While clothing-optional swimming and sunbathing has been commonplace in Europe for decades, it’s only recently become more appreciated in the U.S. Las Vegas hotspots like Caesars Palace, Mandalay Bay, the Wynn, MGM Grand and the Mirage have added adults-only European-style pools in recent years. In Miami, topless sunbathing on South Beach and nude sunbathing at North Beach’s Haulover has long been a draw. In fact, according to the American Association for Nude Recreation, the economic impact of clothing-optional travel contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to the U.S. economy annually.

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“We are honored that our homes have received such high recognition,” said Tessa Madasz, vice president of sales at Arthur Rutenberg Homes. “Receiving just one award would be a tremendous honor, and our franchises brought us four separate awards.”

The largest franchiser of independent custom home builders in the nation, Arthur Rutenberg Homes was represented in the Tampa Bay Parade of Homes by three award-winning franchises: Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Lyons Heritage Tampa, Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Lyons Heritage Pasco, and Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Custom Craft Homes. Lyons Heritage Tampa was a two-time winner with both a grand and a merit award, while Lyons Heritage Pasco and Custom Craft Homes earned a grand award and a merit award, respectively.

Two of the awards; a grand award for Lyons Heritage Tampa’s Tradewinds VI at Connerton in Land O’ Lakes, and a merit award for Custom Craft’s St. Augustine IV at FishHawk Ranch in Lithia — were both in the category for single-family homes priced $650,000 to $699,000. Arthur Rutenberg Homes was the only single-family home builder to sweep a category.

The other two awards were a grand award for Lyons Heritage Pasco’s Camelia at Southern Hills Plantation in Hernando County, a home in the $900,000 to $999,000 price category; and a merit award for Lyons Heritage Tampa’s Bonaire II at Grand Hampton in Hillsborough County, a home in the $550,000 to $599,000 price category.

“Lyons Heritage Pasco, Lyons Heritage Tampa, and Custom Craft Homes are all top-notch luxury home builders in Florida,” Madasz said. “Arthur Rutenberg Homes is proud to have these builders represent our company.”

The 2008 Tampa Bay Parade of Homes visited the counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando, featuring 132 model homes in 105 different communities. The event, which is held every spring, is sponsored by the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

For more information about Arthur Rutenberg Homes and its franchises, please visit www.ArthurRutenbergHomes.com.

Christian N. Folland, Esq., is the owner of the South Florida law firm, Folland & Associates, LC and the Miami title company, South Pointe Title Company. Folland is a Florida Bar Certified real estate attorney, which is the highest level of expertise recognized by the Florida Bar. Also a Realtor, Folland is very familiar with the Miami and South Beach real estate markets and keeps an updated list of available pre- and post-foreclosed or otherwise discounted properties.

“We have seen a lot of recent international interest in Miami and South Beach Miami properties, particularly luxury South Beach condominiums, from buyers and investment groups in Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Russia and even India,” said Folland, who pointed out that all the negative real estate news headlines spark interest from buyers and investors looking to purchase properties for less than the the actual value. Combined with the currently weak US dollar, buying financially distressed pre-foreclosure properties through short sale negotiation or lender-owned properties adds up to a good investment opportunity for foreign cash buyers.

The definition of short sale or short payoff is when a mortgage lender agrees to accept less than the outstanding loan amount to satisfy the seller’s loan. Mortgage short sales have become a common method to assist owners in selling real estate which is appraising much lower than when they purchased the property. Most lenders will accept a deeply discounted loan payoff based on the fair market value of the property, rather than pay attorney fees and wait for the foreclosure process to be completed. Lender-owned properties are those retained by the lender after a foreclosure sale.

“Considering the real estate mortgage market, short sales are the best solution for sellers in distress, lenders with non-performing loans, and savvy buyers, particularly foreign cash buyers taking advantage of the weak US dollar,” says Folland, who coordinates with buyers, sellers, and lenders to negotiate short sale closings. “Cash buyers have a definite advantage, as some properties need to be sold before a foreclosure sale occurs.” On one recent transaction, the cash buyer snapped up a new waterfront condominium just days before the foreclosure sale for $320,000.00, originally purchased by the seller for $590,000.00 in 2005.

Every situation is different, noted Folland, and each lender has specific requirements for borrowers to qualify for a short sale or short payoff. Sellers typically must demonstrate financial distress warranting the short sale of a home, and are not allowed to receive any equity out of the property at sale. “The approval process is becoming very streamlined on the lenders’ end, meaning quicker approvals.”

The staff at South Pointe Title Company are experts on short sales and the requirements to qualify, as well as the short sale listing and approval process. Our Florida title company will assist sellers in completing their short sale applications, document submissions, and draft their Florida sales contracts, which are contingent on the acceptance of the short sale, as well as help them market their property. Our Miami real estate attorney provides consultations on foreclosure avoidance and short sale potential. Our real estate attorney and title company staff will work with lenders to provide the valuation documentation required in the lender’s mortgage short sale application.

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1. Home prices will continue to fall in the US. Americas Watchdog’s National Mortgage Complaint Center expects a 10% decrease in 2008 and at least a 10% decrease in 2009. According to the Federal Reserve, currently 1 out of 7 US homeowners owes more on their home than it is worth. Americas Watchdog expects that by mid 2009 1 out of 5 US homeowners will owe more on their home than it is worth. This is because with 2 million expected foreclosures in 2008, banks are slashing home prices by as much as 40%, to get rid of the property. Americas Watchdog says, “dramatic sales price reductions by banks has the affect of creating new comparable home sales data for a neighborhood, and by doing so the value of all homes in a neighborhood is decreased.

2. If a homeowner is currently more than 10% upside down on the value of their home related to their loan amount, they should consider contacting their attorney about going deed in lieu of foreclosure (simply walking away from the home), or doing a short sale (where the bank accepts whatever price the borrower can get for the house). According to the National Mortgage complaint center, why continue to make payments on a mortgage, that is greater than the homes value?”

3. Potential homeowners or real estate investors should be extremely wary of real estate auctions or foreclosure events according to the Homeowners Consumer Center. The group says, “why buy a house in 2008 that will be worth 15% less in late 2009″.

4. Americas Watchdog is still demanding that Congress do away with the worst case of mortgage fraud in US history, where banks and mortgage bankers are allowed to get a huge kick back called a “yield spread premium” with no disclosure to the consumer. According to the group, “mortgage brokers are required to disclose this kick back, but banks and mortgage bankers have no such requirement even they get this huge kick back too”. Americas Watchdog estimates that 50 million US homeowners pay a higher monthly mortgage payment than they should have received, because a mortgage banker or bank received a huge hidden kickback for increasing the borrowers interest rate/monthly mortgage payment, with no requirement to disclose it to a unsuspecting consumer. All US homeowners should write their Congress Person & US Senator & demand this double standard be changed. All US Presidential candidates should have to explain this double standard to the voters.

5. All US homeowners who intend to stay in their homes need to update their homeowners insurance policy. Six months ago the Homeowners Consumer Center completed a study where it was discovered that less than 5% of all US homeowners have updated their homeowners insurance policy. Americas Watchdog used to be based in New Orleans, before, during and after Hurricane Katrina. The group is begging all US homeowners to do the following:

All homeowners insurance policies should include loss of use insurance, in the event the home floods, or has a fire. Loss of use will provide rental assistance to a homeowner if their home is undergoing repair work rendering it unsafe to occupy.

If a homeowner has not updated their homeowners insurance in at least two years, they should invite their insurance agent to come by their home & make a list that includes all home electronics, jewelry, home improvements, etc. Have the agent verify in writing the additional items covered.

If a homeowner lives in an area that could flood or be impacted by a hurricane, get flood insurance & flood insurance contents coverage (All states along the Atlantic & Gulf Coast)

6. If a homeowner intends to stay in their home, they should gather recent home sales information in their neighborhood, and appeal their county property taxes. US real estate values are down at least 15% to 25% in almost every major US real estate market. Why pay a higher property tax bill than required?

7. Americas Watchdog’s Homeowners Consumer Center is encouraging all US homeowners to review their free mortgage guide. The 20 page guide was designed to assist all US homeowners understand the mortgage process and the tricks of banks and mortgage lenders related to mortgages. The free mortgage guide is located on the Homeowners Consumer Center’s resource page. The Homeowners Consumer Centers web site is located at http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com.

Americas Watchdog & its Homeowner Consumer Center are all about truthful Homeowners advice, consumer protection and corporate fair play. Americas Watchdog thinks this is vital information for all US homeowners or potential homeowners. The group asks that readers of this press release forward it onto friends, co-workers and family members.

For a limited time, Marlin Bay Yacht Club is offering five non-resident boat slips and yacht club memberships starting at $210,000. Yacht club members can enjoy the Florida Keys’ most luxurious amenities including the 7,600-square-foot clubhouse with business and fitness centers, heated beach entry pool, ship’s store, pool pavilion, and sunset observation tower - all of which are finalizing completion this spring 2008. On The Beach Holidays can help with travel services and other Key West holidays.

“As part of the development’s original plan, Marlin Bay Yacht Club is pleased to offer this exclusive and limited membership offer,” said Thad Rutherford, project manager of Marlin Bay Yacht Club. “Our marina is staffed with a full-time dock master that is here to protect and service the slip owners with marina details; whether it be filling the boat with bait or making dinner reservations at a local restaurant.”

Designed to provide a protected harbor for vessels ranging from 40 to 70 feet, the private marina offers 99 boat slips, dock master, concierge service, complete hookups for every slip, and fast access to the warm-water pleasures of the Atlantic, Gulf and Florida Bay.

Marlin Bay Yacht Club Membership Luxuries

99 total community boat slips, 84 residences
2 inner basins and boot canal
New construction, solid concrete footers and docks with IPE wood decking
Max allowable draft is 5′ 6″ for all areas and slips. Max beam is 21′
Deep-water wet slips allowing for vessels 40′, 50′, 60′ and 70′
Marina to be equipped with infrared cameras monitored by the dock master
On-site staff to oversee maintenance of marina, safety of boats and provide concierge-level service (off-site fueling, ice, bait, maps, arrange basic service)
Each slip has full power, water, cable, phone, and portable pump-out cart
Marina and community have full Wi-Fi capabilities
Covered, lighted fish cleaning stations with running water
Built to Florida Clean Marina designation standards

For more information on Marlin Bay Yacht Club visit www.marlinbay-keys.com or call 877.878.2762.

Real Estate Agents, Loan Officers, Mortgage Brokers, Inspectors, Title Companies, Notaries, Appraisers, Contractors, Real Estate Attorneys, Commercial Lenders, and more are invited to join the group by participating in the forum and blog as well as attending the events.

The first event is scheduled for February 28, 2008 at the uber chic Gala Lounge in the newly renovated GalleryOne Hotel located at 2670 East Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. This first event will be an introduction to the principles that the group has been founded upon as well as the tools that are being made available to the members and will give attendees ample time to network with their peers. The space for the meeting has been graciously donated by the GalleryOne Hotel and an entry fee of $10 will provide each attendee with one drink and passed hors d’oeuvres. Sponsors for the first event are Coastal Title and The FL Registry of Homes.

Future events include:
March 27 - Real Estate Marketing Basics
April 24 - How Internet Marketing Can Work for You
May 29 - What is Search Engine Optimization and how can it help me

To register to attend the event, and find the Real Estate Marketing Blog and Forum please visit the group’s website at www.southfloridarealestatemarketing.com.

According to Default Research, in Broward and Miami-Dade 1.75 percent and 1.45 percent respectively of households entered some phase of the foreclosure process in the last 12 months. Also in 2007, Broward saw foreclosures increase by 66 percent, while Miami-Dade had an increase of 27 percent.

“There is no end in sight for Florida foreclosures in 2008,” said Serdar Bankaci, President/CEO of Default Research. “Median home prices are still decreasing as home inventories increase. That is a recipe for more foreclosures in South Florida. Last year we saw an average of about 220 foreclosures daily in our extensive coverage area in Florida.”

Across the Sunshine State, the average median home price is $221,000. However, in the much more expensive South Florida, the average median home price in Broward and Miami-Dade is $346,800. The larger price tags for the properties in South Florida have, however, actually hurt the market and recovery.

“Many investors have been burned by the foreclosure crisis and are just walking away from the properties in South Florida,” said Bankaci, who lists foreclosure sales two to three weeks ahead of the competition. “South Florida foreclosures will continue to rise as more ARMs reset and people are unable to make their payments. My statistics are showing that our bank foreclosure list will continue to grow and it is unlikely that South Florida will exit the foreclosure crisis in 2008.”

Bankaci knows firsthand about the South Florida market because he lived there in 2004. He witnessed the “incredible” price increases and watched the number of condominiums increase almost daily. Unfortunately as the housing unit numbers grew, the demand and money began to decrease.

“There is significant demand for rental properties,” said Bankaci, who offers his clients the freshest and most accurate foreclosures lists. “I urge our customers to buy and rent out properties while they weather the foreclosure storm. With foreclosure real estate selling for discounted prices, investors are buying properties, renting them and already getting a return on their investment.”

Default Research is Florida’s leader in foreclosure research. More information about Default Research can be found at its Web site: www.defaultresearch.com.