\Slowdown halts condo conversions

Slowdown halts condo conversions [South Florida] Tenants at 210 Watermark recently learned their apartment complex in downtown Bradenton won’t be going condo afterall. And 210 Watermark is not the only member of the condo-conversion craze sidetracked by the real estate slowdown. Turnbury Park at Palm-Aire is also staying rental for now, Peter Wenzel, managing member …

Goodbye, MetroWest — Hello, Veranda Park? [Central Florida]

Goodbye, MetroWest — Hello, Veranda Park? [Central Florida] It is 20 years old and one of the most recognizable communities in Orlando, but MetroWest may soon get a new name. The 1,800-acre planned community will be renamed Veranda Park once a lavish $400 million town center of the same name is completed, according to developer …

Housing sellers, buyers deadlock [Central Florida]

Housing sellers, buyers deadlock [Central Florida] There is a glut of homes on the cooling market, which is no longer seeing the high-speed sales of red-hot 2005. Home buyers and home sellers are in a virtual stalemate in Central Florida, with housing prices holding at lofty 2005 levels while more properties are hitting the market …

Renters say they’re forgotten Katrina victims

Renters say they’re forgotten Katrina victims Like thousands of low-income people trying to stay in New Orleans, Russell Frays is worried about how he’s going to pay the rent. “We’re trying to figure it out, but we’ll have to make some adjustments,” he said. Congress has approved billions of dollars to help Louisiana homeowners who …

Sink or swim time for condo developers [South Florida]

Sink or swim time for condo developers [South Florida] It’s sink or swim time for many condo developers throughout South Florida. Big, grand condo plans are hard to keep when the market appears to be positively FLEEING from real estate. And that was before Tropical Storm Alberto started the hurricane season off with a shudder. …

Sketchy lending practices forcing many from their homes [South Florida]

Sketchy lending practices forcing many from their homes [South Florida] By the time Winston Williams filed for bankruptcy, one of his two mortgage lenders had, too. Then, by the time the Riviera Beach man was ordered to pay more than $126,000 to stave off foreclosure, his other lender had agreed to pay millions to settle …