Florida

Property price growth of 100% in the last 6 years

More than just Mickey Mouse

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About Florida

There is more to Florida than Mickey Mouse and white-knuckle rides. Winding waterways, freshwater lakes, hills, forests, exciting cities, 13,560km (8426 miles) of coast, countless bays, inlets and islands, and a legendary climate make this one of the most popular States in the USA.

Florida is divided into eight geographical regions: Northwest; North Central; Northeast; Central West; Central; Central East; Southwest; and Southeast Florida & the Keys. Situated on the southeastern tip, Miami and Miami Beach have long been a haunt of the rich and famous, and star-spotting is a popular pastime here. Palm Beach scores equally highly in the glamour stakes. Fort Lauderdale is a popular spot for families, offering a wide assortment of sports and recreational activities. To the south, the Florida Keys offers a tropical climate, beautiful beaches and clear blue waters.

The capital of Florida, Tallahassee, is geographically closer to Atlanta than Miami and is strictly Southern in tone. It was chosen as the State capital in 1823, as a compromise between Pensacola and St Augustine, which had both been vying for the honour. Today, it is often described as 'The Other Florida' with its rolling hills, oak forests, cool climate and distinctly Southern feel.

Tampa and St Petersburg are the main cities in the Central West region. Sarasota is the cultural capital of the region, thanks to John Ringling and his wife who amassed an impressive art collection, which is today displayed in their restored mansion. The southwestern region is home to Naples, a popular seaside retreat. Just off the mainland, Marco Island stands as a model of ecological preservation.

In the northeastern corner of Florida stands Jacksonville, named after General Andrew Jackson. Nearby St Augustine is known as 'America's Oldest City' and is home to more than 60 historic sites. Amelia Island, often called the 'Isle of Eight Flags', is the only site in the country to have been governed by eight different countries during its history. At its heart lies Fernandina Beach, the nation's second-oldest city. Daytona is located in the slender Central East region. The beach is the city's main attraction, with a 510m (1700ft) boardwalk brimming with amusements, rides and snack bars.

And of course Mickey Mouse has his part to play

Florida is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with visitors heading to 'The Sunshine State' in search of fun, sun and thrills. Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom Park and Busch Gardens are just a few of the man-made attractions for which the State is famed. Orlando is the face of Florida that most people recognise, with its enormous number of theme parks, movie studios, water parks and entertainment facilities

We do our best to bring you a selection of Florida homes, from holiday units to long term rentals.

Some interesting facts for you

• Florida is ranked 4^th in the US in high-tech employment with a
  workforce of close to 250,000 employees in over 20,000 companies
• Central Florida & the Space Coast- a combined region for statistical purposes- has grown at a rate faster than both the state of Florida as a whole and the nation for the past ten years.
• In 2005 net migration accounted for 98,500 more people into the central/space coast region of Florida
• Florida’s property values appreciated at the sixth fastest rate in the US 3^rd quarter 2005- 3^rd quarter 2006: 15.1% against a national average of 7.73% (Source: Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO)

In brief, Central Florida is a rapidly growing, vigorous market which has for many years been diversifying its economy from a primarily service based one to one driven by an infusion of high tech companies, a blossoming medical community, and a firm basis in higher education. The mass of migration to the area has been attracted by the relatively low cost of living, the climate of course, and the ever-growing list of high wage earning employment opportunities. Florida has been a center of technological innovation for decades and it is that same spirit of innovation that will break the chains so to speak of a tourist based economy and propel the state towards a prosperous future.

 While there has been a pronounced slowdown in the pace of increase in vacation property values due to oversupply, the vast increases in population in the area, fueled by a strong employment base and increasing wages, have steadily driven up the value of primarily residential property. When combined with the shortage of affordable inventory in the $200k-$250k range- created in a large part by the conversion of rental and residential apartment inventory to resort rental units- the expectation for growth in well located projects is very strong.

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