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By KATIE DAVIES | “The number of foreclosed or bank-seized homes has risen by nine per cent already this year – with 1.5 million properties currently being lost by homeowners who can no longer afford them. A realty survey found the worrying increase over the last three months compared to the same time in 2012. The researchRead more

BayNews9 | BRADENTON — “Florida’s foreclosure rates led the nation in February for the sixth consecutive month. And the Bay area was among the communities hit hard. According to Bay News 9’s partner newspaper the Bradenton Herald, the Bay area was the fourth-highest for foreclosures in the country. And the Manatee-Sarasota area jumped to 13th. RealtyTrac, which tracks foreclosuresRead more

By Kenneth R. Harney, Special to the Times |   “WASHINGTON — Jeanette Ogle, a 92-year-old widow with a reverse mortgage on her house, got a birthday surprise last week: She did not lose her home at a scheduled foreclosure auction that had drawn scrutiny from federal and state agencies and consumer advocates. Because ofRead more

By Kimberly Miller | Palm Beach Post Staff Writer | State lawmakers this week divvied up how $60 million of Florida’s mortgage settlement money will be used to aid struggling homeowners, with more than half flowing to first-time homebuyers for down payment assistance and millions directed at borrowers through legal aid and housing counseling. Also, Florida’s circuitRead more

By Toluse Olorunnipa, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau | “A “faster foreclosures” proposal that sparked consumer outcry and protest last year has resurfaced in a more moderate form, with a new bill filed this week by Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples. The bill, HB 87, offers a slew of changes to the civil procedures governing foreclosures in Florida, whereRead more

By TBO.com | “Floridians who lost their homes to foreclosure between January 2008 and December 2011 could recoup some of their money as part of the national foreclosure fraud settlement. About 167,000 Floridians got applications but they need to file them in about a month. “The deadline is Jan. 18th and we realize a lot ofRead more

By Toluse Olorunnipa, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau | “The forms used by property insurers across the state to calculate insurance discounts for homeowners are seriously flawed and must be completely thrown out, an administrative judge has found in a potentially groundbreaking ruling. The decision could have far-reaching implications for homeowners who receive wind-mitigation discounts for hurricane-resistant measuresRead more

By The Associated Press |   “Home prices stayed flat in Tampa but increased in most major U.S. cities in September, more evidence of a housing recovery that is providing a lift to the fragile economy. Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller reported Tuesday that its 20-city index of home prices rose 3 percent in September compared with theRead more

Florida’s attorney general and top legislators reached a deal Friday over how to spend $300 million in foreclosure settlement cash, ending a months-long stalemate. BY TOLUSE OLORUNNIPA HERALD/TIMES TALLAHASSEE BUREAU “Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday she has reached a deal with the state lawmakers over how to use $300 million in foreclosure settlementRead more

By Drew Harwell, Times Staff Writer | “Although the $25 billion national mortgage settlement’s goal is to keep people in their homes, big banks are doing much better at ushering Florida homeowners out, as a new report shows short sales dwarfing other forms of relief as lenders’ atonement of choice. Under the settlement, five of theRead more