| Energy, housing, taxes lead local legislators' agenda
BRADENTON - Renewable energy, affordable housing for Floridians and finding a fair and equitable way to tax are the top issues local legislators plan to tackle in the legislative session that begins next week. And yes, property insurance will certainly be in the mix, too. Legislators laid out their plans for the session and fielded questions Tuesday from audience members at a Legislative Delegation luncheon sponsored by the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce. State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, said he'd like to see a Renewable Energy Research Institute established in the area, "so we can look at ways to become independent of foreign oil and have a cleaner environment." Bennett said he also planned to find ways to give workers affordable housing options, something that has been sorely lacking in the Manatee and Sarasota area.
Finance Express Adds Flagship Credit
Web-based financial services provider Finance Express LLC has signed indirect lender Flagship Credit Corp. to its auto finance system, according to a company statement. Flagship Credit is a national, near-prime lender based in Chadds Ford, Pa. Finance Expresss, based in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., targets independent dealers and provides services that include credit application processing, credit bureau access, e-contracting, accounting integration, escrow services, and online access to lenders. Flagship Credit purchases retail installment contracts from dealers financing new and late-model used vehicles. Click on "Read More" below for the full article by PRNewswire. .
First Release Homes
Announcing the launch of FirstReleaseHomes.com. FirstReleaseHomes.com provides homebuilders and buyers with the nation's premier new home resource for easily locating, tracking and purchasing new homes and condominiums the moment they are released for sale -- guaranteeing success or you builders don't pay. .
Builder to help clean up Coast's mess
A Cape Coral homebuilder is planning to step in and complete some of the hundreds of homes that were left unfinished in the wake of the Construction Compliance Inc. and Coast Bank loan debacle. Tom Gillespie, owner of Enchanted Homes, said Monday he is ready to start work on about 70 homes in the North Port area that were not completed after St. Petersburg-based CCI announced in January it had run into financial trouble and couldn't finish building. In all, 482 borrowers of Bradenton-based Coast Bank were left in limbo after CCI's announcement. The bank determined about half of those homes amounted to empty lots at the time CCI ran into trouble. "I talked to Coast and Coast wants to help them (investors) out any way they can," Gillespie said. "I think they're taking the steps to do whatever they can do to help these investors finish their projects." Tramm Hudson, a Coast Bank adviser and spokesman, confirmed that Enchanted Homes was working with some of the borrowers, but didn't know how many homes the company planned to complete.
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