Consumer confidence inches up as worst of oil spill crisis ends

Cape Coral Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins"
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Consumer confidence inches up as worst of oil spill crisis ends


GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sept. 29, 2010 – The sealing of the BP oil well in the Gulf of Mexico put a stop to the hemorrhaging of Florida’s consumer confidence, which rose two points to 68 in September, its highest level since May according to a new University of Florida survey.
“With the Gulf oil spill largely behind us, consumer confidence has begun to recover to pre-spill levels,” said Chris McCarty, director of UF’s Survey Research Center in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research. “This is by no means a return to a state of optimism. Overall confidence is four points lower than it was at this time last year.”
Although this month’s consumer confidence is 10 points below the April reading of 78, all five of the index components posted gains. Rising four points were expectations of U.S. economic conditions over the next year, to 62, and expectations of U.S. economic conditions over the next five years, to 73. Rising one point were perceptions of personal finances now compared with a year ago, to 52, and expectations of personal finances a year from now, to 79. Perceptions of whether it is a good time to buy big-ticket items increased two points to 76.
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A ray of hope for flood insurance extension

Cape Coral Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins" 239-357-1844  http://www.rickswift.com/   http://www.rickswift.listingbook.com/

A ray of hope for flood insurance extension


WASHINGTON – Sept. 23, 2010 – The U.S. Senate passed a one-year extension for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) last evening. The House must now approve the bill and send it to President Obama to avoid a temporary NFIP shutdown after Sept. 30.


If NFIP shuts down, current homeowners cannot renew a policy, and homebuyers cannot secure a policy, which can postpone closings of flood-zone homes that require a mortgage.
Also yesterday, The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) testified to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on the importance of renewing the flood program, which is set to expire for the ninth time in two years. Congress has already approved eight short-term extensions, essentially punting the issue down the field.
“We are pleased that last night the Senate passed S. 3814 to extend the NFIP for one year until Sept. 30, 2011. We urge the House to immediately do the same,” said Realtor Nick D’Ambrosia, who testified on NAR’s behalf. “However, this month-to-month approach has hindered recovering real estate markets and exacerbated the uncertainty for the more than 5.5 million taxpayers who depend on the NFIP to protect them against floods.”
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FlORIDA sees increase in international buyers

Cape Coral Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins"
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Fla. sees increase in international buyers


ORLANDO, Fla. – Sept. 21, 2010 – A number of factors contributed to the decline in home sales nationally and in Florida specifically, but the growing importance of foreign homebuyers has offset some of the damage. Roughly two out of every three Realtors in the state had at least one international transaction within the past year.
While U.S. buyers continue to struggle, foreign buyers generally see U.S. real estate as a desirable, profitable and secure investment. In addition, a weak U.S. dollar has made Florida real estate even more attractive recently.
The National Association of Realtors®, in cooperation with Florida Realtors, conducted a survey of Florida members, asking them about their experience working with international clients. The survey was conducted in July-August 2010. A total of 936 responses were received.

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Obama administration: $208.4M to stabilize Fla. neighborhoods

Cape Coral Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins"
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TAMPA, Fla. – Sept. 10, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded an additional $208,437,144 in funding to Florida communities struggling to reverse the effects of the foreclosure crisis, the third round of funding through HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).
To kick off the Florida funding – part of a $1 billion package for all states – HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims joined Congresswoman Kathy Castor yesterday in Tampa, which will receive $4.7 million for local foreclosure efforts.
“We want to make certain that we target these funds to those places with especially high foreclosure activity so we can help turn the tide in our battle against abandonment and blight,” said Sims. “As a direct result of the leadership provided by Senator Chris Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, who played key roles in winning approval for these funds, we will be able to make investments that will reduce blight, bolster neighboring home values, create jobs, and produce affordable housing.”
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"HOPE AWARDS" homeownership award seeks entries

Cape Coral Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins
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"HOPE homeownership award seeks entries


WASHINGTON – Sept. 20, 2010 – Know an organization or Realtor working to promote minority homeownership? Nominate them for the National Association of Realtors®’ 2011 Home Ownership Participation for Everyone (HOPE) Awards.
The HOPE Awards were created exactly for times like this – “to recognize and support those individuals and organizations that plant the seeds of hope, in families, communities and the nation, when the barriers to homeownership grow and overshadow the American Dream.”
Applications are due by Dec. 17, 2010. Winners receive $10,000 and paid travel expenses to attend the awards ceremony.
For more information, visit the HOPE Awards website at: http://www.hopeawards.org/


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10 tips for hiring a home remodeling contractor

Cape Coral Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins" http://www.rickswift.listingbook.com/ http://www.rickswift.com/
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10 tips for hiring a home remodeling contractor


YORK, Pa., – Sept. 3, 2010 – An uptick in homeowners are opting to remodel to increase a potential sales price or just upgrade their living space. According to StateofLife.com, remodelers should keep the following in mind:
Tip No. 1: Does your contractor have proof of insurance?
Ask the contractor to have his insurance company mail or fax a copy of his current contractor insurance card to you. If the contractor can’t do this – stay away. Why? If there is an accident at your home, you are then liable. This also applies to any sub-contractor or employee that the contractor may use – those individuals should have active insurance cards faxed or mailed to you as well.
Tip No. 2: Check references and see photos

Ask for at least three references with two for the same type of project you’re planning – and call the references. Additionally, ask the contractor to provide photos of previous work, especially for the same type of project. If he produces lawn and garden photos and you’re planning a bathroom remodel, you may want to check with another contractor.
Tip No. 3: Does your contractor take debit or credit cards?

Besides your ability to earn a few points, bonus miles or cash back, credit card acceptance is a good sign that a contractor is financially savvy and has a bank behind his business. Even many small, one-man shops take cards if they have a good relationship with their business bank or credit union.

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Almost 65,000 Floridians claim tax credit

Cape Coral Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins"

Almost 65,000 Floridians claim tax credit


WASHINGTON – Sept. 7, 2010 – A report by the Government Accountability Office finds that Florida ranked third in the number of first-time buyers who qualified for one of the three IRS tax credits, with 64,879 buyers making the claim. The study includes all three credits authorized by Congress.
In dollars and cents, that means Florida residents received $455,565,365 offered under the Housing, Recovery and Assistance acts.
Still, the amount pales compared to No. 1 ranked California that had almost 117,000 claims and over $814 million returned to residents. Texas, which ranked No. 2, saw almost 100,000 claims and over $680 million in federal money. Nationwide, Americans collected about $23.5 billion and submitted 3.32 million claims, which is about $1.5 billion higher than original estimates. http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=246386&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+floridarealtors+%28Florida+Realtors%29

Tell Congress Homeownership CountsThe core values of homeownership have come under fire recently from critics that want to eliminate or reduce programs that make owning a home affordable and accessible to Americans,

Cape Coral Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins" 239-357-1844


Tell Congress Homeownership Counts

The core values of homeownership have come under fire recently from critics that want to eliminate or reduce programs that make owning a home affordable and accessible to Americans, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
To counter the attacks and reinforce the benefits of homeownership, NAR is conducting a comprehensive Value of Homeownership campaign and asking for help from all REALTOR® members. Responses must be in by Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, emailed to:awarenesscampaign@realtors.org.
"We're gathering real-life stories from homeowners across the country to put a human face on the true values of owning a home," says Frank J. Sibley, NAR senior vice president of publications, convention and public affairs.
NAR wants to find the following types of homeowners:
· Single homeowner with kids: This could be a man or a woman who purchased a home to make a better life for their kids; motivated by better schools, becoming part of a community, etc.
· Couple with growing family: This couple would ideally have sold a home to purchase another home because they outgrew their space. If they used some of the proceeds from the sale of their old home toward the new purchase, all the better.
· Single woman, no kids: NAR research shows that one-fifth of recent homebuyers were single women. "We're looking for real-life stories to present with this research - women who are trying to establish themselves and see homeownership as a way to build their wealth and security," says Sibley. "Women at all stages of life would be fine - a young professional, an older divorcee, etc.
·Downsizing retirees: People married or single who recently purchased a retirement home. Having raised their families, they still see the value of homeownership into retirement and chose to own rather than rent.
· Couple without kids: This couple may have been priced out of the overheated housing market in the past few years, and now with increased affordability and low interest rates, they're able to own a home.
in a recent client matches NAR's description, send their name(s), phone and email address to awarenesscampaign@realtors.org. Include a brief description on which profile they fit and why they might make a good human-interest story. NAR's media team will follow-up and determine which homeowners work best for feature stories in local and national news outlets. Each story will tout the benefits of homeownership and explain how reduced government support would impact these people.

LIST WITH US CONSIDER IT SOLD!! CENTURY 21 BIRCHWOOD REALTY

Cape Coral Realtor Rick Swift "Where your new home begins" We work hard at Century 21 Birchwood Realty, we have training 4 days a week for new and seasoned realtors yes realtors there is a difference between an agent and a realtor we take an oath to be better real estate professionals, higher standards, ethics, honesty, trust, the dues are high , but it creates the best of the best . Our local board of realtors have on going training weekly. So when your looking to buy or sell a home , first look to see if they are a realtor  of the highest standards and then look to see who will be able to market your property better . Please fill free to check me out you won't be disappointed Thank Rick Swiftwww.rickswift.com   http://www.rickswift.listingbook.com/

Fla. consumer confidence up 1 point

Cape Coral Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins"
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Fla. consumer confidence up 1 point


GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sept. 1, 2010 – With no clear signs that the nation is either recovering or entering another recession, Florida’s consumer confidence remained stagnant, inching up only one point to 67 in August, according to a new University of Florida survey.
“Consumer confidence is entrenched at a relatively low level,” says Chris McCarty, director of UF’s Survey Research Center in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research. “With the exception of a jump in April due almost entirely to the housing and appliance rebate programs, consumer confidence has been stuck in the upper 60s to low 70s for the past year. We are in the economic doldrums.”
Two of the five components of the index increased, while one decreased and two remained unchanged.
Perceptions of personal finances now compared with a year ago rose four points to 52 from a record low in July, while perceptions of personal finances a year from now rose three points to 78.
“On the bright side, the oil spill has been contained and this is probably part of the reason for increased optimism about personal finances,” McCarty says. “Although the long-term effects of the spill are not yet known, there is evidence that tourists now realize that Florida beaches are, for the most part, unaffected.”


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