With each passing month, it gets tougher to sell homes in the Tampa Bay area, as median sales prices keep slipping and buyers remain skittish. The pressure of making a buck in the industry appears to be leading some local real estate agents to drop out of the business. ...more

January 17, 2008

If you're trying to sell your home, recent real estate news is likely getting you down. ...more

December 29, 2007

Bucking conventional wisdom, a trade group for real estate agents on Monday said the battered housing market is on the verge of stabilizing and inched up its outlook for 2007 and 2008 home sales. ...more

December 11, 2007

Regarding "Mortgage CEO Wants A Federal Rescue" (Business, Dec. 4): The mortgage mess is about to get messier. The bailout proposed by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will spread the mess to tax-exempt bond funds, stealing money from many retirees that have invested in the bond funds to get by in retirement. It all deprives income that eases the burden on the taxpayers of this country. ...more

December 5, 2007

WANT A HOUSE FEATURED HERE? EDITOR'S NOTE: Coverage of real estate transactions in the Brandon News & Tribune has changed. Each week, selected homes will be featured, similar to the example shown here. The new format gives readers more information to keep tabs on what homes are worth in Brandon neighborhoods. Real estate agents and home sellers are invited to submit photos and information according to these guidelines. ...more

November 21, 2007

Chris Ireland says the cure for a stretch of North Boulevard is to replace his and other homes with offices for lawyers, accountants, real estate agents and dentists. ...more

November 17, 2007

WANT A HOUSE FEATURED HERE? EDITOR'S NOTE: Coverage of real estate transactions in the Brandon News & Tribune has changed. Each week, selected homes will be featured, similar to the example shown here. The new format gives readers more information to keep tabs on what homes are worth in Brandon neighborhoods. Real estate agents and home sellers are invited to submit photos and information according to these guidelines. ...more

November 14, 2007

WANT A HOUSE FEATURED HERE? EDITOR'S NOTE: Coverage of real estate transactions in the Brandon News & Tribune has changed. Each week, selected homes will be featured, similar to the example shown here. The new format gives readers more information to keep tabs on what homes are worth in Brandon neighborhoods. Real estate agents and home sellers are invited to submit photos and information according to these guidelines. ...more

November 7, 2007

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

For more than a year, the Department of Justice has struggled to make a case that Realtor control of Multiple Listing Service data and systems is a barrier to fair and free access and should be shared by all. At the same time, the government agency has been vowing to make real estate more competitive by challenging the current level of sales commissions. ...more

October 18, 2007