State Lawmakers Propose Solution to Flood Insurance Crisis

By Stephen Nohlgren and Jeff Harrington A Florida Senate bill filed Tuesday seeks to alleviate skyrocketing federal flood insurance premiums by setting up a competing — and hopefully cheaper — state-run market. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, would invite private insurers to enter the market by creating a new regulatory system

Tampa, FL; # 20 on Livability Top 100 Best Places to Live 2014

By: Matt Carmichael Governments across the United States are opening up portals and sharing building permits, pothole maintenance records, employee salary and zoning data. The goal is to both create opportunities for entrepreneurs to use that data in startup businesses, but also to promote more transparent and efficient governance. Not too many cities, however, are

Top 10 Real Estate Trends for 2014

By: Ilyce Glink | November 9, 2013 If the real estate recovery is a baseball game, we’re in the fourth or fifth inning. So what will the rest of the game look like? Experts from the Urban Land Institute unveiled their view of how the rest of the recovery will play out in their Emerging Trends

Deal In Works to Delay Flood Insurance Premium Hikes

Key House and Senate members have reached a bipartisan deal to delay changes to the federal flood insurance program that are raising premiums for many homeowners. The bill would require regulators to address affordability of the coverage before implementing rate hikes. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, announced the
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Up For Air: Big Decline In Underwater Mortgages

Oct 24, 2013 | By: Brian O’Connell The home mortgage market received some good news recently with reports that underwater mortgages have been drying up fast, putting the U.S. housing market on firmer, higher ground. According to CoreLogic, 2.5 million U.S. home properties in the second quarter of 2013 emerged from being in negative equity
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Clearwater Beach has Best Sunsets

Florida’s best beach destination is also the best place to watch a sunset, according to a poll by USA Today Travel. “Balmy Clearwater Beach, on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, took top honors, its wide expanse of beach and iconic pier no doubt playing a part in driving votes,” USA Today Travel reported. “But to prove

Home Maintenance Must’s for Fall

Although it’s always a good time to keep up your home maintenance, fall has become a popular time to make a special effort. Here are seven tips to keeping your home in top shape: Tip #1: Fall is an optimal time to check your gutters and downspouts to be sure they are clear of all

Hillsborough Property Values Rise 5.4%

By: Kevin Wiatrowkski | June 4, 2013 Thanks in part to rising home sales, property values are up across Hillsborough County for the first time in five years, according to Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez. Preliminary numbers released Monday showed a 5.7 percent rise in total values for the city of Tampa, about 3 percent for

Housing Markets Where Cash is King

By Les Christie | July 25, 2013 If you want to buy a house in Nevada you better bring cash. In June, 58% of the sales in the state were made in all-cash, according to a report by RealtyTrac. 10 cities where cash rules In these metro areas, 40% or more of all home sales

The 10 Most Hospitable Cities in America

Anmargaret Warner | Jul. 26, 2013 When you’re traveling, hospitable locals can make you feel welcome with a simple gesture like a home-cooked meal or some good advice. Apartment rental site Airbnb found the 10 most hospitable cities in the U.S. To compile this list, they looked at over a million user reviews, which evaluated hosts