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

Rates for Florida's popular college savings plan are going up as much as 15 percent this year, the largest such increase since 2003. ...more

October 15, 2007

Rates for Florida's popular college savings plan are going up as much as 15 percent this year, the largest such increase since 2003. ...more

October 14, 2007

Should I drop my PIP coverage between now and Jan. 1? No. Under legislation the governor plans to sign, the state's no-fault law would still apply between now and then in a crash between two drivers who carry PIP coverage, which means the cost of treating your injuries will still be covered no matter who is at fault. Although PIP is no longer required, the vast majority of Florida drivers still carry the coverage. ...more

October 6, 2007

What has changed now that no-fault insurance is now on the agenda for the special Legislative session that begins Wednesday? ...more

October 2, 2007

Luciano Pavarotti left half his estate to his second wife and half to his four daughters, including three from his first marriage, an attorney said Tuesday. ...more

September 19, 2007

A New Port Richey man was sentenced Wednesday to five months in federal prison and five months of home detention for failing to pay federal income taxes from 1996 to 2000, the Internal Revenue Service said in a news release. ...more

September 7, 2007