Housing Affairs Letter

SouthEast

Next Last

Virginia Tightens Eminent Domain

Almost three quarters of Virginia voters decide to place strong clamps on how far the state and its local governments can go to seize private property under eminent domain.

read complete story

Blighted Properties Tracking Tool For New Orleans

In partnership with nonprofit Code for America, the city of New Orleans launches an interactive online tool to help track the progress of renewal and rehabilitation efforts in blighted areas, particularly those devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The project serves as an extension of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu's (D) strategy to reduce blight by

read complete story

Property-Taking Option On Virginia Ballot

Virginia voters will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment in November to limit the use of eminent domain. The proposal would prohibit local or state governments from taking private land and giving it to a private entity for the purpose of economic development. Private property could still be taken for public use, i.e., highways, railroads, utility

read complete story

U.S. Bank Sued For Property Care

Los Angeles sues U.S. Bank, alleging the bank violated federal, state and city laws regarding maintenance of 174 properties in the city

read complete story

Condo Investors Profit With Resales

Condominium investors in the seven largest South Florida coastal markets are earning more than 20% profits on condos bought in bulk during the real estate collapse, a new study by CondoVultures.com.

read complete story

Military Land In Property Tax Vise

Officials in Key West, FL are scouring legal documents to determine if the city can collect property taxes from private housing units on federal land. The findings could have implications on similar federal military properties across the country converting to private

read complete story

(CONDO ASSOCIATIONS) Ban Sought On Condo Foreclosure Fees

A bill in the Florida House to bar condominium and homeowners associations from collecting extra late fees and collection costs from banks could have a considerable ripple effect on such groups if adopted into law.

read complete story

(PROPERTY TAKING) State Girds For Eminent Domain Battle

Lawmakers and advocates on both sides of the issue are crossing Virginia to debate the merits of a property taking constitutional amendment up for a vote in 2012. The amendment would make it more difficult to take properties by eminent domain

read complete story

(RENTAL INSPECTIONS) Rental Housing Inspections Nixed

North Carolina state lawmakers, led by a Republican majority, ban local routine inspections of rental housing units. Only a reasonable cause to believe that unsafe or unsanitary conditions exist can trigger a local inspection

read complete story

(FLORIDA REAL ESTATE INVESTING) Foreign Investors Crave Florida Real Estate

International investors viewed 4 million properties per month on Trulia in Q1 2011. Reportedly, foreign buyers purchased $41 billion worth of residential property in the U.S. last year. Six out of the top 10 U.S. cities that were most

read complete story