Scam Alert using NAR

The National Association of Realtors issued an advisory Friday about a property rental scam that implies NAR is collecting rental deposits from prospective tenants. "NAR is not involved in this business and has contacted law enforcement officials to request that the matter be investigated," says NAR President Charles McMillan. "We encourage any consumers who may be affected to file a complaint."

Lacrosse in Naples

This sport is sweeping the nation and now Collier County FL is in its third year. The Dusek Family Team with John R Wood Realtors is very involved with the lacrosse program. Alex coaches youth boys and Lynlee coaches High School women's. Gulf Coast High Women's team has a big game this Wednesday that will help determine if we are #1,#2, or #3. If you have any questions about lacrosse and want more info checkout CCLA (Collier County Lacrosse Association)

Latest on Home Insurance- F.A.I.R

F.A.I.R. for Collier
Fighting Against Insurance Rates

After 15 years of trying to use state regulations, financial and insurance mechanisms to ensure availability and affordability for residential property insurance, the state realizes it hasn’t found the final solution to the issue. During this year’s general session of the legislature they will revisit property insurance again.
Let’s just take a quick look at the last few years of change to the property insurance law.
In January 2007 there was a special legislative session just to discuss and create a law to bring down the sky rocketing property insurance rates. Many things were accomplished during that session, most especially was Citizens Property Insurance rates were frozen to 2009 and then later extended to 2010.
In 2008 there was some fine tuning of the previously written bill. A Task Force was formed to study ways to return Citizens Property Insurance to its original role as a non-competitive residential market mechanism. Citizens receive 50,000 new applicants each month. At present there are about 1.1 million policy holders. Approximately 400,000 policies have been taken out of Citizens by other private companies. These companies must hold these policies for at least 3 years at rates no greater than Citizens. Citizens Wind Only policies are not being renewed. You must reapply for eligibility for a new policy. They are mainly looking at roofs, but do have some other criteria as well. If your home is in a wind-borne area and has an insured value of $750,000 or more you must have all openings brought up to the new FL building code. In 2011 this will be a requirement for all insurance companies. If a home is insured with Citizens, as of January 1, 2010, anyone wishing to purchase a home located in the wind-borne area with an insured value of $500,000 or more, must be provided a windstorm mitigation rating prior to the contract for sale and purchase. If Citizens incurs a deficit it may assess each of its policyholders 15% per account; may levy a 6% per account on all other private insured policies. If more money is needed in an emergency, a 10% assessment may be assessed on all policies.

The Task Force is suggesting to the legislature the following:
1. Annual premiums be raised on a statewide average to 10% a year for the next 3 years beginning in 2010.
2. The increase by territory to be no more than 15%
3. An increase to no more than 20% a year for individual Citizens policyholders.
4. Prohibit Citizens form insuring new homes and condominiums near the coast.
5. Enforce the 15% rule. If a private insurance company offer you a policy less than 15% of Citizens rate, then you must take it.
6. Require Citizens policy holders to take the takeout offer from private carriers.

My Safe Florida Home – The state was offering free wind inspections to all single-family home owners. The funding has hit a low and therefore they had to put this program on hold; however, I have been told that there may be a few inspections still available. The legislature will be discussing increased funding for this program.

State Farm Insurance
As most of you know State Farm is pulling out of the state of Florida. They became angry with the OIR when they would not give them a 47% increase in rates in September. The OIR also told them they had to issue credits or refunds up to $120 million to current or former policy holders who did not apply for or who did not receive wind loss mitigation credits and they must also pay $1 million in penalties.
Allstate was told to take on 100,000 new policy holders.
2009
At the beginning of 2009 a new condo insurance bill was created which makes it mandatory to have interior insurance and if a unit owner doesn’t get the insurance then the association is responsible for getting it and then bill the owner for the amount. There has been so much confusion and dissention over this bill that I feel sure that it will either be repealed or amended.

WHAT IS F.A.I.R DOING NOW?

Rebuild
After hurricane Ivan in 2004 hit the Panhandle area in the NW section of FL, a program call Rebuild of NW FL was established in January 2005.
It began as a grass roots group and then became a non -profit organization. Private citizens, government, private businesses, faith based groups, social services and builders got together to organize Rebuild. It provides homeowners to fortify their homes against a CAT 3 hurricane. For every dollar spent to mitigate a home, $4 to $16 are saved and helps to reduce insurance rates. The idea is to harden against hurricanes; not repair after hurricane. This program would be for homes built before 2002 and would have to be site built single family homes. This group received 2 state grants through My Safe Florida Home and grants from FEMA. F.A.I.R. is trying to get business leaders, private citizens and local government together to organize. We have names from the state to contact and guide us through this program; however, F.A.I.R. is not capable of taking on such a large project. We want to be the catalyst to get it organized.

Thinking about Renting Your Home?

WASHINGTON – March 11, 2009 – Homeowners who decide to rent out their properties have to stop thinking of themselves as homeowners and instead consider themselves as running a small business, experts say.Thinking like a businessperson means focusing on the monthly cost of maintenance, mortgage and taxes, as well as being aware of landlord-tenant regulations and avoiding liabilities.Here are key issues to consider:

• Set a fair rent. Setting the right price will make it more likely that a landlord will be able to keep the place rented.

• Understand landlord-tenant rules. Running afoul of landlord-tenant regulations and rules regarding security deposits can be costly.

• Screen applicants. Eliminating potential tenants who can’t pay or who won’t take care of the property is very important.

• Lay out the rules in a lease. Widely available sample leases can help. If you have questions, ask an attorney.

• Consider a property manager. Despite the expense, turning the job over to experts can help a landlord come out ahead.

• Talk to the condo association. If the property is a condominium, be prepared to deal with a host of regulations.

Source: The Washington Post, Renae Merle (02/28/2009)

Dangerous Realtors! Beware!

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – March 3, 2009 – The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s (DBPR) Division of Regulation last week rolled out a statewide unlicensed activity enforcement operation aimed at protecting the public from the dangers caused by unlicensed individuals. Working in 10 regions throughout the state, staff investigators checked over 500 licenses during the operation, which resulted in 86 citations, 41 arrests, 16 cease and desists orders and 15 notices of non-compliance.“Many Floridians may not be aware of the dangers that are associated with unlicensed activity, but I have heard first-hand from consumers and licensees who have been harmed,” said DBPR Secretary Charles W. Drago. “Their stories have motivated us to increase our efforts and find new ways to combat unlicensed activity.”Unlicensed activity threatens the financial and personal safety of consumers, leaving them with little to no recourse. State-licensed professionals are also impacted by unlicensed activity. Unlicensed individuals often underbid licensed professionals, but they usually do not carry workers’ compensation or liability insurance, posing an increased threat to consumers.“All unlicensed activity puts consumers at risk, whether it’s the illegal selling of real estate that could affect the biggest investment that many families ever make – their home – or other kinds of unlicensed activity,” says Cynthia Shelton, 2009 president of the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). “This kind of illegal activity hurts the public, harms legitimate business and business professionals, and ultimately weakens our communities. It unfairly taints the reputation of true real estate professionals, who care deeply about their work and the people they serve.“Unlicensed activity is a burden that we all bear – financially, legally, economically and in human resources. We need strong enforcement efforts by DBPR to protect consumers and our state’s responsible business interests,” Shelton says.Unlicensed activity can result in a first-degree misdemeanor criminal charge and a fine up to $5,000. The department’s ultimate goal is to bring people into compliance with the law. Unlicensed activity charges do not bar an individual from obtaining a license. The department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly, and the overall goal is to ensure that those providing professional services to Floridians obtain a license in order to comply with the law. DBPR uses a variety of tools to help eliminate the practice of unlicensed activity, including working with various agencies, industry groups and local law enforcement, which provides vital support during these operations. The department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. DBPR licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists. For more information go to: www.MyFloridaLicense.com.© 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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