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No state has yet eliminated property taxes and in Florida they are the biggest source of dollars for 51 of 67 counties and almost half of the state’s 411 cities.With Florida lawmakers now in overtime trying to settle a state budget, the prime source of financing for many cities and counties could soon be headed for the chopping block.In whatever budget deal is decided by the Legislature, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants included some kind of commitment to rolling back property taxes – now or through a ballot question put before...

Dave Williams  |  Capitol Beat News ServiceReal estate investor headed to prison in Atlanta fraud schemeBy Dave WilliamsBureau ChiefCapitol Beat News ServiceATLANTA - The head of a commercial real estate investment firm has been sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay $45 million in restitution in a fraud scheme involving the Atlanta Financial Center in Buckhead.Elchonon (Elie) Schwartz, 46, of New York City pleaded guilty in February to one count of wire fraud. Schwartz convinced more than 800 investors to send him $62.8 million, including $54 million...

'This is a total dog and pony show. This is not anything that’s credible,' DeSantis said.House Speaker Danny Perez delivers a stunning rebuke to DeSantisThe Florida Legislature nixed the governor's special session and created their own, solely focused on immigration.Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the House's late-session push for property tax cuts as ineffective.House Speaker Daniel Perez prefers sales tax cuts and formed a 37-member committee to explore property tax cut options, a move DeSantis called a "dog and pony show."The House’s push for property tax cuts will be ineffective,...

Mortgage preapproval first-time homebuyersIf you’re a first-time homebuyer, here’s how to get a mortgage preapproved.Starting earlier this month, any property listing that was publicly marketed to consumers but not listed on the local MLS within one business day no longer appears on Zillow.This step is in line with the National Association of Realtors' Clear Cooperation Policy, which aims to prevent exclusive real estate listings and increase fairness among buyers.Corrections & Clarifications: The headline on an earlier version of this story gave the wrong timing. The listing changes will happen later...

Analysis of the S&P 500, Dow Jones industrial average and Nasdaq during Donald Trump's second term in office and how it compares to the first terms of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.One hundred and one days into Donald Trump's second presidency, investors aren't as sure as they were about the short-term outlook for America's businesses as they were when he took the oath of office.In the weeks between Trump's election and inauguration, the Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 rose more than 4%, as investors expected more pro-business...

Tyler Shepherd  |  ContributorMore and more Americans are turning to self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs) as economic volatility and inflation fears challenge traditional retirement strategies. Unlike standard IRAs—where investors are largely limited to stocks, mutual funds, and bonds—SDIRAs allow for a broader range of assets, including real estate, private loans, and even cryptocurrencies. This shift is part of a larger trend toward portfolio diversification and hands-on control over retirement savings. Breaking Away from Market Volatility  The appeal of SDIRAs often lies in their potential to shield portfolios from the ups and downs of the...

'The governor has not yet come forward with any specific answers,' House Speaker Perez said. 'If the House wanted to get this done, they would have,' a DeSantis spokesman shot back.House Speaker Danny Perez delivers a stunning rebuke to DeSantisThe Florida Legislature nixed the governor's special session and created their own, solely focused on immigration.Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez announced a select committee to review property tax cut proposals.The move follows disagreements with Governor DeSantis on property tax cuts and other issues.The committee will consider various options, including raising homestead...

Fast-growing fruit trees for your backyard harvestHere are five fast-growing fruit trees you can plant in your backyard for a quicker harvest.unbranded - LifestyleRates for home loans remained high as consumer and investor confidence take a hit amid the White House's tariff rollout.In the week ending April 24, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.81%, Freddie Mac announced. That’s down fractionally from 6.83% last week, which saw the biggest one-week jump since last August.Those figures don’t include fees or points, and rates in some parts of the country may be higher or lower than the...

House and Senate budget and tax cut negotiators are running out of time to reach a deal and end the legislative session on time.Local cheerleaders with Special Olympics show their skills at CapitolSpecial Olympics athletes demonstrate their cheerleading skills during Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run and ceremony at Capitol courtyard.The House and Senate disagree on tax cut plans, with differing approaches and overall amounts.The legislative session's deadline is approaching, with budget and tax cut negotiations still ongoing.One of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ main gripes with the House in his ongoing feud...