Only 1 in 8 EBR residents have flood insurance, meaning many will likely bear brunt of losses

Only about one in eight businesses and residences in East Baton Rouge Parish is covered by flood insurance, a reality that is sure to take a financial toll on those living in the vast swaths of neighborhoods that flooded during this weekend’s storms. The figure is higher in Livingston Parish, where 22 percent of structures …

Keyes Co., Illustrated Properties merger makes firm the largest independently owned real estate brokerage in Florida

The Keyes Co. and Illustrated Properties announced a merger on Wednesday, in a deal that makes the combined firm the largest independently owned real estate brokerage in Florida. “It’s really two families coming together,” said Mike Pappas, CEO of Miami-based Keyes. “We will be maximizing each other’s strengths.” The South Florida firms said they will …

Mall mania! Hot shopping spots expanding across South Florida

There’s a gold rush on for retail in South Florida.Developers and mall operators want to renovate and expand shopping centers across the region. New retail is popping up, too, especially open-air “high-street” shops with surprisingly gourmet dining — a breezy contrast to the enclosed suburban malls of old. The cost of all that investment runs …

Foreclosure rate below 2 percent [South Florida]

For the first time in at least seven years, the foreclosure rate has dipped below 2 percent in the Sarasota-Manatee region. The rate of foreclosures among outstanding mortgages in the two counties fell to 1.91 percent in October, down sharply from its peak of 12.23 percent in June 2011, according to data provider CoreLogic. While …

For seniors, a high-end boom in rental housing

Tucked beside the Maine Turnpike, across from the Maine Mall, is the site where Resort Lifestyle Communities plans to build its version of senior citizen nirvana. The 128-unit housing complex would feature fully equipped luxury apartments, social programs and shuttle service, along with a pharmacy, bank, hairdresser, gift shop, health club, movie theater and two …

Forced Sellers Could Get More in Florida

Florida lawmakers are considering closing a legal loophole that allowed real-estate investors to force some condominium owners to sell their units for less than they paid for them. Bills in Florida’s House and Senate seek to force bulk buyers of condo complexes to pay more for the holdout properties needed to complete a transaction and …