Owner of Bartow’s famed Wonder House pins hopes on zoning change

During its heyday, the Wonder House attracted curiosity seekers willing to pay a small admission to view up close a true one-of-a-kind residence considered an architectural marvel. A Bartow treasure, it featured inventive, modern conveniences such as hollow columns that collected rainwater from the roof. The water was piped through walls, feeding plants that were recessed into the building’s exterior.

Built of precast concrete panels in 1926, the multistory house at 1075 E. Mann Rd. was a tourist attraction

Source: Owner of Bartow’s famed Wonder House pins hopes on zoning change

Retirees Are Fleeing Florida Due to Fears of Climate Change

Florida, with its plentiful beaches, warm weather, and lack of a state-income tax, is the most popular destination for older adults in the U.S. But some who have lived in the Sunshine State for years are moving in the opposite direction.As damaging storms and other effects of climate change have hit Florida particularly hard in the past few years, some older adults living there have become concerned about their safety and their ability to enjoy retirement.

So they’re fleeing this otherwise balmy state.About 52,630 people ages 65 and over left Florida in 2017, versus 48,174 in 2016 and 43,356 in 2012, according to Jon Rork, professor of Economics at Reed College in Portland, Oregan, who studies retirement migration. “Many of these people have left Florida for states like Georgia and North Carolina,” Rork says. “There’s a hypothesis that those who have left Florida for Georgia and North Carolina have done so to avoid hurricanes and big insurance premium jumps.”

Source: Retirees Are Fleeing Florida Due to Fears of Climate Change

The new boomtowns: Why more people are relocating to ‘secondary’ cities

As they began planning their future together, Ashley Brown and her fiance, Aaron Shuman, concluded that they could no longer remain in Los Angeles because it was getting much too expensive. “Our rent in L.A. was $1,500 for a tiny, 650-square-foot apartment with no amenities,” says Brown, 29, a native New Yorker, actress and New York University graduate. She and Shuman, a 28-year-old musician, began looking at Austin, Detroit, Portland, Oregon, and Columbus, Ohio, before settling on Atlanta.

Source: The new boomtowns: Why more people are relocating to ‘secondary’ cities

Renting vs. buying a home in Tampa. Here’s the lowdown on when you break even.

Buying versus renting a home is a conundrum many of us have faced. Do you want to spend your weekends fixing stuff and sweating about whether the insurance is paid up or would you rather leave that to a landlord? On the flip side, owning means not getting booted when the lease runs out. The boost in equity that comes with a rising market is a nice perk, too.

Source: Renting vs. buying a home in Tampa. Here’s the lowdown on when you break even.

Realty Mogul Returns Reach $100M in Cash Disbursements 

Crowdfunding firm Realty Mogul has reached $100 million in cash disbursements, a major milestone for the company, GlobeSt.com reports exclusively. The firm has two REITs, MogulREIT I and MogulREIT II as well as private placement opportunities, all of which contributed to the returns. The $100 million in cash disbursements includes cash flow, appreciation and return of principal. The first REIT has generated 8% annualized returns over the last 24 months. The second REIT, which is focused on long-term capital

Source: Realty Mogul Returns Reach $100M in Cash Disbursements

How to get results from insurance carriers

Q: Our condominium sustained significant damage from Hurricane Irma.  It has been a year and our insurance carrier is offering a settlement that is woefully inadequate to address our damages.  We have been advised that we have window damage and the roofs must be replaced.  The insurance carrier is ignoring our demands. What do we do? T.C., Naples

A: It is hard to believe that Hurricane Irma was a year ago, but your question is unfortunately still a common question. Many insurance carriers are denying coverage, breaching the insurance policy requirements, or taking no action to delay the claim adjustment. On top of that, Southwest Florida received numerous roofing and water remediation contractors from all over the country that formed in Florida in October 2017. In this atmosphere, a few of our condominium clients had great experiences with their contractors and insurance carriers, but the more common experience is frustration and delay.

Our firm employs a team of attorneys and staff that are devoted solely to assisting condominium and homeowners’ associations with their insurance claims. In part, this is because the frustration and delay has reached a critical point and the boards need to compel action to repair their communities.

Source: How to get results from insurance carriers