Citizens steels for flood of business [Central Florida]

Citizens steels for flood of business [Central Florida] Florida’s small-time commercial landlords and many of the small-business owners who rent space from them have been hit with the same fast-rising insurance premiums that have been shocking homeowners since a series of hurricanes raked the state in 2004-05. Earlier this year, lawmakers handed the problem to …

As real estate market loses sizzle, landlords offer more deals [South Florida]

As real estate market loses sizzle, landlords offer more deals [South Florida] When Denise McGill moved to Palm Beach County from rural North Carolina two years ago, she was stunned at the high cost of housing. So she found a roommate and resigned herself to renting. “In retrospect, I definitely did the right thing,” said …

Better-heeled failing home economics too

Better-heeled failing home economics too Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Strickland is a postman of bad news, delivering eviction notices in the western stretch of San Bernardino County. He is armed with a Glock .45, which he seldom draws, and Scotch tape, which he goes through in prodigious amounts while posting court orders on doors and windows. …

Developer was mole for feds [Chicago]

Developer was mole for feds [Chicago] John Thomas bought and sold downtown office buildings and helped other property developers secure multimillion-dollar mortgage loans. But the high-living dealmaker had a double life. Thomas, who was convicted of federal business fraud in New York in 2004, has been serving as an undercover government mole in Chicago for …

Peebles sues for control of Royal Palm [South Florida]

Peebles sues for control of Royal Palm [South Florida] Don Peebles sold off most of the Royal Palm three years ago. But now he’s suing to take over the South Beach resort, saying management is ruining the hotel. Three years after giving up control of the Royal Palm Hotel in a sale, R. Donahue Peebles …