Mortgage Rates Up But Near Record Lows for Year

The 30-year mortgage rate rose to 5.81 percent this week from 5.75 percent a week ago.

Citizens asks for big hike in rates

If you're a Tampa Bay area homeowner covered by Citizens Property Insurance, brace yourself.

Florida leads the way as home resales keep climbing

In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater market, 3,276 homes changed hands in November for a modest 4 percent increase. The median sales price rose 20 percent to $167,100.

30 Year Mortgage Rates at Second Lowest Annual Average in 32 Years

Mortgage rates in 2004 averaged around 5.84 percent, the second lowest annual rate ever recorded in the history of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

Existing Home Sales Hit Record, Prices Surge

While the November data were unexpectedly strong, a separate report showed applications for U.S. home mortgages slipped last week.

Protecting Yourself From A Housing Slump

A lot of homeowners and potential buyers in super-hot markets worry that 2005 could be the year that the housing bubble finally pops.

Dec. 31 Residency Is Key to Tax Break in Florida

Home buyers can save hundreds on next year's property taxes by simply closing on and moving in to their new home by Dec. 31.

Economists Forecast the Outlook for the Real Estate Market in 2005 and Beyond

Few economists predict that a major national drop in real estate prices is on the horizon, but many are painting a cautious picture for 2005.

Florida’s Home Resales Rise 9 Percent, Median Price Up 22 Percent in November

Florida's housing market picked up the pace in November, shaking off lingering effects from the four hurricanes that pummeled the state over a six-week period.

Hurricane Victims Get Property Tax Relief

Homeowners who were unable to live in their homes for at least 60 days as a result of four recent hurricanes that hit the state will be eligible for property tax rebates of up to $1,500.

Rate on 30-Year Mortgage Rises to 5.75%

Fixed-rate mortgage rates continued to edge up this week.

Hurricane Victims May Get Insurance Rebates

Storm victims are responsible for paying their first deductible plus $100 toward each subsequent deductible but will be reimbursed up to $10,000 beyond that.

Bay Area Rent Typically 3 Times Minimum Wage

Citizens need to make three times the federal minimum wage to afford the rent and utilities on a typical two-bedroom apartment.

Residents lose fight over condo height on Edgewater Drive in Dunedin

The condos, to start construction soon, will be three-bedroom, 2-1/2 baths, with a two-car garage and private elevators. They will range in price from the low $400,000s to the mid $900,000s.

New vision projected for Safety Harbor spa

The Safety Harbor Resort and Spa has been sold to a company that plans to demolish the landmark and build condos, hotels and a new spa in its place.

Developer planning $10-million condo-hotel in Dunedin

A 30-unit condominium-hotel is planned for Bayshore Boulevard with a sweeping view of St. Joseph's Sound.

Florida Condo Owners Face Steep Insurance Hikes from Hurricane-Relief Bill

Florida legislators said Thursday that hefty increases of up to 37 percent in insurance for condominium associations may be one of the unintended consequences to their fast-track approval of an insurance relief bill.

Mortgage rates dip this week

Rates continue to drop despite signs of a weakening housing market.

Housing starts tumble for November

This is the sharpest drop in nearly 11 years despite low rates, raising concerns over real estate. With a potential of rising mortgage rates, could this be the start of the bursting bubble? Probably not!

Hurricane-Proof Homes Gain Popularity

The homes are comprised of aluminum roofs, structural insulated panels made of foam and fiber cement, and a steel frame. The three that were put up in Port Charlotte, Fla., prior to Hurricane Charley were able to withstand 145 mph winds.

Storm Victims Could Get Tax Rebate

The measure would allow residents whose homes were destroyed by hurricanes to receive as much as $1,500 in property tax rebates to make up for the months in which their homes were uninhabitable.

Hurricane relief proposal raises insurance rates

If the state's plan to aid homeowners who had damage from more than one hurricane passes, premiums likely will jump about a half percent.

Avalanche of Tampa, Fla.-area claims may overwhelm state's last-resort

Private insurers are growing increasingly reluctant to write homeowners policies in the Tampa Bay area.

Proposed resort gets planning board nod

A planned beach resort will replace the historic Clearwater Beach Hotel with a 251-room hotel and 117-unit adjacent condominium project.

Condo plans keep on coming

St. Petersburg is nowhere near its condominium saturation point and the area west of downtown will be among the busier building spots next year.

Federal Reserve Boosts Key Interest Rate

The Federal Reserve boosted a key short-term interest rate by one-quarter percentage point, the fifth increase this year. The same will probably happen at their next meeting scheduled for February.

9 Facts About Mortgages

Most of us are familiar with mortgages, but even experienced homebuyers may not be aware of a few meaningful facts and options.

What's the return on investment of home remodeling projects?

Excellent and detailed analysis of the cost of major home improvements and how much value they add to your home when you sell it. Data reported for 60 different major markets.

Most expect a fifth Fed interest rate increase

Interest rates probably will go up Tuesday, whether or not it's good policy.

New storms brewing for insurance

Finding homeowners' coverage in Florida hasn't been easy for a dozen years. But industry leaders in the Tampa Bay area say insurance availability has only gotten tighter after three of the four hurricanes crisscrossed the same area.

House Hunters Lack Targets In Their Range

Rising house prices are making it difficult for many buyers.

Mortgage rates fall with weak job report

Companies aren't creating jobs as fast as expected, and oil prices have dropped. As a result, long-term mortgage rates fell sharply in the last week.

Residents express concern about Belleview Biltmore

Speculation about the future of the Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa and its golf course had residents demanding answers at Belleair's Town Commission meeting.

Housing market to end year on strong note

Existing-home sales are expected to jump 7.9 percent to 6.58 million in 2004, well above last year's record. For 2005, the National Association of Realtors projects 6.38 million sales, which would be the second highest level on record.

Selling your house? Bury a saint

If you're having trouble selling your home, bury a statue of St. Joseph in the front yard.

Why Mortgage Rates Rise and Fall

Mortgage rates can be influenced by many factors including decisions by the Federal Reserve. Read more ...

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Which Home Improvements Pay Off?

Installing a phone in your bathroom might make you happy, but it won't increase the value of your home. A marble countertop, on the other hand...

Condo-hotel to rise from Skyline Motel rubble in Madeira Beach

The condo-hotel will consist of 16 units at 1,000 square feet each plus two larger penthouse units, in four stories over parking.

Beach Walk to begin construction in April 2005

A wavelike waterfront promenade, a half-mile long, will overlay what now is S Gulfview Boulevard, in Clearwater Beach.




Click Here For The Detailed Site Plan

Rates on 30-year, 15-year mortgages rise sharply

Could this be the beginning of the long anticipated climb in interest rates?

Townhome builders gobble up slivers

Twenty-nine townhomes on Ulmerton will join the 126 of Cumberland Trace and 54 of West Bay Village.

Client outcry prompts study of Citizens

State insurer of last resort provides equal level of service according to customer complaints.

Safety Harbor Resort and Spa on verge of being sold

The future of The resort remains uncertain. Could it be torn down and rebuilt as condos?

Law on free credit reports kicks in today

This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Fannie, Freddie Lift Loan Limit to $359,650

Federal regulators raised the limit on the loans for single-family homes beginning next year to $359,650, up from $333,700.

Weakening Dollar Means Higher Mortgage Rates

More signs indicating mortgage rates will be increasing.