On many mortgages, reckoning day coming [Southern California]

On many mortgages, reckoning day coming [Southern California] Hindsight, they say, is 20-20. And with the benefit of two years of hindsight, it’s clear that June 2005 was the height of the wacky season for the San Diego County housing market – which has potentially fearsome implications for home prices this summer. By June 2005, …

For many, Wilma created an endless storm of bills [South Florida]

For many, Wilma created an endless storm of bills [South Florida] Since Hurricane Wilma blew through in 2005, thousands of South Florida condominium owners have been caught in what seems like an endless financial whirlwind. Juan Awais, 68, whose sole income is $484 a month from Social Security, has paid $2,200 in special assessments toward …

Best of times, worst of times in rental market

Best of times, worst of times in rental market For real estate agents, rental income is rising. For investors, losses on rentals are common. Sabrina Westenbarger isn’t frustrated by the housing slump. Last year, as the New Tampa real estate agent sensed that home buyers were disappearing, she branched into managing rental properties. Demand surged …

New law alters condo landscape [South Florida]

New law alters condo landscape [South Florida] The husband-and-wife real estate team of Norm and Janice Holloway sells more Venice condominiums than just about anybody. But when the couple settled into their own waterfront abode at Pointe Whitecap in Venice nearly six years ago, Norm promised Janice that he would never sell it out from …

The home buyers’ quandary

The home buyers’ quandary Like many thirtysomethings, Sarah Francis is hearing the call of homeownership. With a recent price softening in some markets, the 32-year-old Chicagoan thinks it may be a great time to jump into a condo. She worries about borrowing—she has no credit card or student loan debt—and she’s managed to accumulate about …

Property-tax certificates sell fast on Internet [Central Florida]

Property-tax certificates sell fast on Internet [Central Florida] More than $14 million worth of unpaid property taxes — the most ever for Lake County — were sold off Friday to investors from across the country. Lake County Tax Collector Bob McKee auctioned off tax certificates for nearly 6,000 properties that did not make the April …