With foreclosures threatening to put more families on the streets, community leaders have been working on a long-range plan to curb homelessness. ...more

March 11, 2009

With foreclosures threatening to throw still more families out onto the streets, Pasco leaders opened the door this week on a long-range plan to end the homeless problem. As a first step, a Florida Housing Help Workshop on March 14 will reach out to residents facing foreclosure, the Rev. Dan Campbell, president of the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, told county commissioners. With a foreclosure rate of about 9 percent and other factors, Pasco meets the definition of a distressed county, Campbell, pastor of Community United Methodist Church of Holiday, said. ...more

March 4, 2009

SEBRING — An old approach to avoiding foreclosure is finding new life in Florida's depressed real estate market. When a homeowner can't repay the loan, banks will sometimes accept a "short sale." That is, the mortgage holder will allow a real estate agent to sell the property for less than the balance of the note, and the remainder is forgiven by the bank. "This is becoming more and more popular due to the rate of foreclosure," said Jenifer McMullian, a real estate sales agent with C.S. Edwards Realty Inc. Grace Bloodwell, who writes for HowToDoThings.com, suggested asking a real estate agent to confirm the value of the property with a comparative market analysis. Then total the cost of selling the property, which may include mortgage payments, legal fees and closing costs. Subtract that against the expected sale price. If it doesn't equal the total of all loans against the property, consider a short sale. ...more

October 27, 2007

SEBRING — The Highlands County Housing Department is known primarily for helping low- and moderate-income people reach the American dream of home ownership. ...more

October 25, 2007

Florida's foreclosure activity jumped 77 percent in August, compared with July, boosting its foreclosure rate to the third highest among all states. It was even worse in Tampa Bay, where foreclosure filings more than doubled. Both are further signs that homeowners are having trouble paying their mortgages and selling their homes amid a national housing slump. ...more

September 19, 2007

TAMPA - Florida's foreclosure activity jumped 77 percent in August, compared with July, boosting its foreclosure rate to the third highest among all states. It was even worse in Tampa Bay, where foreclosure filings more than doubled. Both are further signs that homeowners are having trouble paying their mortgages and selling their homes amid a national housing slump. ...more

September 18, 2007