Here are some good design tips from Lowes
https://www.lowesrealtorbenefits.com/newsletter/pdf/022008.pdf

PROPERTY TAX PORTABILITY
Only three days remain: Friday is the deadline for homeowners to apply for a homestead exemption, and, for 2007 homebuyers, the last day to apply for property tax portability – the right to take tax savings from a home protected by Florida’s Save Our Homes amendment and transfer it to a home purchased last year.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-022608.cfm

HOUSING MARKET
NAR’s housing report yesterday had some good news. While the sales numbers were down, they weren’t as dismal as many economists expected. Some investors saw that as positive news, and a sign that the housing downturn is on the verge of bottoming out.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-022608.cfm

Here is some interesting info about foreclosures...

http://www.trulia.com/newsletter

http://images.trulia.com/resources/Trulia_Trends_Report-February_2008.pdf

Wow! Even in what is being referred to as a dismal market almost 7,000 existing homes sold in ONE MONTH in Florida in January!!! Also note the good positive outlook for the future in Par. 2 -
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ORLANDO, Fla. – Feb. 25, 2008 – The mortgage credit crunch and a sluggish economy continued to affect the sales pace of existing homes and condominiums in Florida in January. Statewide, sales of existing single-family homes totaled 6,737 last month while 9,360 homes sold in January 2007 for a decrease of 28 percent in the year-to-year comparison, according to the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR).
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But some industry analysts expect sales activity to improve by the second half of the year, especially if the increased loan limit caps within the federal government’s economic stimulus package can be implemented quickly. In the latest market outlook from the National Association of Realtors®, Chief Economist Lawrence Yun says, “Existing-home sales have moved narrowly since last September, but when the full impact of higher loan limits for conventional mortgages begins to hit the market, there is likely to be a notable rise in home sales and prices. If higher limits are enacted very quickly, we’ll see a faster and more meaningful recovery by expanding safe, affordable financing in high-cost areas – that, in turn, would help to stimulate overall economic activity.”

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTInvestors who bought housing stocks at the beginning of the year made money. As the Federal Reserve started cutting interest rates, the stocks of several home builders started to rise dramatically; and some analysts believe it signals sunnier days ahead for the entire housing industry.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n5-021908.cfm

HOMESELLERSSome sellers may need to be convinced that the price they want for their home is not the price they’re going to get. Associates can use a number of tools to make that happen.Read the full story:http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n2-020708.cfm