News

Physicians joining referral list
January 2001 - St. Petersburg Times
Subscribers to Angie's List, an 18-month old Clearwater consumer referral service, routinely call for recommendations for decent plumbers, painters and car mechanics in the Tampa Bay area. Now physicians are being added to the mix.

New year brings a few breaks for Florida taxpayers
January 2001 - Associated Press
Rich folks, farmers, rocket scientists and movie moguls will be able to breathe a little easier as New Year's Day ushers in several new tax breaks in Florida.

Lenders pressing for inflated values
November 2000 - Washington Report
Appraisers say: "Inflated appraisals could hurt consumers if economy dips"

What to do when you don't love (or like) your neighbor
November 2000 - Knight Ridder News Service
Just about everyone has neighbor problems now and then, but few reach the heights scaled by two next-door neighbors.

Inspection (does not equal) -- assurance
November 04, 2000 - St. Petersburg Times
Home buyers who get FHA-backed loans might think they can rely on a government-approved appraiser to tell them if the home has structural problems, but the only way to know that is to hire a home inspector. Experts suggest all buyers get a home inspection.

Do your homework: Check out area schools
October 29, 2000 - Miami Herald
When Charlene Lakhdar and her family moved to Broward County 11 years ago, her first concern was searching for the best school for her two children, then in preschool and second grade.

Landscape architect can help you find a lot with proper drainage
October 22, 2000 - Miami Herald
Though landscape architects are generally regarded as "plant people", their training includes soils engineering and building design.

Dream home becomes nightmare
October 22, 2000 - St. Petersburg Times
Their new home had $70,000 in problems. Now they are taking the builder to court.

Selling Storm Safety
October 21, 2000 - St. Petersburg Times
Builders construct models of hurricane-resistant "fortified homes," but will buyers find them attractive and affordable?

Design carrots added to fortified homes' defensive stick
October 21, 2000 - St. Petersburg Times
The fortified homes in the Contractors & Builders Association's Gallery of New Homes offer refreshing new elements inside and out.

Islands of Luxury
October 18, 2000 - Orlando Sentinel
Master-planned communities use tax-free bonds to enhance their exclusivity, privacy and amenities. The general public often isn't welcome.

Country lawyer helps build new city
October 17, 2000 - Orlando Sentinel
Randall Thornton is rarely conflicted about working for county government and a developer's government.

Players in the Shadows, People in the Dark
October 16, 2000 - Orlando Sentinel
Gary L. Moyer, 51, has built a kingdom managing community development districts. Florida's 116 districts are just scattered dots on a map. But at least 92 small government offices are tied to a common hub: Moyer's districts-management offices in Coral Springs. This building is tucked away in a water and sewer plant at the end of a tree-lined residential side street. The only clue guiding visitors from the main road is a small sign. The unmarked building offers no sign that government offices and public records are inside.

It takes a village to raise a fortune
October 15, 2000 - Orlando Sentinel
It was a deal scripted in a developer's dream and carved right out of the Central Florida dirt: A government board agreed to pay a private developer at least $84 million for a collection of land and buildings valued at just a tenth of that amount by county property appraisers.

Swimming Pool Safety Act
October 1, 2000
During the 2000 session, the Florida Legislature passed SB 86, which created residential swimming pool safety installation requirements. The new law should not change current local processes. What changed is that new safety requirements must be installed in pool construction and, those new requirements went into effect on October 1, 2000.

Moving Company Troubles
September 2000
Moving companies bidding on your move within a state, or from state-to-state will provide you an impressive estimate form with a price to move your goods. Unless that form gives a binding estimate, a moving company can charge you any price before delivering your stuff to the new place. A caller to the Clark Howard Consumer Action Radio Show was quoted $6,000 for a move from New York to Florida, but the moving company held his possessions hostage unless he paid $10,000!

Tornado Safe Rooms
September 2000
It is difficult and expensive to build a house that will survive the effects of high winds and flying debris. However, it is relatively easy and inexpensive to build one of these small reinforced rooms that have proven to be very effective tornado shelters.

Last Updated: March 01, 2005 10:42 PM