News About Properties – Page 317 – News about properties and real estate

Wilma drubs used-home sales

Hurricane Wilma’s late-October winds pushed existing-home sales in the Treasure Coast to a double-digit decline last month, but prices continued their strong advance, a Florida Association of Realtors report released Monday shows.

With the Treasure Coast dodging Wilma’s most punishing blows, home sales in Martin and St. Lucie counties experienced less-severe declines than counties to the south. Nevertheless, Treasure Coast home buyers were able to close on significantly fewer sales than they did a year ago, the report shows. Existing-home sales fell 22 percent compared with the previous October, to 334 from 426.

Investor bullish about economy, but fears storms

Real estate investor and serial entrepreneur Mark Famiglio owns almost 500,000 square feet of commercial office, warehouse and retail space in Manatee County.

He is also a co-owner of the one of the fastest growing technology companies in Southwest Florida — CopyTalk, which turns phone messages into e-mails.

Town of eight welcomes real estate boom

This incorporated town along State Road A1A about halfway between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach used to be known as a tiny town where dolphins outnumbered people.

But a planned development of more than 270 homes — plus commercial space and possibly a hotel — could boost the town’s population by about 3,000 percent, if it survives a challenge by environmental groups.

Doughnuts, real estate and prayers

When there’s a hot business opportunity or a smoking real estate deal in Southwest Florida, local bankers and brokers grab their BlackBerrys to speed-dial a short-list of hometown movers and shakers: the ones with the inclination, credibility and wherewithal to jump on a deal.

Season for bargains

Cold months are a good time to get a deal on a house

As the slower fall months arrived, however, the asking price of the Barbour Manor house fell more than $10,000 from the original $225,000. The Prices negotiated the cost down even further — and they had their house in September.

How long should you take to pay off your mortgage?

This is another installment of a series on the decisions mortgage borrowers should make prior to entering the market. Previous articles were about selecting the best type of mortgage, and selecting among three options: paying points, waiving escrows, and accepting a prepayment penalty. This article is about selecting the best term.