Save Our Homes -The 3 percent tax cap was designed in 1992 to assist older people to be able to afford to keep their homes in the later years of their lives instead of being forced out of their homes by high taxes. The cap is only for primary residences. It's a complicated situation now because many homeowners would like to move but feel trapped to stay where they are in order to keep that tax benefit. For example a home at the beach for 120k in 1992 may be worth over 1 million dollars today. Now, Ken Wilkinson, the original designer of the law, is looking to create a portability to this benefit so owners may take the percentage of savings that they have in their existing property to their next home anywhere in the state of Florida. This would carry a $400,000 cap between the assessed and market values of a home which would diminish some of the savings in the beach example. If you back this portability then look for the website (coming soon) for "Save Our Homes Portability Inc" to sign a petition. The flip side of this is that Florida real estate owners who do not live in their property end up carrying a higher portion of the taxes since they don't get this benefit and pay the full freight each year. So, second home owners and investors carry a larger tax load.

Built in 1925 this pink Mediterranean Revival hotel went from it's fashionable predepression era as an "in" place to become housing for seniors in it's later years. This grand old lady will now house upscale condos and businesses along with an outdoor cafe. A welcome addition will be a lushly landscaped water fall. First known as the Manatee River Hotel it's new name will be Riverpark Grande Condominiums. It's a tribute to the community and the developer that sought to maintain as much of the original charm and detailing as possible in order to preserve this landmark. Downtown Bradenton, like Sarasota, is getting a lot of new growth so it's refreshing to see some of the resurrection of the old properties as well as the new ones.

Transportation and roads are always big issues when an area is growing. That is definitely the case here. Almost daily the news includes which roads or bridges will or won't be built, how much they cost to build compared to what the cost would have been 2 or 4 years ago. Some developers step up to the plate immediately to help out because they recognize that the new growth from which they are earning their living is, in part, causing the need for more and better roads. The county has maps which illustrate where the new growth has been improved and another map which shows where the roads will go or be improved. Between them you can see the growth trends in the area. The areas generally referred to as "out east" over the years will soon become "midtown". Florida is relooking at additional major roadways crossing and/or dissecting the state too, should they be toll roads to help pay for them, where should they go? Many major toll roads and toll bridges are already owned or leased by international companies. Serving Port Manatee, good access to the beaches, getting through town, overcrowding or I-75 and families doing split commuting between the Tampa area and the Sarasota area are all local issues here. It's a balancing act.

Landscaping is such an important part of buying and selling real estate. Many sellers get every little thing perfect on the inside of their house but the curb appeal of the outside is so average that the purchasers are ho-hum before they even go inside. Take a lesson from Neal Communities who does a fabulous job of flattering his models. Better still, let me take you to see his developments! Lush landscaping invites you inside and escalates value. Sellers, in a competitive market, wouldn't it make sense to get a buyer in the door rather than having them drive by? Buyers, could you visualize better landscaping as an improvement you could make and increase the value of a property after you purchase it? Doesn't it also improve the neighborhood? It's a wonderful way to extend your personalization of your home too. There are many styles of decorating and there are just as many landscaping styles to give your home just the right look!

The media is filled with alarming news about insurance, hurricanes, and alligators. Good news is hard to find it seems. But if you take some time off you will be well rewarded by what this area has to offer. There is nothing so rewarding as a day at the beach. You don't even need a friend to go with you. You can swim, walk, look for shells, take pictures, read, snooze, picnic, and "people watch"! All of this is for free, white sand and blue sky and azure water. This is a big part of the reason everyone refers to our area as paradise. Interestingly, most "locals" vacation in this paradise too. They might take trips to visit family or tour an interesting part of the world but when they vacation, they "go to the beach"! There are lots of things I want to tell you about, and I will in due time, but for now, it's just to let you know that we're happy to have the freedom to dig our toes in the sand and let our the sounds of the waves sing music to our ears.

There are so many developments under way and going through rezoning right now that it's hard to believe. "Out East" is quickly going to be a suburban area with the quick access to I-75 being a major plus. I'm visiting new homes communities in a little bit pricier range in this area. Many of them are half to one acre lots often with man made lakes and preserve areas surrounding them. Some of these communities are amenity laden (pools, tennis courts, trails, boat docks, etc.) which are great for families. Other neighborhoods are a retreat from the outside world, many without sidewalks or community pools. (Don't forget those amenities add to your total payment.) All of the sales agents for the builders are well versed about their product and it's advantages. One in particular, Gulfpointe Homes was extremely helpful in explaining the construction in such a way that even an engineer would be impressed! Two story homes are more prevalent in the over 500K range, as are the fancier pools. The 10 and 12' ceilings and trey ceilings are everywhere and very dramatic along with tall curved doorways. And I love the rounded corners here that seem to enhance the flow from room to room.

Preserving the planet, ecosystems, organic, environmentally friendly, biodegradable, recycle - worthwhile concepts across the nation, no doubt. Florida is doing a fine job educating those of us who care to be educated in the "green" options. Businesses related to these topics are creating new jobs and bringing in new service providers along with them. Florida Landscaping & Sea Turtle watches are but a sample of the specific ways we're being asked to contribute to a better lifestyle here in paradise. A fabulous website to check out is www.solutionsforyourlife.com sponsored by the University of Florida. Not only does it have lots of current "green" topics, it addresses other major issues such as disaster preparedness. Most certainly it is bookmarked for me!