Key West Florida

Personal Finance Tips To Help You Reach Your Financial Goals

2012-01-17T13:29:00.001-05:00

Everyone has to worry about personal finance. This is true of young children who need to make choices about when and how they will spend allowance money they may have. Complicated personal finances can be overwhelming if you do not have an organized plan in place. This article contains some helpful tips to help you organize and budget your personal finances.If you are looking to improve your credit report, it is a good idea to have between two to four active credit cards. If you only have one card, your credit score will rise, but slowly. If you have more than four, it is an indication that you have difficulty dealing with your finances. Begin by having two cards, and add more cards as your credit improves.Make a plan of what you hope to achieve financially in the future, so that you have some goals to aim for. It can be quite motivating to form a financial plan, as it provides you with concrete reasons for working harder, saving and avoiding needless spending.It is highly recommended that you rebalance your portfolio on a yearly basis. You can get your investments inline with your goals. By rebalancing, you can also decide whether to sell some stocks high or buy others low.Keep an up to date filing system, saving all necessary financial documents that you need for filing income taxes. Keep your receipts together, which you can even categorize for ease later. Other documents that you should be sure to save and file in the same place include insurance, sales and bank documents.These tips will help anyone understand and shape their personal financial situation into a healthier, more productive situation. No matter whether you're starting with five dollars in the bank or with five thousand in investments, the same principles apply, and you can use tips like these to boost yourself into a new, better way of life.

Be A Savvy Buyer: Try Using These Tips When Buying Real Estate

2012-01-17T13:28:00.001-05:00

Buying real estate can be a daunting process for anyone. It can also be very exciting because it is a goal shared by many people. Before you embark on the goal of buying anything though, you are going to have to know a few things. Below are some essential tips and sound advice to help you get started.One important tip when it comes to real estate, is to make sure that you keep a detailed journal of everything that you do throughout the process. This is important as either the buyer or the seller, because it will help to ensure that not only do you know how well you are accomplishing your goals, but will also be a good record in case you need proof, if an unforeseen circumstance arises.Buy a vacation home. Buying extra property may seem silly to some, but a vacation home is a great investment. You will not only have a great place to spend your summer vacation, but you will also have added financial security. If you ever run into financial problems, you can sell the property to lessen your burden.

TIP! The best way to make money on commercial real estate investments is to have partners. Invest a lot of time looking for private lenders or partners to deal with.

Ask yourself this question when you are looking at a home. Does this house have enough storage for all my things? Storage is relative; some people need a little while other people need a lot. If you need a lot, it can be hard to create more in a house where there are few cabinets, so take this into account.Remember that buying real estate is a long process, so being patient and calm the entire time will help you. Don't make common mistakes that many other people make when buying real estate. By using these tips and advice, you will be well prepared and on your way to closing the deal.

Take Action To Repair Your Credit Score

2012-01-17T13:27:00.001-05:00

Repairing your credit can be unpleasant business. You may have a lot of impatient people to deal with. You probably will have a ton of paperwork. Furthermore, you will need to exercise spending control in ways you've never had to before. This article will provide you with some much needed advice on how to go about repairing your credit the right way.A great way to repair your credit fast is to use the existing laws to your advantage. There is a law that says anyone who requests information regarding proof of the items that are on your credit report, the credit bureaus have 30 days to respond. If they do not respond within 30 days with proof of that item being a valid debt, then it will get removed from your report.An important tip to consider when working to repair your credit is to call your credit card companies and ask them if they would be willing to raise the limit on your credit cards. This is important because this will increase your total available credit and therefore work to improve your score.If you are trying to raise your credit score as much as possible, spread out your balances across two or three cards. While the total amount of debt that you have counts against you, more weight is put on the percentages of your limits that are being used. It is better to have 20% of the balance used on three cards than 60% on one.As previously stated, repairing your credit will not be an easy task and probably not a pleasant one, but with great effort and serious concentration you can do it! Hopefully this article has given you some useful information that you can realistically apply to your financial situation. These sensible steps can put you on the road to good credit before you know it!

Real Estate Selling Advice That Is Easy To Understand

2011-12-11T11:11:00.001-05:00

Even the most thorough-minded people out there, are sometimes shortsighted when it comes to putting their own properties up on the market. That's why you always need to check out some outside information before you attempt to sell. In this article, we'll cover some great tips you can use in real estate.

TIP! If you are selling your house then you should make your property very accessible to potential buyers. Trying to find parking or finding the home hard to get into may make a potential buyer change their mind about taking a look at your property and look for something else.

Make sure your home is clean if you have potential buyers looking at it. If your home is cluttered and dirty, the buyers will be looking at the clutter, not at the home itself. If you have any chipping or old paint throughout your home, consider repainting or adding wallpaper. When a buyer will not have to do any work to the home, it is a plus for the sale.Do not go into a property sale blind. It doesn't matter if you are selling your family home or a commercial lot. You should seek the help of a real estate professional as they will best be able to help you maximize profit. Selling with no knowledge of the market, or experience closing, is folly.

TIP! If you decide to paint the outside of your home, take a good look at the other homes on your street. It is a good idea to paint your home in a color that will be unique, however, make sure that it does not stick out like a sore thumb among the rest of the homes.

When thinking of selling your real estate you need to focus on the curb appeal of the property. This is the first impression that people get when viewing your property and may be the only way to get them in the door. If the property looks rundown from the outside, you are going to immediately-eliminate many potential buyers.Maximizing the impact of a good first impression can translate into a sold sign! Most buyers have an image in mind of their dream home and you want that dream realized the minute they lay eyes on your property. Invest in a landscaper or enhance the outside of the home yourself; but make sure everything is mowed, trimmed and aesthetically pleasing at first sight.You might think that you're being thorough, but there's always something about selling a home that you're forgetting. Sometimes, it's something obvious, and other times it will be something that you never thought of. Use these tips to help you out when attempting to sell your house in this market.

Ways On How To Fix Your Credit

2011-12-11T11:10:00.001-05:00

The ramifications of having a bad credit score are frustrating to deal with. Poor choices in your past can really come back to haunt you. It's quite challenging to rebuild your credit, but it's not impossible! Read the article below for some tips to enhance your credit.

Make sure that the credit repair agency you choose to work with is reputable. There are far too many of these companies that are quite simply fraudulent. A fair number of people have been scammed by these unethical credit repair companies. Check online reviews about the company, the Better Business Bureau, and even the State Attorney General's office to find out what their reputation is before signing anything or giving them any money or account numbers.

It is easy to get a mortgage for a house if your credit score is good. You will get a better credit score by paying your mortgage payment on time. The more equity you have in your home, the more stability the banks see in you. That way, you will be in a better position to secure loans in the future.

One easy credit repair tip is to maintain an active checking and savings account. Having active accounts can show banks and creditors that you have steady income, that you pay your bills and that you use overdraft protection. It is, however, very important that you keep your saving or checking record clean. The accounts must look perfect to the creditors for them to be impressed.

Start reducing your debt. Creditors take into account the total debt in comparison to your monthly income. If you have more debt than your income allows you to pay, you are a credit risk. Since it will likely take a while to get rid of your debts, write a plan for decreasing your debt gradually, and follow it.

In order to start the process of credit repair, it is wise to seek new credit as a way to re-establish yourself. Prepaid credit cards are great for this, since you can get improved with a bad credit score, and there's no way to rack up debt and late fees. This shows lenders that making payments is a priority for you, and that they should lend to you.

This advice can make a big difference in your credit score. You just have to be sure that you are consistent with your efforts and meet all your obligations. It is possible to make your credit better, so don't delay and get to it!

Try These Home Improvement Tips On Your Next Project

2011-12-11T11:09:00.001-05:00

There is more to home improvement than simple floor and carpet jobs. There is infinite planning and designing to make the home appear as you intended. The tips in this article will help you to develop exceptional home improvement abilities. You can make your dream house and save a lot.

Take some safety steps before you go into a home improvement project. Take sensible precautions so you don't sustain an injury and so your house is not damaged. Read the instruction manuals for your tools, and take advantage of any tutorials before starting any home improvement project.

Consider swapping out the current light bulbs that you have in your home with ones that use less wattage. This may end up costing you less money in the long run when it comes to your electric bill. With all of these benefits, it only makes sense to replace your old power-hungry light bulbs with new energy-efficient models.

Cover your important surfaces, such as floors and counter tops, to give them a layer of protection. This is important if your job consists of painting, demolition or any other project which could damage delicate surfaces. Cover surfaces to avoid creating more work from damage. So, keep your walls protected from flying debris if you are not planning to repaint them. You should also cover fixtures and floors so they are not splattered with paint.

You may want to purchase a combination washer and dryer if you have a tiny house, condominium or apartment. You can find many combination machines that can fit in small spaces. These combos both wash and dry your clothing.

Get ready for winter by insulating your plumbing. You can purchase weatherizing tape that is easy to apply to your plumbing lines. If you can prevent your pipes from freezing in the first place, then you won't have to fix a burst pipe.

Your geographical location should have some bearing on your home improvement projects. A home in a warm state like California would benefit more from adding central air than adding a fireplace. Likewise, an outdoor pool would work under the California sunshine, but not under the cloudy skies in states with cold, wintry weather.

Home improvement is an activity that anyone can enjoy. You have to find a project that corresponds to your skills and knowledge. With time, you will be able to accomplish harder projects. You can create accomplishments to be proud of by paying close attention to details.

Tactics To Make The Most Out Of Your Real Estate Purchase

2011-12-11T11:07:00.001-05:00

Just because a property is listed for sale doesn't mean you should buy it, even if the price is right. Before you purchase anything in today's fickle and erratic marketplace, you need to read the tips listed below to ensure that you're making the most informed decision possible. If you don't, you may just get burned.

TIP! Before you determine the price range of the house that you will want to purchase, you need to take a look at how much money you have saved up in your savings account. This will tell you how much you can afford to put down as your down payment as well as making sure you would have enough for closing costs and moving expenses.

Don't let your Realtor pick the inspector or appraiser for your home. They will have their best interests in mind instead of your own. Choosing your own people will allow you do do the research into the person's background without insulting anyone personally or implying that your agent is untrustworthy.Many people make the mistake of thinking the larger the realty company, the better it is for you. Do not believe that, or you could end up hiring someone who is not necessarily the best qualified. Smaller real estate offices are very good because they can offer you a more personalized experience.

TIP! Before buying a home, set some parameters. Start searching online, look at virtual tours, and go through photographs and aerial shots of various neighborhoods and homes.

Do not reveal what is motivating your interest in purchasing a property to a seller or seller's agent. When you reveal too much, it gives the selling party an advantage over you. You may love that the property is located only three minutes from your office, but you should keep all of your purchase reasons to yourself.If you work from home, make sure that any home that you are considering has enough space for your work equipment. Some offices inside of a home are not big enough to hold a computer desk, chair, computer, and other equipment you may have. You could also consider purchasing a home with a large spare bedroom and make that into your office.Some would-be buyers think that the only way they can avoid getting burned is to avoid buying real estate in the first place. This doesn't have to be the case, though. If you can use what you've just acquired here to help you, you can make the right decision when it's time to purchase property.

Living in Key West

2011-10-05T10:15:00.001-04:00

Key West is comprised of over 1700 islands the make up theFlorida Keys. A beautifully tranquil and stress free atmosphere with amazingviews of the ocean. Loaded with culture, arts, entertainment, boutiques anddelicious cuisine, Key West is the perfect living environment for the entirefamily. Investing in real estate in a beach town increases the value of theproperty.

Along the Florida Keys are many investment properties which willincrease your assets at a fabulous price. Who doesn’t want to live by thebeach?

Living in Key West is a dream come true with a stress free, fun filled day andentertainment nightly. There are so many things to do such as salt water fish,scuba diving, kayaking, snorkeling and much more. One of Key West’s bestattributes is unbelievable happenings all year round.

For help with Key West homes for sale contact Rick Lively

Being in the Florida Keysis like being in a tropical exotic rain forest or natural picturesque beautyevery day. The islands have everything for everyone including romantic sunsets.

Key West is an exhilarating and relaxing atmosphere featuring only the finestdiverse cuisine with mouth watering zest. This is the utmost best retirementspot on earth and living in the Keys amongst the sparkling waters, palm trees,balmy breezes and sandy beaches is truly living life.

The Florida Keys are Amazing plus an Exception

2011-09-08T10:09:00.001-04:00

One of the primary strong points of their market safeguarding the Keys from many of the hazards in today's housing market would be the fact the holiday accommodation marketplace atmosphere is a life preserver to the real estate investor, despite the fact that lots of now have picked out to call home there on a permanent basis. In plain english, a lot of the houses no matter whether condominiums or properties, continue to be attractive vacation spots. As long as a property might be rented, an investment is self preserving. The Keys can always be leased, depending upon the place, with a weekly or monthly basis. This makes them to be that much more attractive for purchase applications as opposed to typical residence purchased by the house owner as the primary residence any place else in the united states. To put it differently, the Florida Keys real estate market never was in a “bust” scenario. For information about Key West Real Estate contact Tina MastersThe facts display this out. In keeping with Standard and Poors.com, aggregate real-estate rates through the entire U.S., reviewing 2000 with 2010 were merely 2.6% greater in 2010 than during 2000. While actual gross sales price in the Florida Keys were 52.1% higher in 2010 than in 2000 ($274,995 vs. $418,209)! Certainly there were decreases in Keys real-estate prices over a comparative basis during the last half the decade. This only serves to point up the indisputable fact that Keys real estate investment is really high in price and even when it had decreased, prices stay at levels extensively above 2000.

Keys Events

2011-08-08T10:18:00.001-04:00

Booking a vacation home in the Keys

2011-05-14T13:21:00.000-04:00

Booking a vacation home in the Keys

There comes a time when you would like to escape from the monotony of day-to-day metropolitan life, where dollars and work concerns wear you down. When the town becomes unbearable, a holiday to the Florida Keys could be a great way to allow yourself unwind and re-charge your psychological batteries.

For Islamorada Real estate contact Jan Keller at http://www.kellerporterteam.com

For Islamorada Homes for sale contact Solveig Freeman at http://www.flkeystopagent.com

For Upper Keys Vacation Homes contact Jamie Martin at http://www.flakeysproperties.com/

The Florida Keys is really a sequence of island destinations off of the southern tip of the state of Florida in the states. Beside the Keys special ecosystem, one of the main recreational use within the Keys will be the incredible waters. You can also enjoy the Florida Keys by means of various Florida Keys vacation rentals, from Key West to Key Largo, with many amazing choices in homes, villas, cabins, cottages, condos for rent, and more.

Depending on your time limitations or holiday period of time, renting a home within the Keys is a terrific way to take it easy and loosen up.

Just about all the Islands from Key Largo, Islamorada, Hawks Cay, Key Colony Beach, Marathon, Big Pine and all the lower Keys down to and which includes Key West are well-liked areas you'll be able to unwind and havea Keys Life Style.

Purchasing Key West Real Estate

2011-04-04T13:22:00.000-04:00

Purchasing Key West Real Estate

With the right Realtor, buying into paradise can be as delightful as living here. I thoroughly and continually research the market to uncover what's sold recently, what's for sale now, and my being entrenched in the community gives me inside information as to what properties will be coming onto the market. I'll help you to locate the house of your dreams, and I'll help you to relocate and settle into your new home and the community.

I can promise to:

Stay thoroughly current with available Key West property inventory, saving you time

Locate a choice of desirable homes, based on your 'wish list'

Show you the finest condominium apartments, townhomes, or single family homes

Give careful attention to each of the details that follows an offer

Guide you to the best mortgage brokers, insurance companies and property inspectors

Help to smooth the way for your stress-free relocation to the Keys

Refer you to contractors with excellent references, proven integrity and fair prices

My investment of time, experience and effort in finding the right homes to show you at the right prices matches your investment in the perfect property for your needs. We're both making a big commitment and my goal is your complete satisfaction.

Investing in Key West

2011-04-04T13:20:00.002-04:00

Investing in Key West by Robert Severin

If you’re thinking about an investment in Key West real estate, you may be onto something that few in the U.S., save a few Floridians appreciate and really understand. Key West is a vacation paradise, but at the same time, it’s also a terrific place for a second or even a primary residence. What makes Key West special: location, location, location! Being the southern-most city in the United States gives this island gem a few advantages over the rest of the contiguous states:

• Weather
• Scenery
• A funky, yet upscale ambiance
• A laid back, almost artsy lifestyle
• Water sports in the crystal clear gulf

While the real estate crisis has hit the U.S. hard, prices in Key West, while lower, still have an advantage over the rest of the country. The rental market for vacation properties in Key West is robust and a vacation home can always be rented out (depending upon local ordinances) on a weekly, monthly and seasonal basis. This alone provides additional support for prices as well as a safety net against further price erosion. For this reason, investing in Key West real estate has had fewer downsides than investment in other regions of the U.S.

Whether you’re interested in living full time in the Florida Keys or just interested in Key West as an investment, the beauty and weather are weather makes it a winner. And coming to the Keys on a “vacation” to scope out opportunity is one heck of a relaxing way to do market research! For More information

How a Lifestyle Change to Florida Can Benefit Your Health

2011-04-04T13:17:00.002-04:00

Why a Lifestyle Change Can Benefit Your Health
There appears to be a consensus that an urban life style is stressful, expensive and perhaps unhealthy. Cities like New York or Chicago may provide certain economic opportunities, but the question is, at what cost? Most sense that the pace of life in these cities is too challenging and if other living opportunities arise, many are opting for a different (more relaxing) life style. For instance the populations of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and most other larger urban centers has declined over the period from 1950 through 2000, despite the fact that general population within the U.S. has increased.
How Healthy is City Life?
There may be many reasons for this decline, but chief among them are stress, cost, noise and air pollution. All of these factors have taken a toll on not only the total population count, but the overall well being of the city dweller, as well. A recent book, entitled Unhealthy Places by Kevin Fitzpatrick and Mark LaGory zeroes in on the ecology, sociology and general unhealthiness of urban life. Certainly, virtually anyone with a daily newspaper or seeing the evening news can see the number of deaths attributed to crime or traffic.
While these statistics may actually indicate a decrease, the general perception however, is that living or working in large city is either dangerous or unhealthy. Economic factors also play a role in the population decline. Many city dwellers in years past have fled the large urban centers for the “safety” and relative security of the suburbs. However, urban sprawl has also assailed the safe harbor of the suburbanite and many in suburban areas bordering the city are seeing their taxes and crime spiking upward.
The Effects of a Rise in Stress
This is particularly true of the suburbs surrounding cities like New York or Boston with state income and real estate taxes continuing to rise. With a continuing increase in stress factors, it has been pointed out that many other bad lifestyle choices contribute to a decline in overall health. According to Science Daily.com, “When people are under chronic stress, they tend to smoke, drink, use drugs and overeat to help cope with stress. These behaviors trigger a biological cascade that helps prevent depression, but they also contribute to a host of physical problems that eventually contribute to early death.”
A Change in Location Venue Will Help
How best to address these problems? Many are solving the problem by simply moving away from it entirely, mostly to the southern states. Whether they can find useful work or simply retire is certainly a factor. However, with population growth within the southern states continuously rising, various industries will undoubtedly provide employment for many. This movement away from urban centers to the south has been occurring over the last several years. As indicated below from 1990 through 2000, the populations of the southern states rose substantially compared with New York and Massachusetts:
• Florida increase: 3,044,452 a change of +23.5%
• Georgia increase: 1,708,237 a change of +26.4%
• North Carolina increase: 1,420,676 a change of +21.4%
• South Carolina increase: 525,309 a change of +15.1%
• New York increase: 986,002 a change of +5.5%
• Massachusetts increase: 332,672 a change of +5.5%
Notice that the two northern states listed have the highest overall state taxes. With declines in tax revenues which are tied to the weak economy, these states have imposed even more taxes! So many more northern state dwellers are fleeing southward. Most who have moved southward feel that the move overall was worth it for both health and economic reasons.
Florida’s is a great place to consider.
Many from the north are attracted to Florida for several obvious reasons: no state income taxes, relatively low real estate taxes and the fact that there are real bargains to be found in real estate. These features makes Florida an ever more attractive place to live and work.
If one is searching for vacation and/or home value, the Florida Keys offer an excellent place to live, work or retire. The Florida Keys, possess a special charm rooted in a history with a perpetual vacation mind set featuring excellent fishing, diving and boating. The Keys is an excellent choice and there are properties to be found whatever your taste and budget is.

What to watch out for when buying a foreclosure.

2011-04-04T13:15:00.002-04:00

What to watch out for when buying a foreclosure.

When considering buying a foreclosure there are several issues you need to explore before you sign on the dotted line. It is ever so easy to be caught up in the excitement of getting a bargain but time, patience and investigation are needed to ensure that you are safe from problems created by previous tenants. Putting a little effort into this research will mean that you do not fall victim to the problems other people do when rushing into purchasing a foreclosure. You will save yourself a great deal of money and you won`t experience sleepless nights either!

Firstly, find out the regulations applicable to your state as there can be differences depending upon where you live. Do a title search at your local town hall to discover if there are any back taxes or fines on the property. If you purchase the house without getting these discharged you will be liable to pay them. Also check for liens on the property. Liens are legal claims or holds on the property which can prevent it from being sold. Examples of this would be where previous tenants are in the process of separating and one partner is resisting the sale of the house. Messy situations like this can complicate the buying process to such an extent you may find it prudent to look for another purchase.

Inspect the property thoroughly and get advice from the necessary experts including a qualified realtor and experienced builder. Properties that are sold at auction are termed "sold as seen." This means whatever the property`s condition at the moment of purchase, that is what you buy and you have no right of comeback or complaint. Whether you buy at an auction or in the regular way, once you have signed for ownership you are liable for the property. Therefore, if you discover any serious defects with the house, they are now your responsibility and you will have to pay to have them fixed. This has led to some nasty shocks for people in the past so be warned!

As you inspect the property do not take anything at face value. Remember that the previous owners have been foreclosed on for a reason and may not have had the time or money to invest in the house. A patch of fresh paint may be covering up mould and a rug may be covering up woodworm in the floorboards, so investigate carefully. Many houses, whether they are the subject of foreclosure or not, have problem areas though so this doesn`t mean it is the end of the world. Find a reputable builder and ask for a detailed quote of how much it would cost to fix the problem. You can then have your representative tell the sellers that these costs should be taken off the asking price of the house. This happens frequently and the sellers will normally agree if they see the estimate from the builder in writing.

Buying a foreclosure can be a way of getting a nicer house for your budget and with these simple tips you should find the process goes much more smoothly. Then you can book your removals company, pack your moving boxes and start your new life in your dream home. Enjoy!

About Key West

2011-03-06T10:46:00.003-05:00

Key West, Florida

We found Key West to be the closest thing to the Caribbean without leaving the US. The weather was great (although very hot in August), lots of history, pirate stories,haunted locations,great museums & art galleries, reasonably-priced restaurants,ent...

Key West Festivals

2011-03-06T10:46:00.001-05:00

Florida Festivals in Key West

Gareth Davis parties in the Florida Keys, a great place to party. Its something the locals do all year round. In addition to the Conch Republic Independence Celebration which this year takes place between 17th and 26th April, here are some others you...

Key West Travel Tips

2011-03-06T10:43:00.002-05:00

Key West Florida Top 5 Travel Tips

Headed to Key West? Check out travel journalist Chris Kohatsu's recommendations.

Key West Florida

2011-02-24T17:49:00.003-05:00

Key West, Florida

Top 10 Beaches--Key West

2011-02-24T17:49:00.000-05:00

Top 10 Beaches: Key West The Beach

There is always something or someone to check out while hanging on the beach in Key West.

Key West Buyers Information

2011-02-19T13:25:00.002-05:00

How can you find a builder?

Stepping into relationships with new home builders is similar to entering into every other method of trading. If you are building your new home from scratch, you and your builder will be in this relationship for months, and you'll spend a lot of time working together.

Builders, like other people involved in buying, selling or developing homes, possess a strong presence on the web nowadays. Visit sites like www.homesandland.com to discover listings of builders in your town and links to their own personal Sites. There, you can observe the kind of homes where the builder specializes.

You can also ask around. Family and friends may have heard the a professional builder who helped them build their ideal home.

The National Association of Homebuilders, or your neighborhood home builders association, is also ready to refer you to definitely a builder who'll construct your new home

Mistakes to avoid when buying waterfront property

2011-02-12T12:49:00.000-05:00

FIVE TOP MISTAKES IN BUYING WATERFRONT PROPERTY

1. Not Understanding the importance of controlling Depth.
When buying waterfront property, both the actual value of the property and it’s usefulness as to boating are governed by controlling depth.

What is controlling depth?
It is the depth at which your boat can safely get to open water at average low tide. Another way to look at it is boating draft.

For example, most sailboats have at minimum a 4 foot draft—meaning they need at least 4ft of water to safely navigate without running aground.

So-If you own a sailboat or are ever considering the purchase of one, the waterfront property you buy has to have at least 4 feet of controlling depth.

How does this affect value?
People that own 50 ft boats and larger sailboats, that require 4 to 5 foot draft, will find that neighborhoods have controlling depths of 4-5 feet or more are typically more expensive as to real estate prices.

To Consider.
Even if you don’t own a boat, you may want to buy one in the future or will possibly have friends coming to visit that do have a larger boat. So first and foremost take Controlling depth into consideration.

2. Not knowing what types of Boats are allowed.
Generally there is no problem with pleasure craft, however jet skis and commercial fishing boats can be a problem based on neighborhood (subdivision) restrictions (if any)

For example: Many boating communities frown upon Jet Skis due to the noise. If you plan on using jet skis or having friends that use them, look into any restrictions.
The same thing goes for commercial boats.

3. Not paying attention to Flood Zones.
What type of Flood zone is the home you are buying?
For example flood insurance for a home in a VE will be triple that of a home in an AE zone. So one of the first things to find out is the Flood zone and then check with a local insurance company as to costs.

4. Using outside of the area lenders.
If you are buying waterfront property in Florida and are considering a lender in Colorado, you can have a problem. Why?
Because lenders outside of the state can place prohibitive restrictions on a property.

For example, some lenders will feel that any waterfront home bought in Florida needs to be constructed of Concrete block as opposed to wood frame, due to potential hurricane damage.
Be sure to talk to Local (at least State) lenders, as they will be familiar with the area.

5. Not determining area (county or subdivision) rental Laws.
If you are considering using your waterfront home as a rental, look into the area or subdivision zoning laws as to rental periods allowed.
For example-can you only rent monthly-every 6 months or are weekly rentals allowed. Whatever the law, it will make a big difference in both ease of renting and your potential income.

These are just some of the most important issues to seriously look into. As your Agent, I will help guide you through all of this.

Buying a Keys Fixer Upper

2011-02-12T12:47:00.002-05:00

Distressed, Depressed Florida Vacation Properties with Potential Nick Schklair

Buying a home, whether for investment or actually planning to live there is challenging in today’s real estate market. And with current economic conditions, you may be hesitant to take the plunge, always thinking in the back of your mind, “Maybe the price will drop further!” Well, sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. One general way to guard against the unthinkable price drop is by purchasing a home that has already taken a deep plunge due to its condition. Maybe the prospective investment home could be described as “shabby” and maybe there area few “rocks” under the surface, yet to be discovered by a hapless investor. At the same time, such properties may also present a real estate investor with tangible opportunities and many of these can be found down in Florida.

The Florida Market is Depressed...but Depression Sometime Spells Opportunity
While depressed values in Florida may be true, there are still attractive opportunities to be found. Among the most promising are homes and condos located in desirable vacation areas, especially in parts of Florida, like Vero Beach and the Florida Keys. We’re considering homes and condominiums that might be defined as ‘distressed properties’. Many of these could be near the beaches or waterfront areas and normally could be rented out on the weekly or monthly basis during most of the year, if they were in presentable condition.

Florida vacation properties will always be in demand by tourist regardless of the economy:

• In a weak real estate or economy, people will still take vacations, but rather than drop thousands for lavish destinations in Europe or elsewhere, Florida is still a great vacation destination.
• In a strong economy, many will still opt for Florida as a fill in or second vacation. It’s easy to get to Florida from anywhere in the U.S. and airfares to and from are typically reasonable

The Florida Vacation Connection
The areas we’re considering are located mostly on the east coast of Florida, such as Vero Beach and the Keys. Although parts of the west coast are also desirable and quite obviously this approach will certainly work there, as well. Single family homes or condos near the beach or the shore front areas will command high prices, but in today’s real estate markets, what is high anymore? This investment strategy is intriguing, but there are a few factors that must be considered.

Averting a Home Purchase Disaster
Obviously, there are dangers inherent in purchasing distressed properties. Sometimes the previous home owners never maintained the properties very well and sometimes they’ve moved out because of foreclosure and actually vandalized their own homes, rendering them unlivable. Other times, a home is just so old that modernization is absolutely mandatory. There are many reasons why a home is in substandard condition. Should this deter you from making a purchase? No, not if appropriate precautions are taken prior to finalizing on the purchase. And the price can be adjusted downward, if possible.

Also, keep in mind that real estate in Florida vacation areas will always be in relatively high demand because of its income generating potential. Unlike typical residential locales, the land in vacation areas will always have a high value relative to other areas in the sunshine state Even if a home must be practically rebuilt, this renovation will further enhance the value of the investment. Caution is the name of the game and making sure that the price is consistent with your minimum income generation expectation is your ultimate goal.

However, there are fundamental issues that must be explored and answered to your satisfaction in order to avoid a catastrophic mistake, prior to finalizing on this type of real estate transaction.

1. Question the neighbors as to what type of person the previous home owner was. If your sense after speaking with the neighbors was that the previous occupant was erratic and possibly negligent about maintaining his home, you might avoid the purchase or at least you’ll be on guard.

2. Always, always, always check out the zoning. If short term rentals are prohibited, don’t expect to obtain a zoning variance. The property, under these circumstances, can not typically generate enough revenue to justify the purchase.

3. Always use an expert home inspector that has been recommended. He should be able to sort out and identify major problems from minor problems. Once problems are identified, then they must be quantified and whether you perform the renovation yourself or use outside contractors, the cost of repair and renovation must be realistic. You should factor in a 10%-20% cost over run in determining your cost basis, to account for unforeseen circumstances.

4. If the home you’re considering purchasing is a VA repossession, attractive price and mortgage opportunities are available, including obtaining financing directly through the VA. The VA however doesn’t guarantee home condition and therefore inspection is still mandatory.

5. An alternative approach might be to use the FHA HUD program section 203(k) which will assist you in rehabbing a property. The only limitations are with condos for investment which is prohibited under HUD regulations.

6. Whenever possible, consider an investment vacation home in an area where the property you’re considering is one of the lesser expensive properties in a more expensive area. This will offer some upward potential, as opposed to buying a more expensive property in a lower priced area.

7. Now, once you have established realistic and conservative costs, you will need to run a rate of return analysis to see if your potential weekly/monthly rentals can afford you the ability to purchase the home and enjoy a positive or at least break even cash flow after all relevant costs, realistic expenses and revenues are taken into consideration.

Assuming that the number work, you can begin the price negotiation process. Also keep in mind that if the property is now salable and economic conditions have substantially improved, you can always sell and cash out your investment for a profit. Of course, having a vacation property in a sought after location gives you a place to go and relax from the stresses of life.

Key West Real Estate-health benefits of living here

2011-02-04T13:37:00.000-05:00

Why a Lifestyle Change Can Benefit Your Health

There appears to be a consensus that an urban life style is stressful, expensive and perhaps unhealthy. Cities like New York or Chicago may provide certain economic opportunities, but the question is, at what cost? Most sense that the pace of life in these cities is too challenging and if other living opportunities arise, many are opting for a different (more relaxing) life style. For instance the populations of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and most other larger urban centers has declined over the period from 1950 through 2000, despite the fact that general population within the U.S. has increased.

How Healthy is City Life?
There may be many reasons for this decline, but chief among them are stress, cost, noise and air pollution. All of these factors have taken a toll on not only the total population count, but the overall well being of the city dweller, as well. A recent book, entitled Unhealthy Places by Kevin Fitzpatrick and Mark LaGory zeroes in on the ecology, sociology and general unhealthiness of urban life. Certainly, virtually anyone with a daily newspaper or seeing the evening news can see the number of deaths attributed to crime or traffic.

While these statistics may actually indicate a decrease, the general perception however, is that living or working in large city is either dangerous or unhealthy. Economic factors also play a role in the population decline. Many city dwellers in years past have fled the large urban centers for the “safety” and relative security of the suburbs. However, urban sprawl has also assailed the safe harbor of the suburbanite and many in suburban areas bordering the city are seeing their taxes and crime spiking upward.

The Effects of a Rise in Stress
This is particularly true of the suburbs surrounding cities like New York or Boston with state income and real estate taxes continuing to rise. With a continuing increase in stress factors, it has been pointed out that many other bad lifestyle choices contribute to a decline in overall health. According to Science Daily.com, “When people are under chronic stress, they tend to smoke, drink, use drugs and overeat to help cope with stress. These behaviors trigger a biological cascade that helps prevent depression, but they also contribute to a host of physical problems that eventually contribute to early death.”

A Change in Location Venue Will Help
How best to address these problems? Many are solving the problem by simply moving away from it entirely, mostly to the southern states. Whether they can find useful work or simply retire is certainly a factor. However, with population growth within the southern states continuously rising, various industries will undoubtedly provide employment for many. This movement away from urban centers to the south has been occurring over the last several years. As indicated below from 1990 through 2000, the populations of the southern states rose substantially compared with New York and Massachusetts:

• Florida increase: 3,044,452 a change of +23.5%
• Georgia increase: 1,708,237 a change of +26.4%
• North Carolina increase: 1,420,676 a change of +21.4%
• South Carolina increase: 525,309 a change of +15.1%
• New York increase: 986,002 a change of +5.5%
• Massachusetts increase: 332,672 a change of +5.5%

Notice that the two northern states listed have the highest overall state taxes. With declines in tax revenues which are tied to the weak economy, these states have imposed even more taxes! So many more northern state dwellers are fleeing southward. Most who have moved southward feel that the move overall was worth it for both health and economic reasons.

Florida’s Decline in Real Estate Values
Florida has been hard hit on the real estate front by the recession, but the state may soon have a modest bump in housing prices, despite the recent declines. Many from the north are attracted to Florida for several obvious reasons: no income state taxes, relatively low real estate taxes and the aforementioned decline in real estate values. While it is upsetting to Florida residents, the price drop makes Florida an ever more attractive place to live and work.

If one is searching for vacation and/or home value, locations like Vero Beach and particularly, the Florida Keys offer an excellent place to live, work or retire. Vero Beach located on the Florida’s east coast, has easy access to Orlando, South Florida and the Panhandle. The Florida Keys, on the other hand, possesses a special charm rooted in a history with a perpetual vacation mind set featuring excellent fishing, diving and boating. Both are good choices depending upon one’s taste and budget.

For more information about relocation to these areas, go to http://www.flarren.com. and also http://www.keywestpropertyforsale.com

Great deals on Foreclosed Homes, But Buyer Beware! by Robert Severin

2011-02-04T13:03:00.002-05:00

In Real Estate
Getting the deal of a lifetime on a foreclosed home or condominium could be the answer to your prayers. However, sometimes the process is fraught with difficulties…if you try to go it alone. There are problems aplenty when buying a foreclosure and an experienced real estate agent will be very inexpensive insurance policy against making a huge and costly real estate blunder. What we'll be dealing with here is the process of buying bank owned or foreclosed properties, the 'how-tos' with an emphasis on what to avoid and ultimately who should be part of your team.
Foreclosure Sales vs. REOs
Before getting into the process, we'll need to cover some basics. The bank will typically and initially offer the home as a "foreclosure sale" in an auction. The sale assumes that the mortgage is still in place. In a foreclosure sale the price is set at a minimum to include the following: the loan balance, any accrued interest, plus any other associated costs. The successful bidder must have a cashier's check in his possession at the time of the auction. In today's market, this type of sale almost never occurs. If there was enough equity in the property to cover the mortgage and the market was more stable, the owner could have potentially sold his property himself and avoid the obvious negatives associated with this transaction. Nowadays, this scenario is probably unlikely
If the bank resells the property in a REO (Real Estate Owned) sale, as the alternative, the mortgage then ceases to exist and the bank owns the property 100%. This article will consider only the process from an REO perspective which would also include Veteran Administration mortgages, as well. VA mortgage repossessions are handled by real estate agents in much the same way that REOs through a commercial bank are handled.
Basic Buyer Preparations in Purchasing a REO
In all cases, REO repossession is not free of potential issues. In fact, there are often more problems. Obviously, a bank or the VA that is saddled with an inventory of repossessed homes actively tries to get the asset off of their books. However, they certainly strive to not lose additional monies on the transaction. After all, they probably have already lost a significant amount in the repossession process. In many cases there are issues that will need to be addressed upfront with respect to the ultimate contract that will be signed, assuming that your purchase bid is accepted.
Whether you are buying a home in this manner to personally occupy it or it is purchased as an investment, it will require you to perform additional 'due diligence' in order to avoid some of the potential 'got-chas' that are not usually associated with straight real estate purchases. Therefore, the two most important people to help guide you through the procedure will be an experienced real estate realtor and a seasoned real estate attorney. Additionally, you'll need to fully understand the process and the potential problems that can befall you.
Physical Problems with Repossession
Many homes that are repossessed have reached this situation because of family problems, loss of employment, death, etc. In the end, if a short sale or standard foreclosure sale is not possible, as is the case in the current market, the home sold under a REO repossession often is vacant for a period of time and the following problems are often encountered:

1. Vandalism and Break-ins. When a home is left vacant for any period of time, often appliances or anything of value may be stolen or vandalized.
2. Deliberate Vandalism by Previous Owner. When a homeowner is forced out, there is a tendency for those to take out and sell any of the appliances and in many cases, vandalize and destroy the home in retaliation against the mortgage holder for the repossession. However, to prevent the situation from occurring, some mortgage companies are now making a cash payout to the homeowner to prevent that situation from occurring.
3. Wild Life. If a home is left vacant and the lawn and foliage are unattended, various animals may seize this as an opportunity to move in. This might include raccoon, opossum, snakes, rats, mice, etc. After all, nature abhors a vacuum.
4. Maintenance not Performed. Many homeowners under the threat of foreclosure, neglect maintenance because funds are scarce and basic survival may not include painting or other cosmetic improvements. Often important preventive maintenance is not performed, as well.
5. Mold Damage. A home that is sitting vacant for any period of time, particularly in places like Florida or other locales in warm, humid climates are prone to develop mold. If left without proper air conditioning or dehumidification, the walls may develop this fungus and mold, particularly if the home has had water or plumbing leaks. Some mold damage may even occur on the inside of dry wall. Once mold takes hold on a wall, often the only recourse is to replace the entire dry wall.
6. Lead paint. Normally this is not much of a problem in newer homes, but in older homes, it is likely that lead based paints have been used in the interior. If this is the case, it's a safety hazard for a homeowner, his family or even workmen brought in to perform repairs. There are two approaches, cover it completely with paneling or use any one of a number of products designed to bond with the lead paint. In any event, removal or surface repair of lead paint on the interior of a REO home will certainly add cost to the potentials purchase
Professional Home Inspection
Most homebuyers may not be aware of the potential problems attendant in the purchase of a REO home. Therefore, it is almost mandatory that a homebuyer use the services of a reputable, licensed home inspector. Further, use an inspector that has previous experience inspecting REO homes. Money invested at the front end of this transaction, will save both headaches and dollars after the home has been purchased.
Certainly, when and if any of these problems are discovered, they can be used to negotiate allowances in the price of the property. There are however, potential buyers of such properties that look for homes in need of repair. For the most part, they are savvy and well experienced in this type of transaction. For the average homeowner, it's always best to avoid homes that appear to be problematic, upfront.
REO Contractual Issues
After dealing with and allowing for problems with respect to the condition of a property, the next hurtle is working with the bank that now owns the property. When you buy a REO, you start with a standard contract. The bank then attaches a normally non-negotiable "bank addendum" to the standard contract. There is a major 'got-cha' in this: a bank owned contract addendum means, "Everything in the main contract is nullified", if the addendum addresses it. For instance, if the main contract allows you make a final walk through inspection, but the addendum says "As-is," the addendum wins. While addendums typically specify no negotiation, in home purchases as in life, there is always room for negotiation.
The following are a couple of issues that you may need to be aware of:
1. Some standard addendums may be written nationwide and actually ignore local laws. Local statutes supersede these contracts, therefore in some cases, there are points in addendums that are not enforceable. A local attorney can guide you in this.
2. Beware of hidden fees. Sometimes, significant fees, amounting to thousands of dollars may be shifted from the seller to the buyer, as directed in the provisions of a contract addendum.
3. Most addendums typically allow the bank to cancel the contract up to the sale date and sometimes with no penalty to the bank. For instance, if the bank receives a higher offer, they may have the right to break the contract.
4. Be wary of termite provisions. Normally it's the seller's responsibility to pay if there is termite damage. The addendum typically shifts the risk back to the buyer.
5. If the bank is trying to unload a REO property, normally they will not provide financing. However, it never hurts to ask.
6. Always have a title search performed. You would expect that in a bank REO sale this would have been covered, however you can never really be sure. Therefore, make sure that the title is 100% clear through a proper title search. You can perform a preliminary check of title on RealtyTrac.com and then hire a title company to run a full, insured title search before closing on a deal.
A VA REO has some Real Advantages
While most of the homes that are now for sale as REOs are available from banks, VA repossessed homes and to an extent, FHA repossessed homes offer certain benefits to a homeowner over and above conventional banks. They are sold the same way through a local realtor and you as a potential buyer can place a bid on a property. If your bid is highest, you have the right to purchase the home. A VA home REO sale has the following advantages:
• The VA may provide financing (VA Vendee Financing) available to both veterans and non-veterans, alike.
• Under most circumstances, the property can be purchased with no down payment, whether the buyer is a veteran or not.
• The VA pays all closing costs, which may amount to as much as 6% of the purchase price.
• Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is not required.
• Instant equity may be developed, as VA property discounts may be as high as 50%.
• There are no mortgage prepayment penalties
Whenever you ultimately submit an offer, if you have found any defects, justify your offer with both photos and inspection reports. No matter what type of REO property and from whom you buy it, you will need to:
1. Work with a good realtor, experienced in this type of transaction.
2. Make sure that you secure the services of a real estate attorney, prior to any payments being made or documents being signed.
3. Use a qualified home inspector.
Certainly, by taking precautions and by assuming the worst about the condition of a property, you can avoid overpaying for a home and underestimating the amount and number of repairs and amount of renovation that will have to be undertaken on your purchase.

About the Author
To my Buyers:
As a buyer of property, you will receive personalized, professional assistance in both locating the property that suits you, and in negotiating the deal. Before buying any property, you will be an educated buyer, having learned sales prices and asking prices of comparable properties in the area of your choice, so that you have the necessary information to make an educated decision.
To my Sellers:
As a seller, your property will be marketed locally, nationally, and internationally. Your property will be featured on more than 6 real estate web sites. In addition your home will have a professional photographic and virtual tour for exhibition on the Web.

A full color brochure will also be produced. Target marketing of your property to financially capable prospects.
These are just some of the many marketing tools that will ensure that your property is "SOLD".

Robert Severin is one of the Top Producers in real estate sales, is admired by his fellow realtors, and has earned the respect of buyers and sellers who have come to him, to seek the assistance of an expert in Key West -Florida Keys Real Estate.

A World Away – Vacationing in the Florida Keys

2011-02-04T13:01:00.000-05:00

The Florida Keys offer many of the same laid back characteristics as the Caribbean, without ever leaving the United States. Amazing sunsets and a free spirited attitude all contribute to the laid back atmosphere of the Keys.

There are many activities to do, like sport fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, boating, sailing, kayaking and eco-tours. Each island destination has its own special features. These islands are also rich in culture and history with many galleries, restaurants, festivals, music and theater to visit and check out. Of course, just relaxing is always an option throughout the Keys as well.

The Keys span about 120 miles and are connected by bridges and causeways, running south west from Miami. This area has the only living-coral barrier reef in the United Stares and is approximately 5 miles off shore and runs the entire length of the Keys.

The first island in the Florida Keys is Key Largo. Being close to the Everglades National park, there is much wildlife to be seen here. It is a popular destination for kayakers and bird watchers. There are many amazing scuba diving or snorkeling sites in Key Largo as well, with many sunken wrecks in the area. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is located here and offers scuba and snorkeling tours, glass bottom boat tours and swimming in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. In 2002, the navy ship, the USS Spiegel Grove was sunk to provide a reef here and a sunken wreck for divers to explore.

The next island in the chain is Islamorada. It is comprised of six islands including Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key and the offshore islands of Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key. This area is well known for its world class sport fishing. There are many fishing tournaments held here each season.

Marathon Key is in the middle of the Florida keys. It is famous for the Seven Mile Bridge, which links it to the Lower Florida Keys. You will find great shopping and many fine restaurants offering fresh seafood. At Crane Point Museum, there is one of the last untouched tropical hardwood hammocks in the Florida Keys.

Big Pine Key is known for its boating tours and for bird watching and fishing. The diving and snorkeling is great here too. It is a quiet region of small resorts, home-style restaurants, vacation homes and untouched natural areas.

The last of the Florida Keys is Key West. There are many festivals, shopping and restaurants. Boat tours provide a great way to view Key West from the water. The snorkeling and diving are renowned here to see a diverse array of marine life. Wrecks and reefs, both artificial and natural coral, are home to hundreds of species of tropical and game fish. Many visitors rent a bicycle or go on walking tours to explore the history and architecture of Old Town Key West.

So if you are into eco-tourism, scuba diving or snorkeling, shopping and dining, or just want to relax in a tropical paradise, the Florida Keys may be the destination for you.

Key West Town Tour

2010-06-14T10:57:00.000-04:00

Here is a video showing a Town Tour of Key West.

KEY WEST - Town tour

Here is a clip that I made about Key West. The location is beautiful, the town is nice and p I did it all by myself and I hope you'll like it :)

Shark Fishing in Key West

2010-06-14T10:53:00.002-04:00

Heres a fishing video showing a shark being caught off key West.

Huge shark caught in Key West

Ali is from Isle of Man and during his holiday in Key West Florida he took a day for fishing BIG SHARKS. He is accompanying Keith Arthur, host of The Tight Lines TV show that airs on SKY SPORTS. Taken from The Fishing World and Tight Lines shows. Mus...

Florida festivals in Key West

2010-06-14T10:52:00.000-04:00

Florida Festivals in Key West

Key West Truman annex

2009-03-01T19:06:00.000-05:00

Truman Annex

The Truman Annex was named after The Truman Little White House where President Truman and many other Presidents stayed when in Key West. Truman Annex is a very upscale gated community just two blocks from Duval Street. It gives the luxury of being downtown and the privacy of a gated community and off street parking which is a big plus being down town. Many of the homes in Truman Annex are transient Licensed which allows them to be rented by the week whereas the rest of Key West has a 28 day minimum rental period by law. This makes Truman Annex very popular as an investment rental property.

Relocating to Key West from Canada and the UK

2008-05-24T11:28:00.000-04:00

Relocating to Paradise can offer you and your family a life of unparalled freedom, with
endless summers and the future of your dreams.

The economic climate is perfect at this time for Canadians and Brits investing into the States – the pound and the Canadian currency is strong against the US dollar making your choices in real estate endless.
I am happy to assist you in every step of the way with your real property investment and
to introduce you to those people who can help you find financial support for Brits and Canadians based on their credit status with no questions asked.

I have prepared a number of useful links for you to browse through in an effort to answer
those hundreds of questions you and your family may have at this time. Please use these
links and make direct contact with any or all of my associates.
Some of the individuals listed below are ex-pat Brits and will completely understand the questions you pose and the information you seek.
Let me help you to realize your dream and to start again on an adventure you will never regret...
It does not have to be a dream any more…let me Turn your Dream into Reality……
Don't Hesitate - Call me today, let's chat.

Property is the best investment you will ever make... and Property in the Keys
will make you more than you ever dreamed possible.

Links... Helping the Canadians and Brits make it in America

Great Mortgage sites http://www.britishhomeloansflorida.com/
http://www.floridamortgagesinternational.com/Home
Mortgages - Paul Lovelady - pvlovelady@aol.com
Attorney at Law - Mike Cummings - mikecummingsGB@aol.com
Florida car Insurance for Canadians-http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=558899
More car insurance info http://www.carinsurance.com/Products.aspx
Flights Sunbird Travel - peter@sunbirdtravel.com
Canadian Passport service http://www.canadian-passport-support.com/
UK Passport Office in USA - www.Britain-info.org
Accountant - Arnott Ferguson - GAF7120@aol.com
Pensions - Mark Solomon - ukpensions@adelphia.net
Citizenship and Immigration Services - www.uscis.gov
Immigration Attorney - Matt Selby - greencard@legalimmigrationservices.net

These are just some of the contacts I know you will be seeking if you are considering
relocating to America.
Call me if I can help with Property Investment in any way.
I am here to work for you in Turning your Dream into Reality

Sunset Key Florida

2008-05-24T11:26:00.000-04:00

Sunset Key is a 27-acre exclusive resort island in the city of Key West, Florida, United States located about 500 yards off the coast of the island of Key West. The island is privately held among its residents, one of which is the Key West Westin which operates a small number of guest cottages. The island is only accessible by a shuttle boat that runs from the Westin Marina out to the island. The island consists of a total of 48 single-family homes and 21 vacant lots, all of which are valued at over $1.5 million.
Its closest neighbor is Wisteria Island, about 200 yards north.

History
Sunset Key's official name is Tank Island. The United States Navy constructed Tank Island to serve as a fuel tank depot during the Cold War. Dredging began in 1965 to form the island as well as to build passageways for submarines and other large vessels. However, the Navy's plans changed and the island saw little military action. Only two of the twelve planned fuel tanks were constructed, and although the fuel lines were run, the tanks were never filled.
In 1986, the Government sold off Tank Island and other anchorages in Key West in an auction. In 1988, the tanks were dismantled while the remaining fuel lines served as conduits for water, sewage, and utility. Power cables were later laid alongside the existing fuel pipes.
In 1994, the island was re-purchased and renamed to Sunset Key. The island is now owned by Tom Walsh, who also owns the Westin Key West Resort & Marina.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Old town Key West

2008-05-24T11:14:00.000-04:00

Old Town Key West

Living in Old Town Key West gives residents the option, to not own a car. Due to the parking situation and streets, Bicycles, mopeds or walking is the preferred way to move around town. If you do use a car, be aware that parking can be difficult in Old Town. There are however parking lots and garages just off Duval that can definitely help the situation.

The original Key West neighborhood in the west (although perceived as south) is called "Old Town" and comprises the Key West Historic District. It includes the major tourist destinations of the island including Mallory Square, Duval Street, the Truman Annex and Fort Zachary Taylor. It is where you find the classic bungalows and guest mansions.
Generally, the structures date from 1886 to 1912. The basic features that distinguish the local architecture include wood frame construction of one to two-and-a-half story structures set on foundation piers about three feet above the ground. Exterior characteristics of the buildings are peaked "metal" roofs, horizontal wood siding, gingerbread trim, pastel shades of paint, side-hinged louvered shutters, covered porches (or balconies, galleries, or verandas) along the fronts of the structures, and wood lattice screens covering the area elevated by the piers.
PS-There are several Old Town neighborhoods. Among them the Solares Hill area, The Meadows, Downtown Key West, Bayview Park, Casa Marina and Bahama Village. These neighborhoods are loaded with charm. Check out these beautiful streets: William, Frances, Fleming, Southard and Elizabeth. Explore little-know lanes like Bakers Lane, Penny Lane, Love Lane, and Nassau Lane.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Taking advantage of a changing market

2007-07-02T13:19:00.000-04:00

Real estate is a local issue.
Since the real estate climate in the Keys varies from subdivision to Island, it is important for you to know and understand how all the pricing fluctuations work here.
In addition, conditions can also change quickly, so you need the most up-to-date information available to make a well-informed decision. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, contact me for an overview of current market conditions. I can determine the value of your existing home or help you estimate the cost of a home in an area you may be considering.

Over the past five years, the United States real estate market has experienced record sales and price appreciation. The real estate boom has been especially strong in the South East, with home values doubling and even tripling in some cities.

Real estate is cyclical. In some areas, particularly those that have seen annual appreciation rates of 20 percent and more a year, the real estate market is cycling back to more normal conditions. The normalizing of home prices is a natural part of the real estate cycle. It’s also healthy for the market, serving to rebalance supply and demand, and to bring prices more in line with what consumers can afford.

Remember that housing markets are all local. At the height of the real estate boom, some areas of the country experienced annual appreciation rates in just the low single digits. And even in regions that are seeing home prices moderate today, there are properties in highly desirable neighborhoods that continue to receive multiple offers.

What’s important is how to make the best possible real estate deal in your market. That’s where I can help. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a home, here are some strategies that will help make your real estate transaction more successful.

Florida Insurance rate relief

2007-01-25T10:13:00.000-05:00

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 vacation home

2007-01-04T14:48:00.000-05:00

Things to consider when buying any waterfront vacation home.

First off, congratulations at looking to the Keys for a possible vacation home. The good news about the Keys from an investment angle are:

1. There is only so much waterfront or Coastal property available.
2. The Keys have strict environmental laws that affect building permits. This means there are only so many homes and always will be a limited number of homes here. One big reason for this is there is just ONE Highway in and out of the Keys. (US1) If there is an emergency, people need to have the ability to leave quickly and so for this reason alone, the Keys will never be California. The other main environmental consideration is the water quality. The Keys main attraction are water sports and Monroe County is going to make sure that our waters are clean and usable.

To consider when purchasing any waterfront vacation home and how the Keys measure up:

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, 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?
In the Upper Keys we have Baptist hospital in Tavernier which is an excellent option.
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.
On thing about the upper Keys is that Miami and South Beach are just about an hour away and World famous Key West, 2 hours.

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.
Lots of homes in the Keys 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, the upper Keys offer good investment potential from an appreciation aspect and income potential from renters.
Regarding Appreciation.
Because Miami and Ft Lauderdale are a short drive away, people there look to the Keys as a getaway. Think New York and the Jersey shore. We sell a majority of homes to people from these areas.
Income potential.
About 50% of the vacation renters in the Keys are from Florida. They come here because the Keys are a completely different experience. This means 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.

Key West Dining out

2006-11-09T13:33:00.000-05:00

Buying an existing business in the Keys

2006-10-14T10:04:00.000-04:00

BUYING AN EXISTING BUSINESS.
There are opportunities for buying an existing business or starting up your own version. Utilizing a better idea or service, better marketing or any other angle that really makes sense to a customer is always welcome. I'd recommend you look at a business that is not just tourist related, one that will draw customers year round. If you currently have a business and/or have an entrepenurial spirit-you'll quickly see where the holes or opportunities exist here. Existing business's generally return at most about 10%...that is from strictly an investment standpoint- if you're going to be working the business-then there's management fees etc that you will keep.

Florida Keys Arts and Culture

2006-09-28T15:59:00.000-04:00

Key Largo...Tavernier...Islamorada...Upper Keys Real Estate

Florida Keys Arts and Culture

Florida Keys and Monroe County Arts
The Keys are made up of small towns and communities. However, due to the strong economy from our tourist base, the Arts are a primary part of our culture. Most weekends bring festivals and street parties throughout the Keys and especially in Key West. Photography of wildlife here is also great. Check out www.dhphotoart.com

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts does a great job in supporting Art in the Keys http://www.keysarts.com/
Also see the Key West Arts and historical society http://www.kwahs.com/

Music
• The Keys Community Concert Band. Susan Bazin 451-4530.
• Keys Chamber Orchestra. Call Inga-Lisa Wright, 305-744-0508
• The Key West Pops, Inc. - 305 293-7658, P.O. Box 6206
• Note to musicians-There are about a zillion Tiki bars etc, that have live music. The times range from the afternoon through the evening. The pay is generally better than you'll find working in a regular club in the rest of the country. In addition to that most outdoor venues shut their nusic down about 11-so the hours are shorter.

Museums and Culture
• Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum - 305 294-1136, 907 Whitehead St., Key West FL
• Flagler's Station Historeum®-901 Caroline St., 1-305-295-3562.
• Key West East Martello Museum - 305 296-3913, 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd.
• Key West Lighthouse Museum - 305 294-0012, 938 Whitehead Street
• Key West Museum of Art & History - 305 295-6616
• Key West Shipwreck Historeum - 305 292-8990, 1 Whitehead Street
• Little White House Museum - 305 294-9911
• Lofton B. Sands African Bahamian Museum - 305 293-9692,
• Wrecker's Museum - 322 Duval St., 294-9502.

Theater/dance
• Middle Florida Keys
• Marathon Community Theatre, 5101 O/S Hwy.....305 743-0994
• Key West Theatre
• Island Opera Theatre.....305 296-1520
• Red Barn Theatre, 319 Duval St (Rear).....305 296-9911
• Waterfront Playhouse, Mallory Square.....305 294-5015

Art Galleries/ Visual Arts
• Over 90 galleries throughout the Keys
• Note to Artists; regardless of the medium, ther is a place for you in the Keys. The Keys strongly support resident artists.

Writers groups in all genres (from screenwriting to novels) are spread throughout the Keys. There is definitely a reason so many world class writers and Play-rights have made and do make the Keys their home. Especially Key West.(“Ernest Hemingway” ) The musician and actor community here is strong.

No halt to Keys building

2006-07-23T10:09:00.000-04:00

No halt to Keys building
Commission won’t impose moratorium despite challenges to the Tier System

The Monroe County
Commission on Wednesday
said it would not impose
a building moratorium in
response to a legal challenge
of its proposed growthmanagement
plan.
Instead of issuing building
permits according to
the controversial new Tier
System, the county will
continue to allow construction
under the old rate of
growth ordinance (ROGO)
until the matter is settled.
County Administrator Tom
Willi last week had said the
legal challenge could stop
development.
In declining the moratorium,
developer Ed Swift
told commissioners at the
meeting, “You are refusing
to play into the hands of
the people who would stop
everything.”
Two environmental
groups, Last Stand and
the Florida Keys Citizens
Coalition, filed a legal challenge
saying the Tier System
does not protect environmentally
sensitive land.
Essentially, the tier maps
specify three regions where
development can occur or
is prohibited.
Building is for the most part
prohibited in Tier 1, which is
environmentally sensitive areas,
but allowed in Tier 3. The county
threw out the ambiguous Tier 2
in favor of Tier 3A, special protection
areas that allows building
on a case-by-case basis.
Each year, the county would
grant six permits in Tier 1 and
197 in Tier 3.
The county and state, which
oversee development in the
Florida Keys, have until July 28
to respond to the challenge. If
it has merit, it will be sent to
the Division of Administrative
Hearings, which will set a hearing
date.
It could take years for the
state or court system to resolve
the matter, County Attorney
Suzanne Hutton said.
Until then, the county will
continue issuing permits under
ROGO, whose point system gives
preference to property owners
who use the most environmentally
friendly building methods
or who give the county property
for affordable housing, or even
build the projects, in exchange
for the ability to transfer allotments
to market-rate projects
elsewhere in the county.
“It’s our interpretation that
ROGO is still in place,” said
Hutton, who researched reverting
back to the ROGO system
temporarily.

Lower Keys overview Part 2

2006-06-30T10:48:00.000-04:00

This Lower Keys 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.

The Lower Keys overview part 1

2006-06-11T19:14:00.000-04:00

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.

Monroe County Exempt from new wind Insurance rates

2006-06-05T09:13:00.000-04:00

MONROE EXEMPT FROM APPROVED WIND RATES

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty on Friday did what he said he was going to do: Exclude Monroe County in approving Citizens Property Insurance Corp.'s rate filing.

The rate includes two filings: actuarial and top-of-market, the latter being higher than the average of the top 20 companies. The state's insurer of last resort must charge higher rates so it doesn't compete against private insurers.

Monroe County is in a pilot project that limits rates to an actuarial filing, since the state found it has no competition.

After experiencing eight major hurricanes during the last two years, Citizens accumulated a $1.7 billion deficit. The Legislature appropriated $715 million to cover the deficit, which Citizens usually covers with an assessment it charges private insurers, as required by state law. Private insurers pass that cost on to customers through a surcharge on premiums, which are expected to decrease 20 percent, to a 3.5 percent levy, thanks to the legislative bailout.

"I am very pleased that the Legislature allocated a portion of the sales tax revenue surplus to provide rate relief to all Florida policyholders," McCarty said. "However, we still need to take strong measures to ensure that Citizens' rates are actuarially sound to minimize future assessments."

Citizens made its top 20 filing in December and actuarial filing in January.

"Our actuarial staff has rigorously examined these rates, and I am confident the approved adjustments achieve adequate rates given the risks involved," McCarty said.

McCarty's order approved combined average rate increases for homeowner's policies of 16.1 percent on a statewide basis; 6.7 percent for mobile home policies; no increase for condominium unit policies; and 21.5 percent for dwelling fire policies.

What makes a good Vacation Rental

2006-06-03T10:48:00.000-04:00

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.

Requirements for using a home as a rental

2006-05-27T08:43:00.000-04:00

• As to extra costs and what is necessary to have a Home as a Rental.
• When you rent your home out you need to license it through the County. The costs are typically minimal and your agent’s company should be able to handle the paperwork for you.
• The County and the Tax people want the homes licensed so they know where there may be tax dollars coming in. When your home is used as a rental, in effect you are operating the same as a hotel or motel and so they come under their safety guidelines.
• This applies to the Keys but may be the cases statewide:
• Every bedroom and the main living area must have a hardwired smoke detector and there must also be an escape light. This light comes on in case of a power outage-this also must be hardwired. (About $450.00 installed smoke detectors and escape light for a 2/2)
• There also needs to be a professional quality refillable fire extinguisher that is approved by the fire department (about $55.00). This would be the same as you'd find in a restaurant or hotel room. There needs to be a dead bolt on the door that works from the inside and is a different key than the main door. All of these issues help protect your liability in cases of fire/break in.

Florida Keys and Monroe County Arts

2006-05-17T14:56:00.000-04:00

Florida Keys and Monroe County Arts
The Keys are made up of small towns and communities. However, due to the strong economy from our tourist base, the Arts are a primary part of our culture. Most weekends bring festivals and street parties throughout the Keys and especially in Key West. Photography of wildlife here is great www.dhphotoart.com

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts does a great job in supporting Art in the Keys http://www.keysarts.com/
Also see the Key West Arts and historical society http://www.kwahs.com/

Music
• The Keys Community Concert Band. Susan Bazin 451-4530.
• Keys Chamber Orchestra. Call Inga-Lisa Wright, 305-744-0508
• The Key West Pops, Inc. - 305 293-7658, P.O. Box 6206
• Note to musicians-There are about a zillion Tiki bars etc, that have live music. The times range from the afternoon through the evening. The pay is generally better than you'll find working in a regular club in the rest of the country. In addition to that most outdoor venues shut their nusic down about 11-so the hours are shorter.

Museums and Culture
• Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum - 305 294-1136, 907 Whitehead St., Key West FL
• Flagler's Station Historeum®-901 Caroline St., 1-305-295-3562.
• Key West East Martello Museum - 305 296-3913, 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd.
• Key West Lighthouse Museum - 305 294-0012, 938 Whitehead Street
• Key West Museum of Art & History - 305 295-6616
• Key West Shipwreck Historeum - 305 292-8990, 1 Whitehead Street
• Little White House Museum - 305 294-9911
• Lofton B. Sands African Bahamian Museum - 305 293-9692,
• Wrecker's Museum - 322 Duval St., 294-9502.

Theater/dance
• Middle Florida Keys
• Marathon Community Theatre, 5101 O/S Hwy.....305 743-0994
• Key West Theatre
• Island Opera Theatre.....305 296-1520
• Red Barn Theatre, 319 Duval St (Rear).....305 296-9911
• Waterfront Playhouse, Mallory Square.....305 294-5015

Art Galleries/ Visual Arts
• Over 90 galleries throughout the Keys
• Note to Artists; regardless of the medium, ther is a place for you in the Keys. The Keys strongly support resident artists.

Writers groups in all genres (from screenwriting to novels) are spread throughout the Keys. There is definitely a reason so many world class writers and Play-rights have made and do make the Keys their home-especially Key West.(“Ernest Hemingway” ) The musician and actor community here is strong.

In conclusion, the arts community in the keys is very strong and will even grow stronger. So if you like the arts and a small community with lots of outdoor opportunities, The Florida Keys could be just the place.

Wouldn’t it be nice to vacation here and not have to leave?

Key West and Monroe county to have own wind rates

2006-04-26T08:58:00.000-04:00

Key West and Monroe county to have own wind rates
from the 4/22 Key West Citizen

Citizen Staff The governor and Cabinet on Friday approved a pilot project for windstorm insurance that will treat the Florida Keys differently than the rest of the state. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said Citizens Property Insurance Corp. no longer will base Monroe County's rates on what the top 20 insurance companies charge. By law, Citizens had to charge more so it didn't compete with private companies. Citizens has no competition in the Keys. Although two companies provide policies, it is only when Citizens transfers them out. Citizens will base its rates on actuarial studies instead. McCarty told the governor and Cabinet that he rejected Citizens' first actuarial rates and next week will ask the corporation to submit new rates within 30 days. "The rates will stay where they are until the filing," McCarty said.

Building a Home in the Florida Keys

2006-04-24T19:54:00.000-04:00

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.
As of September 2005, per an MLS search,

Vacant lots-Location-Number available and starting price.
• Key Largo, 89 starting at $30,000
• Marathon, 446, starting at $35,000
• Key West 20, starting at $275,000

For prices on the individual keys see the real Estate section and 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.

Important:

Regarding pricing. The closer to the water and the deeper the boating,(boat draft-a 50 foot requires deeper water and wider canals than a flats boat) the higher the prices.

Another thing to do is find out what flood zone the property is in per FEMA maps and then talk to a local insurer on how that will affect your rates. Do this ahead of time.

#In all cases if you find a lot that you like, my suggestion is that you ask for a letter of build ability from the local zoning commission as a clause in your sales contract. Always-always, talk with the county yourself to get the update on the laws.

So, yes, you can build here and it’s done all the time, but make sure you ask all the necessary questions and if you can, get it in writing.

Florida Keys Transportation

2006-04-16T16:21:00.000-04:00

Florida Keys Transportation
Due to it’s location, the Keys can seem hard to get to and from. However, that’s the way most of the locals like it.
If there were 6 roads coming in here we’d be inundated. Whatever your form of transportation though, when you get here you’ll be glad you cameStatistics:
There is one major Highway in, US Highway 1
Automobile
• US 1

Driving distances throughout Florida from Key West
• Daytona 405
• Fort Lauderdale 177
• Jacksonville 493
• Miami 155
• Orlando 371
• Pensacola 792
• Tampa 387
For driving distances to other Florida and US locations go to: http://www.ersys.com/usa/12/1216525/distance.htmAutomobile

Air
• Key West International Airport, 3491 S Roosevelt, Key West.....305 296-5439
• Cape Air.....305 293-0603
• Delta, Reservations & Information.....800 221-1212 Key West-Atlanta
• Cape Air.......800 352-0714 Key West-Ft Meyers-Naples-Ft Lauderdale
• Continental Connection.....305 294-9460 800 523-3273
• Florida Coastal Airlines.....305 296-9725
• Marathon Airport, Marathon.....305 743-2155
• Paradise Jet Support......305 743-4222

Other:
• Conch Air Bi-Plane Rides.....305 289-5558
• Coral Reef Air Tours.....305 747-2249
• Paradise Air.....305 289-0007
• Tropical Fighters.....305 743-4222
• Sugarloaf Key
• Fantasy Dan's Airplane Rides, US Hwy 1.....305 745-2217

Key West
• Air Key West.....305 923-4033
• Aviation Alternatives.....305 248-1100
• Aviator Services Inc.....305 292-6402 (877) 700-7755
• Cape Air, 3491 S Roosevelt Blvd.....305 293-0603
• Island Aeroplane Tours, 3471 S Roosevelt Blvd.....305 294-8687
• Seaplanes of Key West/Dry Tortugas Trips, 3471 S. Roosevelt Blvd
• 305 294-0709 800 950-2FLY

Bus
• Greyhound Lines
• Makes numerous scheduled stops between Miami International Airport and the Keys, including Key Largo. 1-800-231-2222 or 305-296-9072.

Ocean
• The Key West Bight Ferry Terminal.
• The Key West express
• Travels between Ft. Myers Beach and Marco Island on Florida's Gulf coast. The trip takes approximately 3.5 hours.
• For information go to http://www.keywestshuttle.com/

Cruise ships
• Arrive daily from all over the USA-
• Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Holland America, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean all visit Key West on cruises ranging in length from four to 14 days. Not only from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Tampa, but also from such distant ports as Houston and Galveston, Texas, and even Boston.

Wouldn’t it be nice to go on vacation and never go back. In the keys you can live the dream.

Key West and the Keys Recreation

2006-04-07T09:30:00.000-04:00

Key West and the Florida Keys Outdoors and Recreational Opportunities
Miles of oceanfront and Gulf front access await you in the Keys.
Recreational opportunities in the outdoors are the most important assets of the Keys.
The fishing and boating here is incredible-both in the Ocean and the back-country (the Gulf). There is something to catch year round and our weather lets you do it. If you like the water, this is the place
Recreational Opportunities:
• 47 Marinas
• 13 Parks,
• 3 Golf Courses
• 10 Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks
• 13 public Tennis Courts
• 18 Boat Ramps
•
• To see a complete list of parks and recreational opportunities see
• the sites below
• http://www.floridastateparks.org/FndaParkRegion.cfm?Dist=Southeast
Things to do outdoors:
• Fishing-saltwater, freshwater-Ocean, lakes and the Everglades
• Boating-Ocean, Gulf or Bay
• Diving
• Hiking
• Tennis
• Bike riding
• Birding
• Photography and Wildlife watching
• Kayaking—canoes-there are good rental locations and lots of places to launch.
• Air boating into the Everglades
• Windsurfing the flats

Other places to visit.
• Audubon House- original Audubon engravings (not Audubon's residence)
• Conch Tour Train-
• Curry Mansion Inn - 305 294-5349 511 Caroline Street, Key West FL 33040
• Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum - 305 294-1136, 907 Whitehead St., Key West FL
• Flagler's Station Historeum®-901 Caroline St., 1-305-295-3562.
• Haitian Art Co. - 305 296-8932, 600 Francis St., Key West FL 33040
• Heritage House Museum - 305 296-3573, 410 Caroline Street, Key West FL 33040
• Historic Seaport at Key West Bight.
• Key West Aquarium - 1 Whitehead St., Mallory Market
• Key West East Martello Museum - 305 296-3913, 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd.
• Key West Lighthouse Museum - 305 294-0012, 938 Whitehead Street
• Key West Museum of Art & History - 305 295-6616
• Custom House - 281 Front Street, Key West FL 33040
• Key West Shipwreck Historeum - 305 292-8990, 1 Whitehead Street
• Little White House Museum - 305 294-9911
• Wrecker's Museum - 322 Duval St., 294-9502. Built in 1829. This is Key West's oldest house.

Key West and the Florida Keys Education

2006-03-29T10:37:00.000-05:00

Key West and the Florida Keys Education
Monroe County is totally dedicated to good education. The school district offers a first class educational system to all its residents. With over 1500 employees
To see the Monroe County mission statement and for more particulars go to http://www.monroe.k12.fl.us/
Schools listing
• ASD 275828-Public Big Pine Key Neighborhood School Big Pine Key Monroe 33043
• ASD 9902- Public Coral Shores High School Tavernier Monroe 3307o
• ASD 144250 Public Gerald Adams Elementary School Key West Monroe 33040
• ASD 144249 Public Glynn Archer Elementary School Key West Monroe 33040
• ASD 123786 Private Grace Lutheran School Key West Monroe 33040
• ASD 39184 Public Horace O'Bryant Middle School Key West Monroe 33040
• ASD 123787 Private Island Christian School Islamorada Monroe 33036
• ASD 9972 Public Key Largo School Key Largo Monroe 33037
• ASD 9981 Public Key West High School Key West Monroe 33040
• ASD 123788 Private Little Lambs Preschool & Childcare Key West Monroe 33040
• ASD 44232 Public Marathon Junior Senior High School Marathon Monroe 33050
• ASD 9983 Catholic Mary Immaculate Star Of The Sea School Key West Monroe 33040
• ASD 144254 Public Plantation Key School Tavernier Monroe 33070
• ASD 9982 Public Poinciana Elementary School Key West Monroe 33040
• ASD 140995 Public Sigsbee Elementary School Key West Monroe
• 33040 144253 Public Stanley Switlick Elementary School Marathon Monroe 33050
• ASD 144251 Public Sugarloaf Elementary Middle School Summerland Key Monroe 33042

For phone numbers and addresses go to http://www.monroe.k12.fl.us/district/listing.htm

Private schools
• ACADEMY AT OCEAN REEF, 2 Dockside Lane N, Key Largo, 305-367-2409
• ISLAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, MM 83.2, Islamorada, 305-664-2781
• ISLAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL-SOUTH, 14 125th St., Gulf, Marathon, 305-743-2200
• MARATHON LUTHERAN SCHOOL, 325 122nd St., Gulf, Marathon, 305-289-0700
• MARY IMMACULATE STAR OF THE SEA SCHOOL, 700 Truman, Key West, 305-294-1031

Pre schools and kindergarten
• ABC DAY SCHOOL, 6630 65th St. Ocean, Marathon, 305-743-3521
• COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL, 550 122nd St., Marathon, 303-743-3517
• EASTER SEALS FLORIDA, 5220 W. Junior College Rd., Key West, 305-294-1089
• FREDERICK DOUGLASS CHILD CARE CENTER, 103 Olivia, Key West, 305-294-3934
• GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL, 2713 Flagler Ave., Key West, 305-296-6262
• GROUPER LANE PRESCHOOL, 735 Grouper Lane, Key Largo, 305-852-9520
• HAPPY APPLE PRESCHOOL, 12350 O/S Hwy., Marathon, 305-743-9020
• ISLAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL-SOUTH, 14 125th St., Gulf, Marathon, 305-743-2200
• ISLAND PRE-SCHOOL, 5 Transylvania Ave., Key Largo, 305-451-1181
• KEYS ACADEMY AT ST. JUSTIN, MM 105.5, Key Largo, 305-451-6415
• KEY WEST PRESCHOOL CO-OP, 2610 Flagler Ave., Key West, 305-296-4749
• KREATIVE KIDS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, 4711 O/S Hwy., Marathon, 305-743-7165
• LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, 5580 MacDonald Ave., Key West, 305-292-5582
• LITTLE BEARS PRE-SCHOOL & DAYCARE, MM.100.4, Key Largo, 305-451-0755
• LITTLE SEAHORSE ACADEMY, MM.104.9, Key Largo, 305-451-6045
• MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 241 Trumbo Rd., Key West, 305-293-1400
• MONTESSORI IN KEY LARGO, MM. 99.5, Key Largo, 305-453-3939
• MONTESSORI ISLAND SCHOOL, MM 92.3 Oceanside, Tavernier, 305-852-3438
• ST JAMES CHILDREN'S CENTER, MM 87.5, Plantation Key, 305-852-2161
• TEMPLE CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL, 5727 2nd Ave., Stock Island, Key West, 305-294-2775
• VINEYARD EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER, County Rd., Big Pine Key, 305-872-3404
• WESLEY HOUSE CHILD CARE CENTER, 1100 Varela, Key West, 305-296-5231

Universities and colleges
• FLORIDA KEYS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Upper Keys, Tavernier, 305-852-8007
• FLORIDA KEYS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Middle Keys, Marathon, 305-743-2133
• FLORIDA KEYS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Main Office, Key West, 305-296-9081
• GOSHEN COLLEGE MARINE BIOLOGY LABORATORY, Layton Dr, Layton, 305-664-5454
• NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH CENTER, 515 Caribbean Dr, Key Largo, 305-451-0233
• SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY, 718 Boca Chica Naval Air Station, Key West, 305-293-284

Junior/Community Colleges:
• Florida Keys community College and Adult education
• http://www.fkcc.edu/

Key West Health and medical

2006-03-16T08:42:00.000-05:00

Flordia Keys Health
The Florida Keys demand good healthcare facilities. Although the total population is less than 90,000, due to the influx of tourists, good healthcare has to be available. In addition Miami and its world class Baptist hospital and all the other facilities, is just hours away.
Healthcare Facilities in the Keys:
• Hospitals, 4
• Assisted living, 3
• Health Care clinics, 8
• Skilled Nursing facility, 3

For more information (other facilities and their address) see http://facilitylocator.floridahealthstat.com/
See the health department Web site http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chdcollier/services/services.html

Another great site that has all the local resources for Monroe Colunty is at
http://www.aidshelp.cc/html/local_resources.html

Hospitals
• DEPOO HOSPITAL
• 1200 KENNEDY DRIVE
• KEY WEST , FL 33040
• TELEPHONE#:305 294-9200

• FISHERMEN'S HOSPITAL
• 3301 OVERSEAS HIGHWAY
• MARATHON, FL 33050
• TELEPHONE#:305 743-5533
• http://www.fishermenshospital.com/

• LOWER KEYS MEDICAL CENTER
• 5900 COLLEGE ROAD
• KEY WEST , FL 33041-9107 TELEPHONE#:305 294-9200

• MARINERS HOSPITAL
• 91500 OVERSEAS HWY
• TAVERNIER, FL 33070 TELEPHONE#:305 434-1582
• OWNER: BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA

Key West general information

2006-03-14T09:36:00.000-05:00

Dining Out

These areas outside of Duval, in my opinion with the exception of the Atlantic side of Duval are where the good restaurants are. Places like Louie’s Backyard, Blue Heaven, and Michaels to name a few are popular with the locals and the tourists who have visited here many times and have found them. My neighbor on Cudjoe Key, a longtime Florida and Keys resident, says to add Café Sole, Mangia Mangia, and Antonia’s to that list. (Café Sole is right across a quiet little street from what just might be the best Haitian art gallery in America.) Well, truth is, everybody’s got their favorites when it comes to restaurants and the hidden gems you can find here. Part of the fun is walking around and discovering them.

Outdoors Recreation

Key West has all kinds of options when it comes to playing outside: diving and fishing, sailing, lying on the beach, biking and visiting historical sites. And you can go for boatrides on the harbor, ranging from sunset sailing schooners to fast speedboats that spin in circles.

Boats and rides tend leave from the harbor area or the boat basin(s), but there’s a number of other options too.

Transportation

Key West international airport offers flights to Florida cities like Miami, Ft Lauderdale and Orlando. From there you can fly anywhere in the world.

There is a “flying boat” ferry connecting to Ft Myers (takes a few hours), and of course Cruise ships stop here as a layover point or destination. There is no train from or to points north.

The balance of travel back to mainland Florida is by automobile or bus on US1, known as the Overseas Highway.

You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced rush hour in Key West – some people swear there is no such thing. Not much, anyway.

Finally, within Key West there is little need for anything more than your own two feet. But you can drive, and there’s decent parking on the periphery of downtown. There are also some buses, and taxis, of both the four-wheeled and two-legged variety! Every once in a while somebody comes up with the idea of using boat taxis to get from Point A to Point B, but this isn’t reliable.

Housing

Homes in Key west are expensive – less expensive in Stock Island and very expensive in Key Haven. As of Sept 2005, homes in Key West started at $385,000 but much higher prices are commonplace. Some of the tiny historic-type homes carry price tags that surprise people, but then you have to remember that it’s a small island in high demand, and there’s not a lot of inventory.

There’s much more inventory when it comes to condominiums, but even condos are getting very pricy. Timeshares, allowing week-at-a-time purchases, have become more common too.

* * * * *

In conclusion, several visits to the Keys and in particular Key West made me sell my business in Oregon and move to the Keys. It is an adventure and personally, I made a decision that I wanted to be one of the people who went on vacation and didn’t leave.

Key West Employment

2006-03-09T08:45:00.000-05:00

Key West and the Florida Keys Employment
The local economy leans towards goods and services for both new residents and tourists.The retail, construction and hotel industries have the most employees in Monroe County.
Business Size
Monroe County is comprised of primarily small businesses.
Since there is no state or local income tax, you take home more.
Employment: The good news. Key West has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.
Why? Key West is one of the most popular destination points in the world for Divers, Boaters, Fishermen and people looking to get out of the bad weather and enjoy our water and the unique ambiance of Key West and the neighboring islands

So What? In addition to people flying and driving in, on average we get two to three Cruise ships from all over the world each day. This has spurred a growth which includes more hotels, condos, and restaurants, charters, etc. Obviously all these new startups plus all the existing ones need people.

So? The bad news for an Employer! Employers have a hard time finding full time or year round employees. Instead they get people looking to work summers or to pay for extended vacations. Now there is nothing wrong with this and in some cases this is what they want however in most cases they would like to find steady year round help and offer full benefits.

The good news. If you are looking for a steady job, have your own transportation and a good work ethic (will show up) there are lots of jobs to be had. For instance in the building, remodeling trade contractors have a very hard time getting reliable help. Some of these jobs start at $15.00 per hour. In general retail jobs start at $8.00 and quickly go to $10.00 and more with commissions.

Sound too good to be true? Remember this is a resort area, which has a unique and completely different makeup than the rest of the country or world. Kind of like Aspen except that we get tourists year round!
To look for jobs in the classifieds go to www.keysjobs.com or www.keynoter.com.
Some statistics:

Key West investment opportunities

2006-03-07T13:42:00.000-05:00

Key West and the Florida Keys Investment opportunities
With all the abundant recreational opportunities mixed in with a great climate the Keys attract people...lots of people.
Tourists in turn 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. The Keys are definitely a happening place.
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 The Keys and it’s areas-where would the best rentals probably be located?
• *A condo or single family home anywhere on the water-either Ocean or Gulf or a canal and anywhere in the Keys (unless they prohibit vacation rentals. (see below)
• *The rental rates will vary from island to island due to boating depth and neighborhoods, SEE information below,
• *Key West downtown is 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.

Key West overview

2006-03-07T13:26:00.000-05:00

Key West

Key West is both a place and a state of mind. It lies about as far away as you can go in this USA, almost part of the tropics, some four hours and 150 miles south and west of Miami. You cross a lot of bridges and spectacular blue and green water to get there, and when you get there you’re only 90 miles from Cuba. Cruise ships consider a stop at Key West part of their Caribbean itineraries!

It’s not a big place, and it is a place where real people live. It has a year-round population of just over 26,000 and a median resident age of 39 years. Key West also includes the neighboring communities of Stock Island, where a lot of the remaining commercial fishing is based, and which used to be where Key West’s supplies were “stocked” in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and Key Haven, with wide canals and lots of pleasure boats.

Key West has been described in about a zillion travel guides and Web sites and the name used in countless movies as the place people want to finally get away to. Having lived in Cudjoe Key (23 miles away) and selling real Estate in Key West, I have a good feel for the place.

The best way to describe Key West, is a vacation place. Meaning whenever you’re there, the ambience and atmosphere catches you up in it and you could well be somewhere in the Bahamas or the Caribbean.

Key West is also a state of mind. You can watch sunsets from Mallory Square on the harbor, or from the bars and restaurants on the boat basins. You can shop or whatever on famous Duval Street. Since nobody knows how to throw a party like Key West does, you can join in at Fantasy Fest (think Mardi Gras) at the end of October, and see for yourself. This is, after all, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. Whatever you imagine about Key West is probably true.

Or you can enjoy the reality of Key West’s other state of mind too – its wonderful diversity, history, and creativity. Lots of writers, artists, artisans, and musicians have always called this state of mind/special place home, from Hemingway to the present day.

There are also plenty of areas in Key West where the locals go besides Duval Street and the sunset bars. In fact when you get off of Duval, you will find restaurants, art galleries, grocery stores and antique shops in the neighborhoods, and tree-lined little streets with lots of tropical foliage where people live.

So although you’re in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, the neighborhoods here are quiet, lined with historical architecture and have a very comfy feel. And the historic district is very compact. You can walk everywhere.