No matter the size of your home or the number of closets you have, everyone is always looking for more storage space. And, while you may think getting the storage you need means moving or turning an entire bedroom into a new closet, there are effective ways to maximize the space you have. Increase Your Storage Use Space Bags The idea of vacuum-sealing your linens and winter clothes may seem strange, but it actually works. Does that mean you should go out and buy a dozen more down comforters? … [Read more...]
Archives for 2015
Florida Consumer Advocate Questions Citizens’ Rate Hike
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sept. 3, 2015 – Florida's new insurance consumer advocate wants Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty to "strongly consider" the large amount of reinsurance purchased by the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance – and to do it before the Florida-owned firm makes a decision about its requested 3.2 percent rate hike. Consumer advocate Sha'Ron James also asked McCarty in a letter Monday to review Citizens' debt financing and water-loss claims before setting rates for … [Read more...]
FLORIDA TOURISM HITS RECORD HIGH FOR 2015
Florida tourism is on pace to pass the highly anticipated 100-million visitor mark for 2015, with more than 54.1 million visitors coming to the Sunshine State in the first half of 2015. New quarterly numbers released Wednesday from Visit Florida, the state’s tourism arm, show a 5.8 increase from last year and the highest amount of visitors of any six months in the state’s history. In just the second quarter of 2015 ending June 30, 25.8 million visitors came to Florida, an increase of 5.5 … [Read more...]
Erika Steams Toward Possible Test of Florida’s Unproven Insurers
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. – Aug. 27, 2015 – Erika stuck her projected cone into South Florida's business Wednesday, threatening to bust up a peaceful decade without landfall by a hurricane and prompting the state's top insurance official to urge readiness. "With the possibility of Erika's impact to South Florida, I would like to strongly encourage residents in those areas and across the state to begin making preparations now and to have a plan in place for their family and pets," Insurance … [Read more...]
Ultra Wealthy Buying Homes as Opportunity Gateways
Reasons Ultra Wealthy are Buying Homes Buying a second or third home is a popular activity for ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals – 79% own at least two homes, and 53% own three or more. For many UHNW individuals, these decisions are motivated by familiar considerations: lifestyle fit (for example, owning an oceanfront home or lodge near a ski resort), as well as short-term and long-term investment potential. Increasingly, however, some UHNW individuals are buying homes for reasons … [Read more...]
Retirees Choosing to Up-size
Up-Sizing for Retirement NEW YORK – Aug. 3, 2015 – Americans traditionally chose to downsize in retirement, but that may no longer be true. A wave of today's retirees have decided to up-size and enjoy the best home of their lives in retirement, according to a recent Merrill Lynch and Age Wave retirement study of more than 3,600 respondents. In fact, 65 percent of retirees recently surveyed say they're currently living in the best home of their lives. Within the next decade, the number of … [Read more...]
A Visit to Useppa Island – Paradise Without a Passport
Paradise Without a Passport We enjoy giving visitors the grand tour of Useppa, as we introduce them to incredible natural beauty and remarkable island lifestyles. On a recent visit to Useppa Island, Luxury Realtors from Fort Lauderdale, Florida found the tranquility and charming allure of Useppa Island contagious. We invite you to Find Your Key to Paradise. "We took the short jaunt west across Alligator Alley to discover another tranquil paradise—Useppa Island—many notches … [Read more...]
Getting a Large Home Loan Just Got a Little Easier
Large Home Loan Chase bank is easing the lending requirements for its jumbo mortgages, which tend to be loans in excess of $417,000 in many markets and $625,500 in more expensive areas. A potential buyer now only needs a credit score of 680 and a 15% down payment to qualify for a maximum loan amount of $3 million for a primary-residence home. Borrowers used to need a 740 score and put 20% down. By easing its standards, the bank is hoping to gain more customers. "The performance we had on … [Read more...]
The Tarpon Lodge – Part 1 in the Boat for Food Blog Series
BOATING FOR FOOD FROM USEPPA ISLAND, FLORIDA To the Tarpon Lodge, Pineland, FL Once again it is time to search for the perfect place to dine. This time, rather than a lunch run we are going for dinner. My choices re extremely limited because Mary has already made reservations at the Tarpon Lodge. This destination is the second most convenient restaurant to Useppa, the other being Cabbage Key. We call the Lodge “upscale” compared to Cabbage, to which we can kayak, but Cabbage has a charm of its … [Read more...]
Guidance – Owning a Second Home
Tax Planning for Owning a Second Home Learn how mortgage interest, property taxes, rental property and tax-free profit affects your tax return. If you are in the market for a second home, congratulations! Not only can you look forward to having a place to relax, you also can garner some tax benefits for that place at the beach. You can use several tax breaks: Mortgage Interest If you use the place as a second home — rather than renting it out as a business property — interest on the … [Read more...]