Linda Flack- Cape Coral, Fl

Fair and Unbiased Reporting?

Here we go again in SW Florida. The power of the press (News-Press) that is. This paper is the one everyone gets with the largest circulation. You would think that they are getting paid by the politicians to pick them for what ever position they are running. Maybe there should be an investigation. I don't know what ever happened to "fair and unbiased". It is instead the "POWER OF THE PRESS". I am always incensed by their audacity to tell me who to vote for in any election. I don't care if it is for people that I think should be there or not. For instance, I agree that Mike Scott has done a wonderful job with the Sheriff's department but I strongly disagree with Ken Wilkinson being re-elected. I think he is very responsible for putting our economy where it is with the unfair taxing and homestead laws. But that is my opinion.

Why the News-Press cannot just put each candidate's qualifications side by side and let the voters make up their own mind instead of assuming the readers are all dolts and we should vote the way the News Press suggests.

This practice should not be part of reporting the News. I received a comment that it is the opinion section and the News Press has the right to an opinion. Well, if they would place it like a letter like everyone else that would be fine, but they make it big and bold and infer that this is the only way to vote because we "the News Press" are in the know.

I have one word for that "NOT"!!!

Here we go again! The power of the press (News-Press) that is. You would think that they are getting paid by the politicians to pick them for what ever position they are running. Maybe there should be an investigation. I don't know what ever happened to "fair and unbiased". It is instead the "POWER OF THE PRESS". I am always incensed by their audacity to tell me who to vote for in any election. I don't care if it is for people that I think should be there or not. For instance, I agree that Mike Scott has done a wonderful job with the Sheriff's department but I strongly disagree with Ken Wilkinson being re-elected. I think he is very responsible for putting our economy where it is with the unfair taxing and homestead laws. But that is my opinion.

Why the News-Press cannot just put each candidate's qualifications side by side and let the voters make up their own mind instead of assuming the readers are all dolts and we should vote the way the News Press suggests.

This practice should not be part of reporting the News.

Let me know how you feel on this subject.

IS A SHORT SALE FOR YOU?

Our goal here today is to give you the reader a basic understanding of how the short sale revolution has evolved and how it can benefit you. It doesn't matter whether you are a seller that has found themselves in a not so wonderful position or a buyer looking to capitalize on this unprecedented opportunity.

Less than a year ago the banks holding bad paper were in denial about the severity of the economy and the mortgages that would be in trouble. They continued with a high and mighty attitude of "you don't pay, you don't stay" and we will foreclose on you. This behavior cost the banks dearly and by late spring 2008 the banks started looking at short sales as a way to decrease the amount of the loss. Foreclosures are a lot more expensive than a short sale to a bank.

Here is the process in a nut shell. Seller "Mr. Jones" bought his home for $250,000 in 2005. Mr. Jones mortgaged the home for $250,000. He has since lost his job and needs to move to become gainfully employed. Today's value of this home is $120,000. OUCH! We have a step by step guide to get you where you need to go without foreclosure. First we list the home at today's value. 2^nd we show you how to contact the bank to inform them what you are doing. 3^rd when an offer is made we present it to the bank for approval. When offers come in that can usually stop the foreclosure process. There is a window of opportunity for negotiation with the bank. The bank has to approve the loss they will be taking. To sell a home you need to have the bank agree to the loss to release the lean they have on the property for the mortgage. This process can take 6 weeks or more. I've been working on one for 4 months that finally closed today. With the lenghty time frame we lose a lot of buyers but then the price acceptable is set by the bank and usually we can find another buyer quickly.

This is better for the Seller and a windfall for the buyer.

HIGH-COST COVERAGE

Well, after this hurricane season I may go up higher. Ike created huge problems as far north as Ohio. We had a buyer rush home today. They won't have electric for about a week because of the winds from Ike and damage.

But these numbers will conter the notion that Florida is #1 in cost. It isn't.

On Forbes magazine list of expensive states to buy property insurance, Florida ranked No. 6 with an average annual insurance cost of $939. But the numbers for Florida don't include the 1.35 million properties insured by the state's insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., which is underwritten by tax dollars. Experts say if the numbers reflected these policies, Florida would be the most expensive. In general, home insurance is priciest in states where Mother Nature is least kind. Wind, rain, hail and hurricanes drive up the costs, and the high price of building materials doesn't help. Here, according to Forbes magazine, are the 10 most expensive places to buy homeowners insurance and their average annual cost:
1. Texas, $1,372
2. Louisiana, $1,144
3. Oklahoma, $1,030
4. District of Columbia, $963
5. Mississippi, $939
6. Florida, $929
7. California, $895
8. Rhode Island, $849
9. Alabama, $847
10. Kansas, $836

I am hosting foreclosure videos in Cape Coral and Fort Myers. In this amazing new market with these low interest rates and low, low prices I want to give the buying public a glimpse of what is out there. Each week I will have a house or three for you to look through and I am posting them on YouTube. The first one is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7L0Iv99Vyc. I had a few others but there was technical difficulties with the wind. Each week we are selling amazing homes and amazing prices. Our buyers are so excited. But, be warned. The word has spread and these deals usually have multiple offers. According to the news, the foreclosure numbers are coming down. That is good news for the economy in SW Florida.