Naples Real Estate News - 06/25/07
FLORIDA HOME INSPECTOR LICENSING - Gov. Charlie Crist recently received SB 2234 by Stephen Wise (R- Jacksonville) regarding state regulation of home inspectors, and has until the end of this week (June 30) to sign it. However, there’s reason to believe the governor may consider vetoing it since he’s already vetoed a bill that instituted higher standards for nail technicians (under DBPR/cosmetologists).
FLORIDA HOME SALES - Statewide sales of existing single-family homes in Florida totaled 12,607 in May, an amount more in line with activity in May 2002 – prior to the housing boom years – than May 2006 numbers. A total of 19,072 homes sold in May 2006 for a 34 percent decrease in the year-to-year comparison. The statewide median price was $237,000 last month.
FLORIDA REAL ESTATE TAXES - “Local government has shut down the No. 1 industry in the state of Florida, and the No. 1 industry isn’t tourism, it’s growth,” said Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton). Bennett said he approved the recent real estate tax reform measure, which does not go far enough, because there was no other bill on the floor.
FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE - According to Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty, the homeowners insurance market has started to stabilize, major insurers don’t plan additional cutbacks and new insurers will take on new policies. But other experts don’t paint a picture quite so rosy.
NEW FLORIDA HOMES - A higher percentage of all homebuyers opt for new construction rather than an existing house, at least according to a report released in Central Florida. Builders with deep pockets and aggressive marketing campaigns pull out all the stops, making it more difficult for single homeowners to compete. The same can be said for the Estero FL real estate, Bonita Springs FL real estate and Naples FL real estate markets.
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