The iguanas are back in South Florida. I saw my first one in years today in my backyard. These cold-blooded reptiles are not native to the U.S. and a South Florida cold snap killed them all a few years ago. They're a pest for gardeners because they eat the blooms off the flowering plants, but they are prehistoric-looking as they bask in the sun on a golf course.
Whatever your point of view, it looks like they have returned. We have been having nights in the 40s lately so if it freezes, which is unlikely, the new population won't survive.
What do you think? Are you glad to see them back?
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Monday, March 4, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Florida class-action case takes aim at Citizens’ reinspection program - Florida - MiamiHerald.com
Many people who own property in Florida have heard about or experienced problems with Citizen's. Here's the latest news.
Florida class-action case takes aim at Citizens’ reinspection program - Florida - MiamiHerald.com
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Florida class-action case takes aim at Citizens’ reinspection program - Florida - MiamiHerald.com
LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with Florida real estate news.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Florida Online Real Estate Classes
The Veritas Real Estate Group offers online Florida real estate classes at affordable prices. The courses include pre-and post-licensing classes for sales associates and brokers. A 14-hour continuing education course is only $19.95! Check out these low, low, prices. Visit our website and register for classes at http://veritasrealestategroup.com/onlinereclasses. We are a licensed Florida real estate school.
Sales Associates Postlicensing
Sales Associates Postlicense Course $95.00
Post-Licensing Education for Florida Real Estate Sales Associates Text Book $42.70
Broker Prelicensing
Broker Postlicensing
Broker Postlicense Course $250
Real Estate Brokerage: A Management Guide and Workbook 30-hour Text Book $68.05
Essentials of Real Estate Investment 30-hour Text Book $50.24
Sales Associates
Prelicensing
Sales Associates Prelicense
Course $145.00
Florida Real Estate
Principles, Practices & Law Text Book $44.04
Sales Associates Postlicensing
Sales Associates Postlicense Course $95.00
Post-Licensing Education for Florida Real Estate Sales Associates Text Book $42.70
Broker Prelicensing
Broker Prelicense Course $275
Florida Real Estate Broker’s Guide Text
Book $82.82
Broker Postlicensing
Broker Postlicense Course $250
Real Estate Brokerage: A Management Guide and Workbook 30-hour Text Book $68.05
Essentials of Real Estate Investment 30-hour Text Book $50.24
Continuing
Education
14 Hours Continuing Education Online
Course $19.95
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Sunday, February 24, 2013
Short Sale Now While Tax Forgiveness Still In Effect
The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 has been extended until the end of 2013, but it's fate in future years is unknown. This law that applies to primary residences is a tremendous asset for homeowners who complete a short sale, which is a transaction that can occur when your mortgage balance is higher than the market value of your home. The lender can agree to accept the market value as payoff for the loan. However, this difference between the lender's sale proceeds and the loan balance was taxed as income prior to 2007 and may be taxed again starting in 2014. Vacation homes and investment properties that are sold as a short sales are currently subject to federal income tax on the forgiven loan amount.
Check with a tax professional for additional information. Join us on Facebook for more discussions and to keep up with the latest news.
Check with a tax professional for additional information. Join us on Facebook for more discussions and to keep up with the latest news.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Don't Pay Real Estate Processing Fees
As the value of homes decreased, the number of real estate agents charging buyers and sellers extra fees increased. In most cases, this is a total ripoff by greedy agents and brokers. Unless they are going above and beyond what is normally expected to earn a commission, don't pay them a dime extra. It is a disgraceful practice.
Mortgage companies legitimately charge a processing fee because there are usually reams of paperwork and hours of follow-up involved in obtaining a mortgage loan approval. In addition, it's the processor who may be speaking with the loan underwriter and even the applicant to resolve open issues.
This is not the case in real estate transactions. Some companies hire closing coordinators to make sure the process is a smooth one. However, there are usually very few benchmarks to track in a residential transaction. Deadlines to watch include home inspection, property appraisal, loan application and loan approval. Is that worth hundreds of dollars out of your pocket? Isn't that the job of the listing agent or her assistant? Why are you paying extra?
The one exception that comes to my mind is a short sale. The seller typically has no closing costs, so in those cases when the lender doesn't agree to pay for the seller's attorney or other fees, the buyer is asked to pay for it.
What do you think? If you are looking for a straight-shooting agent, send me an email at poconnor@veritasrealestategroup.com with the subject line "Help Me Find an Agent" and I will do my best to find you someone in your area who doesn't charge this nuisance fee.
If you're a real estate agent who doesn't charge a processing fee, send me an email at poconnor@veritasrealestategroup.com with the subject line "Available Agent", let me know the area you serve, and I will add you to my database of referral agents.
Visit us on our Facebook page to continue the discussion.
Mortgage companies legitimately charge a processing fee because there are usually reams of paperwork and hours of follow-up involved in obtaining a mortgage loan approval. In addition, it's the processor who may be speaking with the loan underwriter and even the applicant to resolve open issues.
This is not the case in real estate transactions. Some companies hire closing coordinators to make sure the process is a smooth one. However, there are usually very few benchmarks to track in a residential transaction. Deadlines to watch include home inspection, property appraisal, loan application and loan approval. Is that worth hundreds of dollars out of your pocket? Isn't that the job of the listing agent or her assistant? Why are you paying extra?
The one exception that comes to my mind is a short sale. The seller typically has no closing costs, so in those cases when the lender doesn't agree to pay for the seller's attorney or other fees, the buyer is asked to pay for it.
What do you think? If you are looking for a straight-shooting agent, send me an email at poconnor@veritasrealestategroup.com with the subject line "Help Me Find an Agent" and I will do my best to find you someone in your area who doesn't charge this nuisance fee.
If you're a real estate agent who doesn't charge a processing fee, send me an email at poconnor@veritasrealestategroup.com with the subject line "Available Agent", let me know the area you serve, and I will add you to my database of referral agents.
Visit us on our Facebook page to continue the discussion.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Florida 55+Communities
Here is a link http://fchr.state.fl.us/housing_directory/search
to the state-approved 55 and older communities in Florida. The rules and regulations vary among the associations, but most require at least one person on the deed to be 55 years of age or older, minors may not be allowed to stay overnight and leasing may or may not be allowed. If allowed, tenants may need to follow the age restrictions.
A community that wants to register with the state as 55+ is requesting permission to be exempt from the Fair Housing Act familial status protected class restrictions. In other words, if part of your intended rules is to prohibit minor children from living in the home, the association needs to register with the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Click on this link to read the FAQs.
http://fchr.state.fl.us/resources/55_housing/55_housing_faq_s
Visit our Facebook page for more Florida real estate news. Be sure to Like the page if you want to share the information with your friends.
to the state-approved 55 and older communities in Florida. The rules and regulations vary among the associations, but most require at least one person on the deed to be 55 years of age or older, minors may not be allowed to stay overnight and leasing may or may not be allowed. If allowed, tenants may need to follow the age restrictions.
A community that wants to register with the state as 55+ is requesting permission to be exempt from the Fair Housing Act familial status protected class restrictions. In other words, if part of your intended rules is to prohibit minor children from living in the home, the association needs to register with the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Click on this link to read the FAQs.
http://fchr.state.fl.us/resources/55_housing/55_housing_faq_s
Visit our Facebook page for more Florida real estate news. Be sure to Like the page if you want to share the information with your friends.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Investors Profit Through HOA Auctions
Homeowner Associations (HOA) throughout the United States are allowed to record a lien on a homeowner's property if the association fees aren't paid in a timely manner. If the owner still doesn't pay what is owed, the property may be sold at an HOA foreclosure auction to the highest bidder. The association fees are paid, but any mortgage liens remain on the property since it was pledged as collateral for the loan.
So the investor now owns a property that he may have bought for an amount equal to or slightly higher than the unpaid association fees. If HOA rules allow leasing, that investor is free to rent the property until the bank forecloses. In judicial states, like Florida, where foreclosures have to proceed through the courts, this may take years. The investor can collect rent during this entire time. In some cases, the lender allows the investor to satisfy the mortgage lien by paying it off at a deeply discounted amount equal to what it would sell for at a foreclosure auction. Unfortunately, in other circumstabces, the investors aren't maintaining the property or paying their HOA fees, and the property is sold again at another HOA auction.
If you're interested in pursuing this, search the Internet for county name HOA auction. Remember that you will still be responsible for the mortgage lien although you are probably not required to disclose to prospective tenants that the bank may claim the property.
Join us on Facebook if you have any real estate questions for us.
So the investor now owns a property that he may have bought for an amount equal to or slightly higher than the unpaid association fees. If HOA rules allow leasing, that investor is free to rent the property until the bank forecloses. In judicial states, like Florida, where foreclosures have to proceed through the courts, this may take years. The investor can collect rent during this entire time. In some cases, the lender allows the investor to satisfy the mortgage lien by paying it off at a deeply discounted amount equal to what it would sell for at a foreclosure auction. Unfortunately, in other circumstabces, the investors aren't maintaining the property or paying their HOA fees, and the property is sold again at another HOA auction.
If you're interested in pursuing this, search the Internet for county name HOA auction. Remember that you will still be responsible for the mortgage lien although you are probably not required to disclose to prospective tenants that the bank may claim the property.
Join us on Facebook if you have any real estate questions for us.
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