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PROPERTY TAX PORTABILITY

Members of the governor's Property Tax Reform Committee met for
the first time Tuesday. "Is there a way to balance the intent of Save
Our Homes with what's happening to new Florida homeowners or
those who would like to move?" asks Realtor Cynthia Shelton, a
member of the group. "We've got to consider the potential
consequences."


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COMMERCIAL INSURANCE

Gov. Jeb Bush's Cabinet yesterday created a state-backed commercial
reinsurer in Florida, which it hopes will stimulate the private insurance
market to offer more business coverage in the state. A July survey
indicated that 49 percent of Florida businesses cannot afford property
insurance and 17 percent have no coverage at all.


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HURRICANE INSPECTIONS

Florida homeowners flocked to a new state program Tuesday that offers
free hurricane-preparedness inspections and grants to help cover the cost
of improvements. More than 3,500 people applied online
(http://www.mysafefloridahome.com) within hours.


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BUILDERS INSURANCE

The state's insurer of last resort covered buildings under construction,
dropped the coverage, and agreed to cover it again -- but it will come
at a cost. Citizens Property Insurance Corp. says a rate hike on wind-
only coverage will increase an average of 150.6 percent statewide.


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HOUSING MARKET

New home starts fell 2.5 percent in July -- the fifth decline in the past
six months, according to the U.S. Commerce Department's latest report.
Meanwhile, NAR reported that appreciation in existing single-family
home prices cooled to single digit rates in most metro areas during
second quarter 2006.



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