes and condominiums for sale across South Florida has steadily declined over the past two years, an encouraging sign for the region’s battered housing market. Still, industry observers worry about a sizable “shadow inventory” of foreclosed … [Read more...]
Real Estate Funds (REIT’s) outperform exchange-traded funds
August 16, 2010 by
NEW YORK – Aug. 16, 2010 – Analysts report that the surprising outperformance of exchange-traded funds that track real estate stocks since the first of the year suggests improvement in the economy and the battered commercial-property sector. In their second-quarter earnings outlook, analysts … [Read more...]
$218 mil London Condo World-record price earns mystery buyer room service from a TV chef and more…
August 13, 2010 by
It boasts a penthouse view over Central London, a private wine-tasting facility and an underground passage to a Heston Blumenthal restaurant. Throw in security measures a James Bond villain would be proud of and a ‘panic room’ in case things go wrong, and you would expect to pay a high … [Read more...]
Feds re-open Gulf waters to fishing
August 12, 2010 by
PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Aug. 11, 2010 – Federal officials on Tuesday reopened federal waters off the Florida Panhandle to commercial and recreational fishing, saying that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data have shown no oil in the area. The Coast Guard also says it hasn’t … [Read more...]
Florida’s home, condo sales up in 2Q 2010
August 11, 2010 by
ORLANDO, Fla. – Aug. 11, 2010 – Sales of existing single-family homes in Florida rose 21 percent in second quarter 2010 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Realtors®. A total of 51,564 existing homes sold statewide in 2Q 2010; during … [Read more...]
A lifetime opportunity for Canadians (And everybody else)
August 9, 2010 by
TORONTO – Mary and Ron Ethier long believed a getaway home in the Florida sun would remain a retirement dream, but when a recent real estate turnaround opened the border to a growing flock of snowbirds, the couple suddenly saw an opportunity too tempting to pass up. “We just felt with … [Read more...]
Five reasons to buy a home now
August 7, 2010 by
The tax credit expired, but it’s still a great time to buy a home thanks to low mortgage rates and motivated sellers. Here are five reasons why now is a great time to buy: 1. Low mortgage rates serve as an equity shock absorber. When buyers borrow at today’s record-low rates, they start building … [Read more...]
Pending home sales rose as much as 40% on the South Florida market
August 6, 2010 by
Fueled by foreign buyers and distressed sales, pending home sales rose as much as 40% compared to one year earlier. MIAMI – South Florida’s housing sector asserted its independence from national trends in July as a key measure of the real estate market improved year-over-year, with the … [Read more...]
New U.S. home sales up
July 26, 2010 by
WASHINGTON (AP) – July 26, 2010 – Sales of new U.S. homes jumped last month. The Commerce Department says new home sales rose nearly 24 percent in June from a month earlier to a seasonally adjusted annual sales pace of 330,000. May's number was revised downward to 267,000, the slowest pace on … [Read more...]
Top 25 towns with affordable homes, 2 in Florida
July 26, 2010 by
ORLANDO, Fla. – July 26, 2010 – CNN Money magazine has released its annual poll of some of the top places to live, and two Florida cities rank high as towns where residents’ income goes furthest when it comes to home purchase power. Among CNN Money’s top 25 list for where homes are affordable, … [Read more...]
