I too am saddened to hear of this drastic, ridiculous move by Florida Governor Rick Scott. I received this notice today from Florida Representative Alan Williams, in my District, and am deeply concerned of the economic impact it will have in our area.

This week Congress restored the loan limits for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) for two years.  REALTORS® across the US met with Legislators, Congressmen, FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executive to fight to preserve the FHA loan limits, and it has worked and is a victory for home-buyers. The National Association of Realtors (NAR), and local associations and REALTORS® worked from grassroots to National levels to get a message to decision makers, and it worked.

In late September the FHA, Fannie Mae; and Freddie Mac loan limits were reduced in 42 states pricing potential home buyers out of the American Dream of home ownership and holding back the housing recovery.

NAR immediately went to work with the goal to get the loan limits restored in Congress. For weeks that goal seemed unlikely.

Countless REALTORS®  worked to educate Congress that well-qualified buyers didn’t need yet another hurdle to access affordable mortgage financing.

They finally listened. Because we were persistent. And because we were right.

The reinstated FHA loan limit formula and cap change will help make mortgages more affordable and accessible for hard-working, middle-class families in 669 counties in 42 states and territories, where the average loan limit reduction after the reset last month was more than $68,000. The provision reinstates the FHA loan limits through 2013 at 125 percent of local area median home prices, up to a maximum of $729,750 in the highest cost markets, the floor will remain at $271,050. However, Congress chose not to apply the loan limits restoration to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie-and-Freddie-backed mortgages will remain at 115 percent of local area median home prices up to $625,500.
NAR believes the reinstated loan limit formula and cap change will help make mortgages more affordable and accessible for hard-working, middle-class families throughout the country, not just wealthy individuals or those in costly markets. Nearly two-thirds of buyers who will be helped by the loan limits provision have incomes below $100,000. Without FHA loans and these limits in the Tallahassee, FL area, we would, as would the rest of the nation, probably be in for yet another recession. Let’s put this in perspective.  Given a purchase price of $275,000 FHA would require $45,375 less down than that of a 20% conventional loan (if you’re not quite convinced that is meaningful then just think how long it would take you to save another $43,375). REALTORS® are working for consumers in many ways.
The bill also provides for a short-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program through December 16, 2011. NAR will continue to press Congress to use the additional time to complete their work on a five-year re-authorization of the program, which ensures access to affordable flood insurance for millions of home and business owners across the country.

REALTORS® will work to preserve, protect and defend the American Dream of Home Ownership. So, when you begin your search for a home, ask the agent you find if they are a REALTOR® and why that is important to them and to you!

Our team values their association as REALTORS®. Search for your Tallahassee home for sale with us, we will advocate for you!

Tallahassee, Florida citizens and businesses going “Green”

Long before gas prices began to rise, scientists, students, businesses and citizens in Tallahassee, Florida have had renewable energy on their minds.  In 2010, many of the City and County commissioners who ran for office actually ran on platforms of promises to move towards support of green building, green product development, and renewable energy research.  The voices of concerned and aggravated citizens regarding the high cost of City of Tallahassee utilities clearly resounded as any more citizens have become involved in not only the election, but in becoming a part of the solution to the utility woes of Leon county. We are excited to have Kristen Dozier and Andrew Gillum serving on our commissions. The younger generation is well represented and important to us while carrying out our community’s goals.

One of the solutions proposed by our commissioners was the advent and integration of “Smart Meters.” A huge expenditure was employed, in hopes of consumer savings, but quite the opposite occurred. Many citizens had utility bills now doubling and tripling what had previously been budgeted. Some families now have utility bills actually higher than their mortgage payments! Not much has been said about that with the exception of a few heated comments at selected commission meetings. The debate on the smart meter is likely to continue for a long time.

On the flip side, there is positive movement towards energy consciousness in Tallahassee, Florida. Today, citizens and businesses alike are thinking “Green,” building green to save green! Residents have created and are solving some of their own utility issues. Take a look at one homeowner’s solution to heating a pool while lowering the cost of his utilities and cooling his attic:

The Tallahassee Parade of Homes Showcase starts in May and those touring homes are sure to see homes with green features, some even fully Energy Star rated and fully integrated with energy efficient systems and green products.The City of Tallahassee began a Green Building Pilot Program in March, 2010, giving 51 builders up to $2250 per home for building a green home. At first only a few took advantage of this, now, many more have begun the process as they have seen the rising public demand for more of these features in new construction.

Today, I was talking to a developer about assisting a new company find a site for another green manufacturing company in hopes of trying to keep this business located in Tallahassee, where it will bring jobs, as well as have a positive economic impact, I discovered yet another green initiative, the solar sausage and solar farm. (Thanks FSU! More on solar sausages.) Yes, Tallahassee is on it’s way to becoming ripe for business growth and development. The future I see would include using the resources of our three colleges, the technology centers of Florida State University students and research faculty to work with these companies, and become a training ground for students and technology based workers. It’s exciting to envision my community growing in this direction.  Maybe it’s already happening! Welcome Bing Energy!

I may be a simple technology driven Realtor, but I GET the BIG picture for Tallahassee. Now, to simply help others hop on board. If you are interested in building a Green, energy efficient home, call me today for your Tallahassee new construction referral. If you want to help Tallahassee grow greener, get involved! Contact your City of Tallahassee commissioners and Leon County commissioners and ask to be a part of the solution!

Search for Tallahassee Florida Homes for Sale

Tallahassee, Florida is gearing up to welcome thousands of visitors from across the State and region for the inauguration of Governor-Elect Rick Scott and Lt. Governor-Elect Jennifer Carroll on Tuesday, January 4th, 2011.

Here are a few highlights of the Schedule of Events surrounding the Inauguration with links to the locations of the events:

MONDAY:

Ø  Salute to Women in Leadership Breakfast, 8:30am – 10am Florida State university Alumni Hall Grand Ballroom

Ø  A Tribute to the First Lady  12:00 – 1:30pm, Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science

Ø  A Military Appreciation 2pm – 4pm, Leon County Civic Center – OPEN TO PUBLIC

Ø  Forging a Path to Prosperity Reception 5pm – 6:30pm – Goodwood Museum and Gardens

Ø  Celebrating Florida Future Youth Concert 6pm – 7:30pm, Leon county Civic Center (OPEN TO PUBIC)

TUESDAY

Ø  Prayer Breakfast 8am – 10am, Florida A & M university, Al Lawson, Jr. Multipurpose Center

Ø  Swearing In Ceremony 11 am – 12:30pm, Old Capitol, 400 S. Monroe St. (OPEN TO PUBLIC)

Ø  Inaugural Parade 2:15 – 4:15pm, Along Monroe Street (OPEN TO PUBLIC)

Ø  Governor’s Mansion Open House 4:30 – 6:30pm, Governor’s Mansion (OPEN TO PUBLIC)

Ø  Inaugural Ball, Celebrating Florida’s 45^th Governor, 7pm Leon County Civic Center

Will-Call tickets available at the Leon County Civic Center – Pensacola Street  Entrance on  January 1^st (noon -5PM)  – 4^th (8am – 6pm). Bring one form of identification!

Where to Park??  In red below are parking areas, In blue, locations of the events above!

View Events and Parking for the Florida Governor’s 45th Inauguration of Rick Scott/Jennifer Carroll in a larger map

Parking is a challenge in the downtown area and preparations should be made to arrive early to the events surrounding the Inauguration. Here is where you can park for the event:

Printable Parking Map of Downtown Tallahassee

Enjoy as Tallahassee, FL  welcomes Rick Scott and Jennifer Carroll to Tallahassee, Florida. Finger’s are crossed for a diligent four years of recovery and healing in our state!

If you are considering relocation to Tallahassee, Florida, Click to register for area information and a FREE relocation package

If you want to browse Tallahassee Homes for Sale or Rent, Click to Set up your customized no-hassle Tallahassee area MLS Home search.

You build it, they will come. Economically, we have proven that this works in Tallahassee. Prime example, Southwood. A planned unit, mixed use development still growing, surrounded by a growing commercial area, Publix, Starbucks, etc. all who had a vision for the business to come.  Some are going to argue with this post, saying, “Have you seen the foreclosures in Southwood? Are you oblivious to the unemployment rate in Tallahassee?”  My answer is, “No.” 

I am a third generation Tallahassee native. I not only see what is happening, but I feel what is happening with employment here in Tallahassee. (Remember, I am self-employed 100% commission!) However, what I do see, that most seem to forget, is that people are hanging on here. Tallahassee, Florida offers a quality of life that people seek when looking for a place to live, to raise families, to retire. Entrepreneurs and small business people have a spirit of perseverance. Creativity and community support rise up in times of economic struggle.  Unemployed citizens scramble for any and every possible way for them to stay here in this city. Tallahassee is home to a population that wants to see it grow and who will stay to see it support itself.

City and County officials are increasingly aware of the Tallahassee, Florida’s citizens needs and desires for growth. This year’s elections spurred dozens of community forums where hundreds of citizen and professional organizations and small business owners have vocalized their concerns promising to remain “watchdogs” of these officials to insure a higher level of accountability in the years to come. All more reasons to consider Tallahassee Florida and it’s citizens as a home base for technology based, industrial and medical based businesses.

These are the positive things I see:

• Citizens are what make this city what it is. Citizens have never been more active in participating in not only electing officials most qualified and dedicated to running our government, but in working with these officials to insure that we do grow in the ways that support our citizens.
• There is a huge skilled workforce in Tallahassee. There are brilliant minds, medical professionals, cutting edge mechanics, engineers and computer scientists who are innovative and creative, world recognized artists, musicians and fine arts performers. There are restaurateurs and chefs, graduates of a culinary school who are primed for work, ready to offer their services and grow their careers. 
• There are more than 60,000 students that pass through our college systems and graduate from our universities and community college. Why wouldn’t a business want to employ hungry graduates, primed for entry level positions. Would student’s think about staying here if they knew they had jobs and could advance within a corporation? Students came to Tallahassee because they love our universities. They live here, they know what the community has, and what it needs to sustain them after graduation.
• The Leon County’s school district is an “A”-rated district, with 33,000 undergraduate students. In addition to traditional high schools, the district also offers a non-traditional magnet high school, Sail and an International Baccalaureate Program. Also, Lively Vocational-Technical Center offers a broad range of career-oriented programs.
• County and city governments have collaborated during the recession in seeking to stimulate the area’s economy. The county waived permit fees for the extension of environmental management permits and partnered with the city in helping to finance a downtown mixed-use retail and office building called Gateway Tallahassee. This year, the county created a countywide energy improvement district to help residents finance the weatherization of their homes and businesses and help create “green” jobs — the first such effort by a Florida county.
• Projects to stimulate growth such as the Gaines Street Development Project, affecting Gaines Street,College Town and FAMU Way will provide jobs and bring opportunities for an art-district to expand and develop, all within walking distance of the Capitol, FSU and FAMU universities.
• An Economic Development Council is playing  a big part in helping facilitate growth and development and in developing incentives for businesses considering a Tallahassee location.
• Commercial Real Estate is at an all time low, infrastructure is in place and incentives for bringing business to Tallahassee are in place and negotiable.

Take a look at a few of these commercial properties, what can you do with them? Got an idea? Call me for discussion.

Join Tallahassee Florida thought leaders, consider Tallahassee for Your Business Base. The people of Tallahassee, Florida welcome new business. For business opportunities,  and a list of commercial properties for sale, contact Debbie Kirkland.

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Where:
Times of Operation: Leon County Courthouse – 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Northeast Library, Woodville Community Library, and Ft. Braden – 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
When:
Dates of Operation: Monday, August 9th to Friday, August 13th and Sunday, August 15th to Saturday, August 21st.

The Link: EARLY VOTING

As Governmental Affairs Chair for the Tallahassee Board of Realtors, I had the opportunity to hear many candidates, (the ones that showed up for our screenings), and their views on matters relating to job creation in Tallahassee, budget concerns, growth and development issues, sustainability plans, education, consolidation, Amendment 4 and more. I’ve made my decisions, based on this and the past history of incumbents. Tallahassee is in for a BIG change this year!

Research your candidates and the issues, and GET OUT and VOTE! We can’t change anything if we don’t vote!

Don’t miss your chance to vote early, beat the crowds and devote more time to helping your candidates get elected!

Great American Realtor Days in Tallahassee

Realtors strive to protect the rights of home-ownership, to guard against fraudulent activities by those posing to be professionals in our industry, but who are only after personal gain. Here are a few of the items we will be asking legislators to consider over the next two days.

Appraisal Management Companies
The rise of AMCs—which are unregulated under Florida law—is jeopardizing the basis for real estate transfers by undermining the credibility and accuracy of appraisals.
Appraisal management companies (AMCs) are business entities that administer networks of independent contractor appraisers to fulfill real estate appraisal assignments on behalf of clients, primarily lenders.
The advent of the appraisal management industry is the result of the outsourcing of
appraisal functions by lenders. The industry has seen tremendous growth in the last several years, particularly as a result of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC), which went into effect last year.
HB 303 by Rep. Matt Hudson (R-Naples), SB 1552 (Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey) and SB 2210 (Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs) would require AMCs operating in Florida to register with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). In addition to providing some transparency into the operations of AMCs, the bill also intends to prevent mortgage fraud by prohibiting AMCs from taking
any action that is intended to inappropriately influence the independent judgment of an appraiser in developing and reporting a real estate value.
Both buyers and sellers rely on an accurate valuation to set the appropriate selling price for a property. And lenders need accurate valuations to set the right conditions — loanto- value ratio, downpayment amount, interest rate — for loans.
Registering AMCs is necessary to restore consumer confidence in real estate lending practices and create a stable real estate market.
Florida Realtors® requests that you require AMCs operating in Florida to register with the DBPR by supporting HB 303/SB 1552 & SB 2210.

Housing & The Economy
In the next three weeks, you will be making important decisions impacting Florida’s economic future. Please give careful consideration to the following measures advanced by Florida Realtors® to expand housing opportunities, reduce inventory levels and provide jobs to thousands of Floridians.
1. This is the year to “Scrap the Cap”
In 1992, the Florida Legislature adopted an extraordinary piece of legislation supported
by Florida Realtors® and other housing advocates: The William E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Act. Realtors® agreed to increase doc stamp taxes by 10 cents per $100 of value to create a dedicated source of revenue for state and local housing programs. Since its
inception, the Sadowski Trust Fund has enabled nearly 200,000 families to realize the American Dream of homeownership.
At the height of the real estate boom, the Legislature imposed a $243 million cap on the amount that flows into the housing trust funds. Since then, $531.9 million has been swept from the funds for state expenses other than housing. Sadly, that $531.9 million would
have generated $2.257 billion in housing, $4.074 billion in economic activity and 40,956 jobs.
It’s time to restore the housing trust funds to their original and intended purpose. Doing so will not only make a significant difference in our economy, but also in Florida’s communities. For every $1 million in state funding, $7.66 million in economic activity is generated.
Vote YES for SB 262 by Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton) and HB 665 by Rep. Gary Aubuchon (R-Cape Coral) to “Scrap the Cap.”
2. Housing funds create jobs and economic prosperity
State economists estimate doc stamp taxes will provide nearly $200 million in FY 2010-11 for the Sadowski Trust Fund. Florida Realtors® applauds legislators for appropriating $37.5 million for downpayment assistance programs. Most Americans still consider having enough money for downpayment and closing costs to be the biggest obstacles to buying a home.
The remaining $162 million in the trust funds would provide more downpayment assistance and jobs. In today’s market, additional money is needed to rehab the 54,000-plus Florida properties in foreclosure. If Sadowski funds were spent to rehab single-family
homes and condos in foreclosure, it would put 12,000 Floridians back to work. With the state unemployment level at 12.2 percent, allocating funds to rehab existing inventory and create jobs is a smart investment.
3. Support the “Distressed Condo Relief Act”
Reducing condo inventory throughout the state is key to strengthening the real estate market. Florida Realtors® asks you to support HB 561 (Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Ft. Lauderdale), HB 327 (Rep. Julio Robaina, R-Miami) and SB 840 (Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood), which protect bulk buyers from warranty obligations and liabilities assigned to developers.

Property Insurance
A disclosure intended to inform prospective buyers of a home’s ability to withstand hurricane-force winds may actually mislead them.
Florida Realtors® asks that legislators prevent the spread of misinformation by repealing the windstorm mitigation rating disclosure (s.689.262, FS), set to take effect Jan. 1, 2011.
The disclosure is one of the last remnants of the My Safe Florida Home program, which expired in 2009. Effective next Jan. 1, 2011, sellers of homes located in the wind-borne debris region must provide buyers with a hurricane resistance rating, which is established by windstorm inspectors. When the My Safe Florida Home program was funded, these
inspectors were certified by the state. Now they aren’t.
There’s also substantial evidence that the inspection and reporting process is rife with fraud. It’s estimated that up to 50 percent of the mitigation premium discounts that Citizen’s Property Insurance Corporation offers — amounting to $390 million — may be
false. Consequently, Florida’s taxpayers will be left paying the bill, in the form of assessments, if a hurricane strikes.
There are other reasons to repeal the windstorm mitigation rating disclosure:
• It will confuse the public. Two identical homes located in different areas of the state will receive a different rating.
• Three different improvement plans are included in the disclosure, along with the cost of each plan, each averaging thousands of dollars. Buyers will use the plans to renegotiate the price, but will fail to harden the home.
• The decision to harden one’s home and seek insurance premium discounts is ultimately a matter between a homeowner and his or her insurer. The cost and benefits are different for each structure and each owner. The disclosure required in s.689.262, FS, however, will add the entire cost to each real estate transaction, without the benefit of a hardened home.
Florida Realtors® favors hardening homes. But the state’s current laws and policies regarding mitigation inspection, reporting, credits and discounts are broken. We remain committed to helping the Legislature comprehensively address these important issues.
Vote YES for SB 2190 by Sen. Thad Altman (R-Melbourne) and HB 545 (Rep. Pat
Patterson, R-Deland) to repeal the windstorm mitigation rating disclosure.

Property Tax
With more than 80 million Baby Boomers about to retire in the next five to 10 years, it’s critical that Florida’s tax policy is attractive to out-of-state buyers, investors, international
buyers and businesses.
HJR 655 by Rep. Carl Domino (R-Juno Beach) and SJR 1254 by Sen. Mike Fasano(R-New Port Richey) will accomplish this and so much more.
This measure is intended to replace Amendment 3 on the November ballot. This is the amendment that limits increases for non-school property tax assessments on all nonhomestead property to 5 percent every year. Under the current Amendment 3, first-time homebuyers would be exempt from paying taxes on 25 percent of their home’s value.
This is above and beyond the current $50,000 homestead exemption.
There’s a problem with Amendment 3. As written, a first-time buyer is defined as someone who hasn’t owned a home anywhere in the U.S. in the past eight years. Given the historiclevel of homeownership in the past decade, this definition would prevent most buyers from
qualifying.
HJR 655/SJR 1254 keep the 5 percent assessment cap and allow someone who has not owned a homesteaded residence in Florida in the previous three years to be eligible for an
additional exemption equal to 50 percent of the property’s just value in the first year.
The House bill was amended two weeks ago to exclude the school portion of taxes from the additional exemption, and to set the maximum amount of the exemption to an
additional $200,000. The Senate version includes a maximum exemption of an additional $100,000. The additional exemption, whatever it ends up being, would decline by 20 percent each year over five years. But new Florida residents shouldn’t be concerned about
being taxed out of their home because Save Our Homes kicks in during this five-year period.
Florida Realtors® appreciates the property tax breaks provided to date. The housing crisis was severe and widespread. To speed the recovery, we need to expand the potential
market. An economic recovery is not possible without a housing recovery. Please support HJR 655/SJR 1254, which replaces Amendment 3 with a new amendment that provides tax incentives for first-time homesteaders.

As you can see, Florida Realtors take an active role in fighting for Floridians to own, trade, buy, sell and invest in real estate. Without the strength of Florida Realtors to fight for your rights, the road to economic recovery is sure to be slow and buried in costly legislation. Ask your Realtor to help represent you on April 6th and 7th.