Florida legislature to consider new real estate laws

The many woes of Florida’s housing market are well-known: hundreds of thousands of foreclosures, millions of underwater mortgages and a four-year trail of depreciating property values. Florida lawmakers, handicapped by a $3.6 billion budget shortfall, will take their best shot at solving some of the most pressing housing problems during this year’s legislative session, which …

Hardest Hit Fund Help Homeowners’ Mortgage Payment

Residents in Clark County who are facing foreclosures can now sigh in relief as help from the federal government is on its way for their mortgage payment. Nevada was chosen to be one of the recipients Hardest Hit Fund established President Obama. The state one of the numerous states in the United States who has …

Condo Column: Condos can’t cut off utilities, but is cable TV a utilty?

Dear Poliakoffs: We live in a 47-unit condo in Palm Beach County. One of the owners has not paid for maintenance in 10 months. The association pays the water and cable. Can the association under Florida condo law shut off the unit water and cable for nonpayment of maintenance after notification? – P.P. Dear P.P.: …

Why 2011 May Be the End of the Housing Crash – WSJ.com

There might finally be some good news this year about the nation’s dismal housing market. Or, at least, the bad news could stop. Either way, it will be welcome relief for current homeowners as well as for potential real-estate investors. Reasons to be optimistic have been sadly lacking since the housing bubble burst in 2006. …

Housing: Is It Time to Buy?

Is housing headed for a dreaded double-dip? Or are signs finally pointing to a long-awaited rally? Despite the glum statistics recently, well-heeled buyers in many markets should feel comfortable betting on the latter. Home prices nationwide in December were down more than 31% from their 2006 peak, according to the latest Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index, …