Florida Real Estate

2009-10-16T18:57:00.001-05:00

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2009-10-09T15:59:00.001-05:00

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Florida Homestead Exemption-New 2008 property tax Reforms:

2009-03-01T18:52:00.001-05:00

New 2008 property tax Reforms:
In a January 2008 ballot measure, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that introduced several changes to our state's property tax system. The four changes may affect the amount of tax you owe:
Increased Homestead Exemption: If you're currently receiving a $25,000 homestead exemption on your property taxes, you will automatically be upgraded to a $50,000 exemption this year. If you are a homeowner and do not currently receive the exemption, you may file your application in person along with a $15 late fee, through mid-September.
Save Our Homes Portability Cap: You may now trasfer up to $500,000 of your property tax cap to a new home when you move. To take advantage of this benefit, you must file a Homestead Exemption and Portability Application.

Tangible Personal Property Tax Exemption: If you're required to file a Tangible Personal Property Tax Return, you're entitled to a $25,000 exemption on business equipment.
Non-Homestead Cap: Beginning next year, those properties not eligible for a homestead exemption may apply to receive a 10% cap on property tax increases.

Homestead Exemption Overview:
FILING PERIOD JANUARY 1 – MARCH 1
Florida law requires that application be made by March 1st to be eligible for the $25,000 Homestead Exemption. Only new applicants or those who had a change of residence need apply. Automatic renewals are mailed in January each year.

In Florida, $25,000 of the assessed value of your home is exempt from real estate taxes, but you have to meet certain criteria to be eligible for the exemption. First you much have the title or record to your property as of January 1, and reside on the property. You have to be a legal and permanent resident of Florida as of January 1. When applying for the exemption status, bring along a copy of your deed or tax bill, and a Florida county voters registration or Declaration of Domicile. If you drive, you must also bring your Florida driver's license and automobile registration. New applications must be submitted in person at the appraiser's office, but renewals may be done by mail. For further information, consult the County Property Appraiser's Office.

Real Estate Taxes

All residents are subject to county taxes, but each city or special district levies taxes within its boundaries. City, special-district, and county taxes are combined in one tax bill. Real estate taxes are assessed as of January 1 each year. They are due and payable on November 1 and become delinquent if not paid before April 1 of the following year. Florida law holds the taxpayer responsible for receiving and paying tax bills in full. For additional information contact the County Property Appraiser's Office.

Establishing Residency

To establish residency, you may register to vote or file a Declaration of Domicile, which is an affidavit available at the CountyCourthouse. Filing one copy with the Circuit Court provides a record of your intention to make Florida your home. Simply moving to the State does not guarantee legal residency. For more information contact the County's Clerk of Circuit Court.

What is Homestead Exemption?
Florida Law entitles every person, who has legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains it as his/her permanent residence, to apply for a $25,000 homestead property tax exemption. A partial exemption may apply if the ownership of the applicant is less than 100%.

Am I eligible to file?
You must meet the following requirements as of January 1st:

Have legal or beneficial title to the property, recorded in the Official Records of County
Residency on the property
Be a permanent resident of the State of Florida
Be a United States citizen or possess a Permanent Residence Card (green card)

When do I file?
The deadline to file an application for exemption is March 1st. Under Florida law, failure to file for any exemption by March 1st constitutes a waiver of the exemption privilege for the year.
Regular filing is January 2nd - March 1st.
Pre-filing for the coming year is March 2nd - December 31st.

How do I file?
Take copies of the required documentation to your Exemption Department:Generally at the County or City Court House

Miami and Dade County Cost of Living.

2008-05-24T09:40:00.000-05:00

Miami and Dade County Cost of Living.

The cost of living index is based on the composite price of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, clothing and entertainment.

Cost of living indexes will generally be higher in areas that offer access to beaches, culture, arts and recreation. In addition areas, that offer a wider variety of services such as health and education will run higher due to higher wages, and increased quality of living.

Cost of living indexing explanation
A figure of 100 points is used as an average both for the USA and Florida. For example:
Boise Idaho is ranked at a 99
Boston Mass is rated at 240
San Francisco at 217
Statewide, Florida cities come in from a low of 90 and up.
One way to compare Florida areas to salary requirements
For example-If you were relocating from Portland Oregon (whose rate 1s 120) to Orlando, and you currently make $50,000 per year, the formula is as follows
Take the destination index, in this case Orlando-104.2 and divide by Portland’s index-120, then multiply by a salary of $50,000. This will give you a figure of $43,416.00 which would be required to make in Orlando to have the same quality of life.
See comparable Florida statewide
* Re cost of living--in some areas Real Estate has went up dramatically however costs that factor in such as food, transportation, rents etc have not increased at the same rate-so in some areas, even though housing is expensive, the overall rating may still be low
2006 Fourth quarter stats per ACCRA and Council for Community Economic Research

Bradenton-100.6
Cape Coral-Ft Myers-108.0
Ft Lauderdale-117.0
Fort Walton-Destin-97.3
Jacksonville metro-96.3
Miami metro-115.0
Orlando metro-104.2
Palm Coast-Flagler-98.5
Panama City-96.6
Pensacola metro-96.0
Sarasota-107.0
Tampa 98.5
St Pete-Clearwater-99.9
Vero-Beach Indian River-103.4
West Palm Beach metro-117.5
(Population Weighted-State Average=100
See national comparisons
Cost of living (100 = nationwide average)

(Population Weighted-State Average=100
See national comparisons
Cost of living (100 = nationwide average)

* New York, NY 364
* Long Beach, NY 340
* Palo Alto, CA 268
* Menlo Park, CA 265
* Los Altos, CA 261
* Saratoga, CA 261
* Boston, MA 240
* Malibu, CA 233
* San Francisco, 217
* Greenwich, CT 215
* Cambridge, MA 211
* Santa Monica, CA 197
* Keystone, CO 194
* San Rafael, CA 192
* Weston, CT 192
* Darien, CT 192
* Wellesley, MA 192
* Fort Lee, NJ 189
* Arlington, VA 184
* Honolulu, HI 184
* Washington, DC 181
* Princeton, NJ 180
* Vail, CO 178
* Chicago, IL 166
* Sunnyvale, CA 164
* San Mateo, CA 163
* Marathon, FL 161
* Ridgewood, NJ 159
* Mystic, CT 159

For more information about cost of living go to Accra's site at http://www.coli.org/

The cost of living index places Miami at 116.2 as of the 4th quarter 2005

Although statewide it’s ranked higher, consider that it is a major metropolitan area with all the needed services. In that context it compares favorably.
http://www.eflorida.com/profiles/CountyReport.asp?CountyID=37&Display=all

For more information about cost of living stats go to http://www.coli.org

Housing. Minimum two bedroom single family homes in Miami/Dade County.
As of August 2005 the median price is $356,900.

Utilities. water and sewer go to
http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/wasd/

For electric and gas go to

Florida Power & Light Co 305 552-3552 9250 W Flagler St
Miami, FL 33174
http://www.fpl.com

People 'n' Gas: 954-763-8900

In conclusion, given Florida’s climate and Job opportunities and the outdoor recreation prospects, Miami can really make sense.

Imagine the advantages of a subtropical resort next to a major metropolitan area.

Imagine beaches located few minutes from major business, shopping and cultural centers.

In Miami you can have your cake and eat it too—why not extend the vacation and make it part of your life.
Why not live in a vacation spot?

Miami and Dade County Employment

2008-05-24T09:34:00.000-05:00

Miami and Dade County Employment
One of the best things about Miami and Dade county is the abundance of career opportunities. From small business to Fortune 500 companies, to multinationals, Miami has it all.

So whether you're an entrepreneur or a corporate executive, Miami could have just the right position for you.

*Since there is no state or local income tax, you take home more.

That combined with a low cost of living means a better lifestyle.

Some Miami statistics:
As of February 2005 per the US Department of labor in Miami:

Number of workers-982,000

Median hourly wage $12.89 to $17.13

Entry $7.78 per hour

Experienced $22.36 average per hour

Annual wage $35,630

For specific figures by occupation go to
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_5000.htm
http://www.labormarketinfo.com/library/oes.htm

The areas top 5 employers as of late 2003 per the Miami Chamber of commerce http://www.greatermiami.com/live_work_play/factsheet.asp

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S TOP 5 EMPLOYERS

Miami-Dade County Pubic School 54,387

Miami-Dade County 32,265

Federal Government 20,100

Florida State Government 18,900

Jackson Health System 11,700

MIAMI-TOP 5 EMPLOYERS
Private Sector Company Name Employment

Baptist Health South Florida 10,300

University of Miami 9,367

American Airlines 9,000

United Parcel Service 5,000

BellSouth 4,800

Additional resources for job and demographic information
Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida (BEBR)

http://www.bebr.ufl.edu/
U.S Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov

Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation – Labor Market Information
http://www.labormarketinfo.com
State jobs http://dms.myflorida.com/

*If you have to work for a living, you might as well be in a great environment.

In conclusion the area is growing rapidly. All facets of industry are up. As more homes are built, the infrastructure has to increase---schools, retail and on an on. So, if you’ need to work, why not make a change in your environment and have a great environment with tons of recreational possibilities.

Remember, just because there’s a palm tree in your back yard doesn’t mean you’ll lose your edge.

Starting a Business in Orlando and Orange County

2008-05-24T09:33:00.000-05:00

Starting a Business in Orlando and Orange County
Starting a Business in Orlando and Orange County
The Orange county area is one of the fastest growing and expanding areas in the country.
With over one million residents, the region is constantly expanding, which means more jobs, incredible opportunities and a great lifestyle.
Whether you’re considering relocating a company or starting a business from scratch, Orange County and it’s neighboring communities have a place for your business.
Employees:
Over 520,000 in the greater Orange County area.
Average Annual Wage (2003)

· All Industries

· $34,623

· Construction

· $38,525

· Education & Health Services

· $35,666

· Financial Activities

· $48,414

· Information

· $48,205

· Leisure & Hospitality

· $21,921

· Manufacturing

· $47,730

· Natural Resources & Mining

· $20,952

· Other Services

· $24,722

· Professional & Business Services

· $40,246

· Public administration

· $41,642

· Trade, Transportation and Utilities

· $33,13
Major industries in Orange county

Construction 5.1%

Education & Health Services 15.0%

Financial Activities 6.5%

Information 2.7%

Leisure & Hospitality 22.2%

Manufacturing 4.6%

Natural Resources & Mining 0.8%

Other Services 2.9% 3.2%

Professional & Business Services 17.3%

Public administration 4.4%

Trade, Transportation and Utilities 18.6%

Source http://www.eflorida.com/profiles/CountyReport.asp?CountyID=54&Display=all
Major Employers (2003)

Walt Disney World

Business Line: Entertainment

Number of Employees...53,500 Orange County Public Schools

Business Line: Education

Number of Employees....22,807

Adventist Health Systems

Business Line: Healthcare

Number of Employees.. 17,059 Universal Orlando

Business Line: Entertainment

Number of Employees....14,500

Orlando Regional Healthcare System

Business Line: Healthcare

Number of Employees... 12,000 Orange County Government

Business Line: Government

Number of Employees..6,577

The market and potential:

Total Population Orange County area 990,000 (2003 per census bureau)

Population Forecast (2010) 1,166,000

Median Age 42

Median Household Income $35,7320

Business Assistance:

A message from the Orlando economic development council:
The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) is an organization that helps business. We are dedicated to meeting the needs of today's industries and creating a competitive economic climate where businesses can thrive. To meet this goal, the EDC provides key services and support, which range from relocation and expansion expertise to export counsel to long-term planning with our community partners.

Our charge is basically two-fold. To attract new business investment, we market the Orlando region worldwide as a top location for business. In addition, we work with local companies to assist them with expansion plans and other business concerns.See their Web site at: http://www.orlandoedc.com/About%20the%20EDC/

Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) State Program
EFI is a partnership between Florida's government and business leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the State of Florida. The mission of EFI is to increase economic opportunities for all Floridians, through the creation of quality jobs and the active support of strong and growing businesses. It pursues this mission in cooperation with its statewide network of economic development partners. The primary focus of EFI includes: labor training, venture capital and technology development.
Enterprise Florida, Inc. 390 N. Orange Ave., Suite 1300
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 316-4600
Web site: http://www.eflorida.com

Florida Tax Incentives: Advantageous Tax structure both state and local
Florida has no personal income tax, no gift tax, no inheritance or inventory tax and no corporate franchise or property tax. Florida also offers a homestead exemption, a $25,000 tax deduction from real Estate value and sales tax exemptions, including a 12 month exemption on qualified manufacturing equipment, motion pictures, television, recording activities, launch vehicles, fuels and payloads.

More on Incentives/Taxation
Some of the more significant advantages to living and establishing businesses in Florida, with respect to taxes are:

No state income tax

No corporate income tax on sub-chapter S corporations

First $5000 of taxable income apportioned to Florida is exempt

No state property tax on inventory or equipment

No business inventory tax

No corporate franchise tax on capital stock

No corporate tax on limited partnerships, individuals, Estates and private trusts

No collected or assessed state property tax

No sales tax on "boiler fuels" used at a fixed Florida location in an industrial manufacturing, processing or compounding process

No sales and use tax on goods manufactured or produced in Florida for resale or export outside Florida

Corporation accounts receivable (one third) exempt from intangible property tax

Exemption of employee stock options from employer

No property tax on goods-in-transit for up to 180 days

While these are in themselves incentives, the following are additional incentives offered by the State and local government working together to provide you with an environment conducive to your success.

Ad Valorem Tax Exemption (real and personal property) is offered by the local government and is based on the financial impact projected on the County (number of employees, capital expenditure, etc.).

Sales and Use Tax Exemption

Silicon technology-based industry transactions involving manufacturing or research equipment

Purchases of machinery and equipment used by a new or expanding Florida business to manufacture, produce or process tangible personal property for sale

Labor, parts and materials used in repair of and incorporated into machinery and equipment that qualify for sales tax exemption upon purchase (phased in over four years, 25% exempt on July 1, 1999)

Electricity used in the manufacturing process (phased in over five years, 80% exempt on July 1, 1999)

Aircraft parts, modification, maintenance and repair, sale or lease of qualified aircraft

Commercial space activity - launch vehicles, payloads and fuel, machinery and equipment for production of items used exclusively at Spaceport Florida

Labor component of research and development expenditures---------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary of Florida's Tax Incentive

Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Programs
This program provides an inducement for target industry to locate new facilities in Florida or to expand existing facilities in Florida. The program provides tax refunds of $3,000 per new job created. The incentive is increased to $6,000 per job if the company locates in a rural county or an Enterprise Zone. Higher awards are available to companies paying very high wages. To qualify for the “QTI” program, a company must create at least 10 new jobs (or a 10% increase for expanding Florida companies), pay an average of at least 115% of area wages, have a significant positive impact on the community and have local support.

Quick Response Training Program
The Quick Response Training Program provides grant funding for customized training to new or expanding businesses. The program is flexible and structured to respond quickly to meet business training objectives. A local training provider – community college, area technical center or university – is selected and available to assist in the application process and program development or delivery. If the business has a training program in place, a state training provider will supervise and manage the training program and serve as the fiscal agent for the grant funds. Reimbursable textbooks/manuals, materials/supplies and training equipment.

Economic Development Transportation Fund
This grant program provides up to $2 million to local governments for the construction or improvement of transportation infrastructure needed to accommodate new or expanding industry.

Expedited Permitting Assistance
State and local permit streamlining procedures are available to assist businesses in obtaining necessary permits and approvals in a quick, efficient and predictable manner.

Specialized Incentives
Your project may qualify for opportunities such as urban or rural tax credits, and incentives for brownsfields and enterprise zones.
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Local Property Tax Incentive
New and expanding businesses can be granted an exemption from property taxes on improvements to real property and for tangible personal property. In order for a company to be eligible for this incentive, it must first meet the definitions of a new or expanding business as defined below:

New Business:
A manufacturer which establishes ten or more full-time jobs.

A business with more than 50% of its sales outside the State of Florida which establishes 25 or more jobs.

Office space of a new Florida corporation housing 50 or more full-time employees of the corporation. The above are applicable if the business is on a site clearly separate from any other facility owned by the same business.

Any business located in a slum or blighted area as defined by Section 163.355, Florida Statutes.

Expanding Business:

A manufacturer that adds a minimum of ten new employees and increases employment by 10% or increases productive output by a minimum of 10%.

A business with more than 50% of its sales outside the State that adds a minimum of 25 new employees and increases employment by 10% or increases productive output by a minimum of 10%.

The expansion must be on the same or a co-located site of the business’ current operations.

If a business meets one of the above definitions as a new or expanding business, it may then file an application for the Economic Development Property Tax Exemption with the local County Commissioners or the appropriate municipality or both. After the city or county commission receives this application, it must submit the application to the county property appraiser for review. After the property appraiser makes the report as to the fiscal impact of granting the exemption, the county or city commission shall then adopt an ordinance in the usual manner-granting the exemption.

A business cannot receive exemption from school taxes or water management district taxes. Also, a business must pay taxes that were approved by the voters of a city or county to pay for bond issues and other special tax levies authorized by the voters of a city or county.

The exemption can only be for the improvements to the real property and for tangible personal property. The land on which the new or expanding business is to be located will still be taxed.

The State offers programs such as the Qualified Target Industry (QTI) Tax Refund Program (tax refund), a Sales Tax Exemption on Electricity and Steam (exemption), a High Impact Performance Incentive (grant) and more.

Tax Information: State

Corporate Income Tax 5.5%

Personal Income Tax 0.0%

Retail Sales Tax 6.0%

Intangible Tax (per $1,000) $1 - $1.50

Groceries and medicine exempt from retail sales tax

Small Business Assistance
Below are nine resources proven helpful to start up and maintain a succesful small business!

Small Business Administration - www.sba.gov

Small Business Development Center - www.fausbdc.com

US Chamber of Commerce Small Business Center - www.uschamber.com/sb

(The US Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Center is a one-stop shop for small businesses, containing everything from practical business advice to the latest small business news from Washington, D.C.)

Florida Small Business - www.floridasmallbusiness.com

Enterprise Florida - www.eflorida.com

The Florida Venture Forum - www.flvencap.org

SCORE Counselors to America's Small Business - www.score-chapter412.org

Odeon Group (Small Business Administration Intermediary) - 305 681-9600

Micro Business USA - 305 438-1407

First Florida Capital - (888) 320-5504

Below is a great site explaining why you should be in business in Florida.
http://eflorida.com/aboutthissite/sitemap/default.asp?tn=1

Orlando and Orange County Weather

2008-05-24T09:21:00.000-05:00

Orlando and Orange County Weather
Orange County’s mild climate, lets you enjoy outdoor recreational opportunities year round. Winter, spring and fall are filled with lots of sunshine.

The hottest month is July and August, with an average high of 92° F and an average low of 73° F. In January the average high temperature is 70° F and the average low is 48° F.
Normal annual precipitation is 53 inches, with the largest monthly totals accumulating from July through September.

Orange county Temperature Annual high average

Month Air

January 70.8

February 72.7

March 78.0

April 83.0

May 87,8

June 90.5

July 91.5

August 91.5

September 89.7

October 84.6

November 78.5

December 72.9

*To compare Orange County weather with other major USA cities go here http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762183.html

Other Weather Indicators Annual

Average Wind Speed 8.5

Clear Days 89

Partly Cloudy Days 147

Cloudy Days 130

Avg. Relative Humidity 74.0. To see stats by the month, go to

For hurricane information go to the FEMA site at http://www.fema.gov/hazards/hurricanes/

For current information about hurricanes go to http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

For 2005 climate info by areas go to http://www.coaps.fsu.edu/climate_center/LCD/2005LCD.html

For current weather forecasts by cities go to http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/fl/fl.html

*Although it looks like we have lots of cloudy days, the sun is out almost year round and the clouds are partial-not like in the Northwest (where I’m from) and it will stay overcast and dark for weeks on end.

*Although we do get rain here-it is a tropical rain and comes and goes quickly and acts as a refresher to the hot days.

To see average January temperatures across the United States go to http://www.mapsofworld.com/usa/thematic-maps/usa-temprature-january.html
Compare where you live or want to live in Florida. For more specific info, look at the area you are interested in and go to the weather page.

So what about Hurricanes, the rainy season and humidity?
We are a tropical climate, so our rainy season comes in the summer. Generally it will rain hard for a half hour then subside. It does get humid then. Although not as bad as you’d think. Our water breezes really help cool us off.
Hurricanes.
Despite four devastating hurricanes in 2004, the number of Florida visitors rose 7% to an all-time high of 79.8 million last year and is on target to hit 80 million this year.
To think on:
If you live on the coast you stand the greatest chance of having one affect you. Some areas of Florida have gone fifty years plus without one but you never know.
As a resident having lived in the Keys and now in central Florida I’ve been through them.

In my opinion, the best thing you can do is buy a home that was built after Andrew-August 92 that was built to stricter building codes. Have window protection and a backup generator and make sure your insurance is up to date. If they ask you to leave, do it!

Realize-If you live in an older home that was not built up to the stricter building codes (After Hurricane Andrew-August 1992) or you live in a mobile home you stand the best chance of having major structural damage.

Living on the beach in a mobile home is asking for it. Although, you may never have a problem, you’re still definitely taking your chances. Barrier islands and open-water Ocean or Gulf front are the most prone to damage.
Having lived in California, I prefer the threat of a hurricane however as opposed to an earthquake. At least you have a warning.

For current information about hurricanes go to http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

For 2005 climate info by areas go to http://www.coaps.fsu.edu/climate_center/LCD/2005LCD.html

For current weather forecasts by cities go to http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/fl/fl.html

*Living in a waterfront home typically means that you will pay a higher Insurance premium. The insurance is higher due to flood and wind concerns.
Part of this is also because the pricing on these homes is higher so there is more value to insure against.

Having said all this, I can’t imagine living elsewhere. It is really great to wake up and it’s sunny out.
We spend over half our lives indoors, so when you do go outside, wouldn’t it be nice if it was warm and sunny?

What if you went on vacation and never went back? Sound crazy?

We spend half our lives indoors—why not spend the rest of the time in the sun? You can live in Paradise

Relocating to melbourne florida is a great choice

2007-07-02T11:51:00.000-05:00

Historically, the place that gives this entire area its “name” is Melbourne, the oldest and best-known community on what Floridians call the “Space Coast”. Melbourne is right in the center of a long north-south corridor – coastal Brevard County – that is sandwiched between the St. Johns River Basin to the West and the Atlantic Ocean.
It stretches from Palm Bay and other smaller communities in the south through Melbourne, West Melbourne, and Melbourne Village in central Brevard to Viera, Cocoa and Titusville in the north. And it includes a half dozen beach communities on one long, fabulous barrier island stretching from Sebastian Inlet to Cape Canaveral.
The location makes anywhere in the state very accessible. Even remote Key West is just a 5 or 6 hour drive. As to Outdoor and recreational opportunities, in my opinion it’s one of the best places in Florida. The beaches are not jammed, there is plenty of access and it’s not wall to wall development.

The location makes anywhere in the state very accessible. Orlando is just an hour away and even remote Key West is just a 5 or 6 hour drive. As to Outdoor and recreational opportunities, in my opinion it’s one of the best places in Florida. The beaches are not jammed, there is plenty of access and it’s not wall to wall development.

New Florida Insurance proposals

2007-01-25T10:10:00.000-05:00

Lawmakers wrangle more Citizens rate relief

TALLAHASSEE – Jan. 22, 2007 – Lawmakers turned their attention to Citizens Property Insurance Corp. on Sunday, wringing some additional rate relief for customers in the state pool after reaching a broader agreement over the weekend to roll back private homeowners’ insurance rates.
A House-Senate compromise bill goes to the full Legislature today, the last day of the special session tackling runaway rates. It then goes to Gov. Charlie Crist, who on Sunday expressed optimism but didn’t tip his hand as to whether he intended to sign or veto the bill.

A breakthrough in negotiations late Saturday brought a deal indicating that Floridians can expect to pay roughly 25 percent less on their insurance bills beginning this summer, although the amount could vary widely depending on location and which company provides the coverage. A cross-section of sample companies that the state Office of Insurance Regulation tested with provisions of the new legislation reported that rates would fall anywhere from single digits to more than 30 percent.

When it appeared Sunday that Citizens’ customers wouldn’t do as well, lawmakers went back at the legislation and tweaked the bill to provide a rollback of about 20 percent for those in the state pool.
“We’ve delivered very, very substantial rate relief – higher rate relief than any of us thought possible a month ago,” said state Sen. Steven Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, an architect of the Senate bill.Late-night and weekend arm-twisting settled a key provision of the bill – expanding the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to provide more and cheaper state-backed reinsurance. The cost of reinsurance in the private markets had been identified as a key driver in Florida’s soaring rates.Lawmakers were clearly pleased with the outcome of the special session.

Things to consider in buying a waterfront vacation home

2007-01-04T14:49:00.000-05:00

Things to consider when buying any waterfront vacation home.

Is there a view?
Views really do matter. An unobstructed Ocean view adds as much as 60% to the value of a home per the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. Proximity to Golf courses or a park can add as much as 20% to a homes value. This is per an article by a much published author named Soren Anderson, a writer from Manchester College.

Consider the recreational activities…
The What and the When.
For example in a Ski resort area, your options are limited due to weather considerations and the total amount of activities available is definitely less.
*In the Keys and in most Florida Gulf or Atlantic communities, about the only thing you cannot do year round are mountain climbing and white water rafting.

Nearby Medical and shopping options
These are very important considerations. If there is an accident, how far away is a hospital?

If you need groceries or restaurants, what is nearby?
Oftentimes vacation properties can be secluded and don’t offer easy access to the above. At first being remote can seem as desirable, but in the end it can grow old quickly.
This also affects home values by the way. If you can have the vacation feel and recreation, yet have amenities nearby, the prices go up.

How much room do you need?
If you own a home with nearby recreation and sightseeing, expect people to come out of the woodwork. Everyone will be your friend. Larger homes, with more bedrooms, a 3/2 and up always rent better. So if you can, get a home with extra space.

Type of Construction or is it built to last.
The age of the home will determine the building code that it was built to. In the Keys newer homes have to be built to strict specs as to wind handling characteristics.
Also, look for low maintenance homes.
SDome homes in the waterfront areas are made of concrete block and have pea-rock for yards and the outside is stucco over concrete or frame. This means lower maintenance, which is very important for an absentee owner.

Finding renters
Does the home have good rental potential and is there local rental management available?
This is a very important consideration, both for long term and short term vacation rentals.
Remember, even if you don’t want to rent, this can be an important consideration for a future buyer or if your situation changes.

Home maintenance.
Are there nearby electricians, plumbers, appliance stores and general contractors.
If anything does happen, the prices to have things repaired or replaced will be less if there is competition and service people are nearby.
Check with the REALTOR you are talking with to get a Vendor list of who the Real Estate company uses to service their rentals and offices.

Rules and Regulations
Make sure you are clear on and have copies of any deed restrictions or condo docs as to what is allowed and what is not. Too many rules can be appetizing for some but a turnoff for future buyers. For example if you have children who will want to use the property in the future as a college break, lots of communities can prohibit it.

In conclusion, Vacation homes can offer good investment potential from an appreciation aspect and income potential from renters.

Income potential.
As Florida grows (it is on pace to be the 2nd largest state in the USA by 2010) we will have more people looking to vacation here. This will drive prices up and make rental occupancy rates climb even more.

St Augustine

2006-11-09T13:32:00.000-05:00

St, Augustine is a wonderful, quiet residential town located on the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean forty miles south of Jacksonville in an otherwise fairly undeveloped part of St Johns County. It has a population of 14,000 and occupies 8.4 square miles. The San Sebastian and Matanzas Rivers thread through it; three bridges lead to the barrier island beaches. To the west is farm country and the St. Johns river and lake system.
Nearest cities:
St. Augustine’s location may be delightfully small town, but other cities are not far away. For example, Downtown Jacksonville is only about 45 minutes North, Daytona Beach about an hour South, Gainesville about an hour West.
Some smaller towns or sites are nearby:

* Butler Beach, FL (3.3 miles)
* St. Augustine Beach, FL (3.4 miles)
* Crescent Beach, FL (5.0 miles)
* Villano Beach, FL (8.6 miles),
* Marineland, FL (11.9 miles)
* Hastings, FL (15.2 miles)

Business possibilities in the Keys

2006-10-14T09:13:00.000-05:00

NICHE BUSINESS possibilities
The Companies that have anything to do with remodeling, are always in need of help for all phases of the jobs, drywall, painters, tilers, installers etc. If you have skills in these areas, there is opportunity to start your own business and lock in with the builders. The main thing is to be licensed, reliable and do good work. One thing you need to know is that help in these areas is hard to find---since rents are high most workers cannot live on even up to $15.00 per hour---so if you're thinking about a business other than retail that requires lot's of help, tyou may have a problem.

There are also many other areas of opportunity. Remember most people that buy homes here need services--For instance the rental houses all need pest control, yard maintenance, cleaning people and a handy man. Generally what happens is an individual or couple start a lawn business. They then go to all the Real Estate offices etc and promote it plus run ads offering their service. After they get to about 50-75 homes or so they are filled up. At this point they don't accept any more work--what I'm saying is that this is constantly evolving and that small niche business can work very well in the Keys. I can tell you from my own experience if you're reliable, return phone calls and do show up you can do well down here.
SUMMARY: The best way to get a feel for what's happening is for you to come down here.

Marco Island

2006-09-28T15:01:00.000-05:00

Marco Island
A few miles south of Naples lies the unique community of Marco Island, a thoroughly American (and to its critics, charmless) version of Venice, Italy, with a zillion mansions on a zillion canals. The picture is completed with a dense tourist quarter of very high-rise hotels and condos along much of the beach.

But: Marco Island stands at the gateway to the fabled 10,000 Islands fishing and recreation area, the northern gateway to Everglades National Park. And that is what makes Marco unique. (More on that shortly.) This duality is part of what defines Marco Island today.
Marco “on land”
Marco “on land” is a mix of ultra-modern beachside resort hotels and condominium complexes with a lot of seasonal English, German, and wealthy Northeastern visitors, and single-family homes on all those canals, owned partly by full-time retiree residents or Northeastern snowbirds. Apart from the usual resort hotel offerings, Marco basically rolls up its sidewalks at night, but nearby Naples provides an active, upscale social and entertainment venue.
So: boating or golf by day, Naples or stay home at night. All in a place that wears the mantle “paradise” quite comfortably. If you fit the description, and like a relaxed and Palm Beach-like lifestyle, Marco Island is heaven.

In between
As a collection of beautiful places, the Naples-Marco area offers some of the nicest beaches in all of Florida, one of which is Tigertail on Marco Island. My close friend who partly grew up on Marco tells me that you haven’t lived until you’ve gazed at a full moon from this magical spot. In fact the whole western coast of the island, called Crescent Beach, is pretty nice. There’s a good public beach at the southern tip of the island, adjacent to Caxambas Pass, with a jetty straight out of the movie “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”.

You can easily find other landside or land-based water diversions, of course; this is Florida. Resort hotels offer the usual tropical playthings, from SCUBA to windsurfing, and lots of residents (of all ages) partake. It’s an important part of the mix. Tennis is an important part of many residents’ lifestyle, and it’s everywhere. Just off island there are several good golf courses, and golf is big here.

Marco “on the water”
But what really sets this area apart from all of the rest of Florida is its easy access by boat to one of the world’s great Mangrove estuaries, stretching all the way to the remote Shark River in Everglades National Park on Florida’s far southwest coast. There’s fishing, exploring, secret rivers, dolphin, rays, incredible bird life, eagles – you name it. Few places in America can rival this.

With a backcountry boat you can be in some of the remotest waters in North America in ten minutes. South and east of Cape Romano is a whole different world.
This is surprisingly wild country even if you have to stay offshore the very shallow inland waters. (There are deep channels in some places, but captains beware.) With a big yacht you can still cruise, if a bit offshore, the remote mangrove islands that harbor all that backcountry and still be virtually alone. (Why? Because, as we all know, most boats always seem to stay in port. Why is that? If all Marco’s boats went out at once, it would be unfortunate.) And then you swim or fish off your boat in beautiful Gulf waters.

Or – and here is that duality of Marco again – you can cruise north to Naples and enjoy both amazingly wild islands (Little Marco, Keewaydin) along the way and then another version of mansions on the water (Port Royal), not to mention the delights of Naples Bay.

Some Basic Facts
Where
Marco Island is located at the southernmost tip of mainland Florida’s west coast about 100 miles from Miami via the Tamiami Trail highway (US Hwy 1, in the 1930’s a great engineering feat across the Everglades). Marco is the largest inhabited isle of the "Ten Thousand Islands."
Demographics
It has a year-round population just over 15,000 (seasonal 2-3x) and an average median age of 60 (which would be lower if you factored in seasonal visitors, many of whom are future buyers; like many of Florida’s wealthy formerly retirement communities, Marco Island is evolving towards a more eclectic mix).

Character
Basically this is a resort area which attracts tourists looking for the good life and residents who want elegance on a small island lifestyle with all the amenities. Mixed in with both of these are those looking for, and finding, one of the world’s great outdoor adventures.
Beaches
Marco Island includes four miles of beach, and most of the resorts and condominiums are located directly on the beach.
Climate
The climate is (sort of) subtropical with nice breezes from the Gulf of Mexico. It is blessed with spectacular sunsets and Gulf sea breezes. The island’s natural rainfall is fairly sparse; it is actually somewhat dry, and was partially desert before developers and homeowners started watering it extensively – and then, presto, it looked subtropical like the rest of South Florida. Temperatures can be a lot more pleasant than other more humid areas of South Florida

* Average Annual High Temperature: 85F (29 C)
* Average Annual Low 65F (18 C)

Employment
One does not live and work on Marco Island – not often, anyway. The workforce is mostly off-island dayworkers, with some exceptions, who more frequent as you go up the income scale.

Here’s the mix:

* Tourist-related services (21.5%),
* Finance, insurance, real Estate and rental and leasing (17.6%),
* Retail trade (12.1%),
* Educational, health and social services (11.4%),
* Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste management services (10.7%)

[Above info from http://www.city-data.com/city/Marco-Island-Florida.html]

Recreation

* Fishing
* Incredible backcountry fishing among mangrove islands for redfish, snook, tarpon, and sea trout.
* Surf casting for black drum and sheepshead.
* Offshore fishing on reefs for grouper, king mackerel, amberjack and snapper.
* Golf is a major attraction here
* Ecotours and sightseeing
* Historical Sites (Indian and pioneer Florida, mostly off Island)
* Island-type Shopping: Resort boutiques and specialty shops feature everything from bathing suits and designer wear to sandals and sunglasses.
* Dining: Numerous restaurants and eateries renowned for straight-from-the-docks seafood specialties.

Housing

Yes, this is an expensive area, in fact its rated cost of living index is 104.8 or number one in the state. However compared to New York with a CGI of 364 it’s affordable, especially if you’d like to be in an area of soft ocean breezes and palm trees, perhaps with your own boat moored at your back door. And for those who covet this life style, there are wonderful neighborhoods and condominium complexes to choose among.

As of September 2005, the least expensive home was $445,000.

Jacksonville employment

2006-07-23T09:04:00.000-05:00

Jacksonville and Duval County Employment
One of the best things about Jacksonville and Duval county is the abundance of career opportunities.
Whether you're an entrepreneur or a corporate executive, Jacksonville has a position for you. Since there is no state or local income tax, you take home more. That combined with a low cost of living means a better lifestyle.

Some statistics:
• As of may 2004 per the US Department of labor in Jacksonville:
• Number of workers-544,350
• Median hourly wage $13.07 to $16.70
• Entry $7.87 per hour
• Experienced $21.11 average per hour
• Annual wage $34,190

For specific figures by occupation go to http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_3600.htm#b00-0000

http://www.labormarketinfo.com/library/oes.htm

The areas top 20 employers as of late 2003 per the Jacksonville Chamber of commerce http://www.myjaxchamber.com/business_information/jobs.asp#top20
• Naval Air Station Jacksonville U.S. Navy 19,537
• Naval Station Mayport U.S. Navy 15,293
• Duval County Public Schools Public Education 14,962
• Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. Supermarket (Corporate Headquarters) 12,253
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. Health Insurance 9,200
• City of Jacksonville Municipal Government 7,100
• State of Florida State Government 7,056
• Publix Supermarkets, Inc. Regional Supermarket Distribution Center 7,000
• Baptist Health System Healthcare 5,824
• Wal-Mart Stores Retail 5,800
• Bank of America Regional Banking Systems Headquarters 5,500
• CSX Transportation Railroad Corporate Headquarters 5,200
• United Parcel Service Worldwide Parcel Delivery 4,970
• U.S. Postal Service 4,184
• St. Lukes Hospital Hospital 4,106
• Naval Air Depot Maintenance/Repair Overhaul 4,000
• St. Vincent's Health System Healthcare 4,000
• Citibank Credit Care Company 3,800
• Shands Jacksonville Hospital Healthcare 3,700
• Florida Community College of Jacksonville Community College 3,684

Ft Lauderdale employment

2006-06-30T09:52:00.000-05:00

Fort Lauderdale and Broward County Employment
Broward County (metropolitan Fort Lauderdale) has significantly outpaced the national economic growth rate.
One of the best things about Ft Lauderdale and Broward county is the abundance of career opportunities.
Whether you're an entrepreneur or a corporate executive, Ft Lauderdale has a position for you.
Since there is no state or local income tax, you take home more. That combined with a low cost of living means a better lifestyle.
Some statistics:
• As of July 2005 per the State of Florida:
• Number of workers-733,900
• Median hourly wage $13.16 to $17.06
• Annual wage $35,480

For specific figures by occupation go to
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_2680.htm#b00-0000

The areas largest employers
South Florida's large employers are almost entirely service industries. From Supermarkets to Credit Unions, it is the service segment that keeps the area’s residents employed.

SOME OF THE AREAS MAJOR EMPLOYERS:
• Memorial Hospitals 11,500
• Motorola Computers 10,000
• Miami police Dept 7,000
• Jackson Memorial Hospital 6,700
• Baptist Children’s Hospital 5,000
• Florida Atlantic university 5,000
• Pratt and Whitney Aircraft 5,000
• Royal Caribbean travel 5,000
• American Express travel 4,70

Miami Overview

2006-06-11T18:18:00.000-05:00

OVERVIEW MIAMI AND DADE COUNTY

Miami like New York and Chicago is a city that never sleeps. Tropical weather, 15 miles of beaches, lots of sun, great nightlife mixed in with world-class restaurants is attractive to people of all ages.

From downtown Miami and Miami beach to the neighborhoods of Coral Gables and Kendall on to Key Biscayne and then the city of Homestead, Dade county has a place for you. If you like big city life but like the idea of great weather and outdoor recreation, this could be the place. Although more expensive than most of Florida in comparison to New York or San Francisco it’s still a bargain.

Things to consider:
• The Miami metropolitan area (Miami-Dade County, which is governed as one entity) has more than 2.3 million residents.
• Miami-Dade County has 35 Incorporated cities within its boundaries.
• Miami is the financial capital of Latin America and the Caribbean with more than 500 multinational corporations, 40 bi-national chambers of commerce and 100 foreign banks with 60 billion in deposits.
• Miami is a major educational center. Best known are the University of Miami, Florida International University, and Miami-Dade Community College, but there are also dozens of lesser known colleges, trade schools, and other educational institutions
• The average median age is 37, making it one of the youngest cities in Florida..
• Dade County encompasses 2431 square miles
• Miami is surrounded by water and wilderness Its eastern edge borders the Atlantic Ocean. Miami Beach, South Beach, and Key Biscayne offer quintessential water playgrounds, with all the other amenities of fine dining and nightlife clustered nearby
• The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) winds through the downtown (separating it from Miami Beach, South Beach, and Key Biscayne), and heads north to Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and the Palm Beaches; or south to Florida Bay and the Florida Keys. Key West is just a three hour drive away across a zillion bridges connecting a myriad of island dots tossed on blue-green tropical sea, the Atlantic Ocean on one side of you, the Gulf of Mexico on the other. The Keys have been called Miami’s Cape Cod.
• To the West of the metropolitan area is the vast Everglades and Everglades National Park, playgrounds in their own right, and quiet alternatives to the hectic big city. Or drive about an hour and a half across this wilderness and you are at Marco Island-Naples on the Gulf of Mexico.
• Miami’s cost of living is 102.6 as of 2004 and was 6th in the State
• As of June 2005, an average home was $361,000; but the range is wide, with opportunities for people of all means.
• Miam-Dade County is the 4th largest school district in the United States.
• Miami has a vibrant arts community, whether your interests run to art, dance, theater, music, and more. These scenese are informed, influenced, and benefit from Miami’s rich diversity of population and location at the crossroads of America, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe.
• Miami has a rich ethnic and racial mix: all manner of Europeans and North Americans who have relocated here; Cubans, Jamaicans, Haitians, Dominicans and others from the Caribbean; Nicaraguans, Panamanians, Hondurans, and Guatamalans from Central America; Brazilians; and subpopulations from every South American country; small but flourishing Asian groups; and so on. The area is essentially bi-lingual in English and Spanish.
• Miami has world class medical/heath facilities (34 major hospitals), with some of its institutions consistently ranked among the finest in the United States
• One of the things which knits this diverse area together, for many people, is its professional sports mix: for example, the NFL Dolphins, NBA Heat, and MLB Marlins.
• Getting around easily is the bane of many big metro areas: not Miami, which has first class transportation facilities in the form of a highway system that works superbly, excelent mass transit, both bus and rail, and one of the world’s busiest (but easiest to use) international airports

What about Hurricane preparation for a rental home

2006-06-03T09:45:00.000-05:00

What about Hurricane preparation for a rental home

In the event of an impending Hurricane, a handyman or someone else can be hired to put up the storm shutters, bring in the lawn and patio furniture, etc for a fee-most agents have too many homes for them to do it individually.

*This agreement should be set up in advance by the homeowner and the handyman. Your agent can find someone to do this.

What makes a good Florida Vacation Rental

2006-05-27T07:39:00.000-05:00

What makes a good Vacation Rental
• A clean, well-maintained home on a canal or open water.
• Typically one of the bedrooms should have a set of twin beds if the renters are bringing children.
• Good linens and towels and a backup set. This is especially important for monthly renters.
• The washer, dryer and refrigerator should be newer if possible.
• A good Television hooked up to cable (about $35.00 per month) and a CD or tape stereo system.
• The kitchen must be completely outfitted. A microwave is also very important for renters.
• Patio and/or Lawn-Deck furniture. If there is an upper deck, a table and chairs plus loungers.
• On the waterside, a set of loungers and chairs.

Ft Myers and Lee County Investment opportunities

2006-05-17T13:59:00.000-05:00

Ft Myers and Lee County Investment opportunities
Because of the fast growing base of people relocating to Florida along with the tourism industry, Florida offers three unique opportunities for investments.
• 1031 tax exchanges
• Buying a second home/condo and using it as a rental.
• Buying a commercial piece of property, from duplexes to apartments, to triple net shopping malls.
The above combined with an above average appreciation rate for Real Estate make Florida a place you definitely need to consider, regardless of your financial capabilities..

For more specific information on how 1031 exchanges work see. www.1031inflorida.com

Renting your home out-To know
• The best areas to rent are anywhere near the water and the best rents will start at open water locations, followed by homes/condos with a partial view to homes on canals. The neighborhood and the furnishings will also dictate the rent amounts you can get. In the Keys-the best situation was a home at least three bedrooms and up on the Ocean or Gulf with a pool and a boat dock. In some cases these bring as much as $5000.00 per week, depending on the home/area.
• It is very important that you find out early on which residential areas and which condo associations allow weekly rentals-as this will be generally be your best return.
• In some cases you may want to just rent out long term and skip the dealings with handy men and cleaning services.
• In all of this—the most important thing is that you find a qualified adent. He/she can guide you through the process completely—including setting up property management.

As to Ft Myers and areas-where would the best rentals probably be located?
• Ft Myers Beach
• FT Myers Downtown-- The downtown areas in larger cities are seeing strong growth. In short some people are going away from life in the suburbs and opting for closeness to theatre, restaurants and the vitality of a city environment. So, don’t overlook the downtown areas.
• Bonita Beach
• Sanibel/Captiva
• Pine Island.
• Cape Coral may be good but it seems fairly residential so their may be laws against it—again ask your agent. As to more details for what makes a good rental see below.
• For more specific information about rentals, see the links to the left for property management/1031 and commercial; agents

Types of rentals. Single family homes, duplex and Condos.

Palm Beach and Palm Beach County Investment opportunities

2006-04-24T18:59:00.000-05:00

Palm Beach and Palm Beach County Investment opportunities
Due to the incredible growth in tourism and people relocating to the South East coast of Florida, investments ( both commercial and rental) in this region should be a strong consideration.

Aside from commercial investments the two situations most people are looking for in Florida are:
• Vacation homes/2nd homes, both single family or Condos that can be rented out.
• Generally a purchase involves a 1031 tax exchange or just someone looking for a second home in an area that he/she or the family will use occasionally.
• A home to eventually retire to and rent in the meantime to help pay mortgage costs.

As to Palm Beach County-where would the best rentals probably be located? The following is a partial list.
• Delray Beach
• West Palm beach, the inlets and the intracoastal
• Homes and Condos on the Ocean, canals, inlets, golfcourses or bays (all locations)
• Juno Beach
• Boynton beach
• Jupiter beach or intracoastal areas.

*To get an idea on rates charged and potential income of vacation (short term) rentals, see http://www.vamoose.com/search?vID=90&page=4&search_params=90|-|0|M|0|M|0|M|0|M|0|000000000000|M|-|0|10

Long term
*The downtown areas in cities are also seeing strong growth. In short some people are going away from life in the suburbs and opting for closeness to theatre, restaurants and the vitality of a city environment. So, don’t overlook the downtown areas.

To know:
• The best areas to rent are generally near the water and the best rental income will start at open water locations, followed by homes/condos with a partial view to homes on canals. The neighborhood and the furnishings will also dictate the rent amounts you can get.
• In the Keys-the best situation was a home at least three bedrooms and up on the Ocean or Gulf with a pool and a boat dock. In some cases these bring as much as $5000.00 per week, depending on the home/area.
•
• It is very important that you find out early on which residential areas and which condo associations allow weekly rentals-as this will be generally be your best return.
•
• In some cases you may want to just rent out long term and skip the dealings with handy men and cleaning services.
•
• In all of this—the most important thing is that you find a qualified agent. He/she can guide you through the process completely—including setting up property management.

Orlando Education

2006-04-16T15:25:00.000-05:00

Orlando and Orange County Education
There are more than 165,000 students, 7600 teachers and over 150 elementary and secondary schools in Orange County. Orange County Public Schools are the 12th largest school district out of more than 16,000 in the nation.
• It is the fifth largest in Florida. OCPS grows by more than 5,000 new students a year.
• To keep up with growth, the district typically builds between four and seven new schools each year.
http://www.ocps.k12.fl.us/
http://www.eflorida.com/profiles/CountyReport.asp?CountyID=29&Display=all

For a comparison of schools and school districts on a variety of criteria, view Florida School Indicators Reports at the Florida Department of Education's Web site. http://www.fldoe.org/

Orange County school specifics:
• 100 Elementary Schools
• 51 secondary schools
• 125 junior high
• 94 senior High Schools
• 150 College-Universities
• 3 Magnet schools
• 10 junior colleges
• 22 Charter schools
• 240 private and parochial schools
• 4 Alternative Schools
• 15 adult education
• 50 business and vocational schools
• 263 pre schools

For a complete listing of Schools by Region and addresses go to: http://apps.sdhc.k12.fl.us/public/mainindex/information/index.ht

Regarding Charter Schools. For specifics on what a Charter schools is and enrollment details etc go to http://www.educationcentral.org/schools/schchart.asp
Partial list of Colleges/Universities:
• University of Phoenix
• Rollins College
• Stetson University
• University of Central Florida
• Florida Metropolitan University

Junior/Community Colleges:
• Seminole Community College
• Valencia Community College
• Lake-Sumter Community College

Vocational/Technical Schools:
• Winter Park Tech
• Orlando Technical Center
• Mid-Florida Technical Institute
• Orange Technical Education Centers / Westside Tech
• Lake County Area Vocational Technical Center
• UTI-Motorcycle, Marine & Mechanics Institute

Other Schools:
• Florida Technical College
• DeVry University
• ITT Technical Institute
• Orlando Culinary Academy
• Full Sail Real World Education (Digital Media)
• International Academy of Design & Technology
• FAMU College of Law
• Barry University College of Law
• Sistema Universitario Ana G. Mendez
• Nova Southeastern University
•

For specific locations and more information-see http://www.fldoe.org/schoolmap/flash/schoolreport.asp?id=48
http://www.ocps.k12.fl.us/

Orlando Health

2006-04-07T08:26:00.000-05:00

Orlando and Orange County Health
Sunshine makes people feel healthier and improves your outlook on everything. After living in Florida for 10 years, I can tell you that it’s great to wake up to a warm climate and sunshine almost year round. It makes for a positive outlook on life. What’s your mood when it’s cold, drizzling and cloudy out? Orlando’s mild weather and great lifestyle makes staying health much easier.

Orlando Regional Healthcare is one of Florida's most comprehensive private, not-for-profit healthcare networks. Their facilities, advanced medical treatments and procedures, and highly qualified staff distinguish Orlando Regional as a healthcare leader for two million Central Florida residents and 6,000 international visitors annually.
Statistics for Orange County. As of 2004, there are:
• 77 assisted living facilities
• 13 major hospitals
• 5 adult day care centers
• 109 health care clinics

The 1,572-bed system includes:
• * Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women
• * M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando
• * Orlando Regional Medical Center
• * Orlando Regional Lucerne Hospital
• * Orlando Regional Sand Lake Hospital
• * Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital
• * Orlando Regional St. Cloud Hospital
• * South Lake Hospital
• * Orlando Regional Healthcare Foundation
• * Health Research Institute
• * Graduate Medical Education
• * Orlando Regional Visiting Nurse Association

Above information from: http://www.orhs.org/

For specific information and address/phone number of health facilities, please go to http://facilitylocator.floridahealthstat.com

Jacksonville Real Estate investments

2006-03-29T10:45:00.000-05:00

Jacksonville St Augustine Investment opportunities
Large metropolitan areas with all the amenities of big city life and abundant recreational opportunities mixed in with a great climate attract people...lots of people. Tourists need places to stay and people relocating need places to rent either part time or while they close on a home or find an apartment. Jacksonville is a happening town-with a median age of just 36 it is a vibrant, energetic and growing community.
Types of Investments
Aside from commercial investments the two situations most people are looking for in Florida are
• Vacation homes or Condos that can be rented out … Generally a purchase involves a 1031 tax exchange or just someone looking for a second home in an area that he/she or the family will use occasionally.
• A person looking for a home to eventually retire to and rent out in the meantime to help pay the mortgage.
• The best areas to rent are anywhere near the water and the best rents will start at open water locations, followed by homes/condos with a partial view to homes on canals. The neighborhood and the furnishings will also dictate the rent amounts you can get. In the Keys-the best situation was a home at least three bedrooms and up on the Ocean or Gulf with a pool and a boat dock. In some cases these bring as much as $5000.00 per week, depending on the home/area.
• It is very important that you find out early on which residential areas and which condo associations allow weekly rentals-as this will be generally be your best return.
• In some cases you may want to just rent out long term and skip the dealings with handy men and cleaning services.
• In all of this—the most important thing is that you find a qualified adent. He/she can guide you through the process completely—including setting up property management.

As to Jacksonville and it’s areas-where would the best rentals probably be located?
• Jacksonville Beach
• Fernandina
• St. Augustine Shores and Beach
• Ponte Verda Beach
• Downtown Jacksonville

The downtown areas in larger cities are seeing strong growth. In short some people are going away from life in the suburbs and opting for closeness to theatre, restaurants and the vitality of a city environment. So, don’t overlook the downtown areas.

Building a Home in the Keys

2006-03-16T08:45:00.000-05:00

Building a Home in the Florida Keys
Buying a lot and building your dream home may be the way to go. The cost of building will vary widely from $50.00 per square to $300.00 and up.
Basically lots in Florida as far as price goes will run as follows.
Most expensive
• Open-water—Atlantic or Gulf
• Open-water Inter-Coastal or other Rivers-Lakes
• Canal Homes with Open water views (Bay or Atlantic-Gulf)
• Canal homes-Boat able and quick access to open-water
• Dry Lots—price widely varies based on the community and area.

*As to canal lots and how boat ability affects prices.
If the depth of the canal and the width allows for a 50ft boat or sailboat-it will be more expensive than a lot on a canal that is shallow and usually not as wide. The bigger the boat, the more room needed to turn around.

*Access to open water is another factor that influences prices.

If you’re only minutes (half hour) to good fishing-diving, expect to pay more.
Also homes on shorter canals will generally have better water quality. In the Keys we call these swimming canals. The tides flush them out easier and the water is clear.

For Lot prices on the individual keys contact a REALTOR. The prices will vary depending on depth of boating etc—see information below.

Permit prices and restrictions will vary in each community. Generally the more environmentally sensitive the area is, the more restrictions there are in getting a permit. (Since the water is one of the main reason people want to be here, the state and the communities want to keep it that way.

Lower Florida Keys overview

2006-03-14T09:39:00.000-05:00

LOWER KEYS MAIN OVERVIEW

For the real Estate buyer or investor, the Lower Keys start at Mile Marker 30 or Big Pine Key (home of the Key Deer, an endangered species, sort of a miniature Virginia White-Tail). Key deer?

You’ll immediately become aware of them because of the radically lowered speed limit the minute you cross from Bahia Honda and Spanish Harbor Keys onto Big Pine Key, imposed to make sure you don’t run one over.

Humor aside, you really have entered a different world once you cross over that huge seven mile gap of ocean from busy Marathon and the rest of the upper and middle Keys on the famous 7-Mile Bridge.

You have arrived in a world that is more laid back, slower-paced, more isolated in most ways, and geographically shaped differently.
• Until now you’ve been driving along the mostly northeast-to-southwest spine of each narrow Key, ocean to your left, Florida Bay or the Gulf of Mexico to your right, with neither body of water more than a few hundred feet away (or much less), for almost 100 miles
• Now, beginning at Spanish Harbor, you head north and then due west, before resuming (at Cudjoe Key) the trek towards the southwest (direction: Key West) that you’ve been traveling ever since you left Key Largo. (Ever wonder why it’s Key West and not Key South?)
• And something else is different! We are now crossing Keys that run more north-south than east-west. The actual ocean and gulf are now miles away, to our south or north, while we cross mangrove forests, wetlands, and pine barrens.
• Check out a map: the group of islands we call the Lower Keys are obviously different enough geographically from the Upper and Middle Keys (which run east-west, and end at Marathon) to have been considered by Colonial Spain as a different group of islands altogether. They were administered from Cuba, not from St. Augustine like the rest of Florida.
• When Spain sold Florida to the United States it did not intend to include Key West and the Lower Keys; the young (then Lt.) Admiral-to-be Perry was sent in the USS Shark (true story) to enforce the USA’s claim to the contrary. The rest is history.

This geography has implications today mainly in two ways:

First, the fabulous ecosystem of the Lower Keys backcountry provides – some claim, anyway – richer opportunities for boating and fishing, and certainly better kayaking and birding than any other portion of the Florida Keys from the Mainland to Key West. Almost the entire area north of the Overseas Highway (US#1) is protected wild environment as part of either the National Key Deer Refuge or Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. And that makes this part of the Keys very special, from a homeowner’s or visitor’s perspective.

Second, this north-south orientation of the islands provides dozens of flow-through channels in the event of hurricane storm surges, helping to reduce the extent of water pressure and flood damage. I’ve ridden out one category 3 hurricane in my friend’s house on Cudjoe Key, and while we had to deal with extensive flooding common to these great and rare storms, the damage was much less than it might have been if the storm surge water had been blocked and therefore tumbled whole houses in its path instead.