Ooh, even more good news-"it appears that prices for single-family homes are bottoming out" - 02/27/11 09:10 PM
Floridians still confident about economy for second month
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Feb. 23, 2011 - Consumer confidence among Floridians remained at 77 out of 100 in February, suggesting a sustainable and improved view of the economy, according to a new University of Florida (UF) survey.
The index rose seven points last month, an unexpected increase according to Chris McCarty, director of UF's Survey Research Center in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research, considering the economic climate in Florida. However, he considers it noteworthy that the index didn't change dramatically this month.
"We had expected a correction to last month's seven-point … (1 comments)

And now for some good news: Florida’s existing home, condo sales up in January - 02/25/11 07:04 PM
Hooray! Finally some positive real estate news!

Gateway Squares Condo, St Pete, FL MLS#7484736 photo Annalisa Weller
© 2011 Florida Realtors®  ORLANDO, Fla. - Feb. 23, 2011 - Florida's existing home and existing condo sales rose in January, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 14 percent last month with a total of 12,151 homes sold statewide compared to 10,702 homes sold in January 2010, according to Florida Realtors. January's statewide sales of existing condos rose 36 percent compared to the previous year's sales figure.
Seventeen of Florida's metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported … (0 comments)

What Brings Three Top Chefs to Merida? - 02/22/11 11:58 PM
Diane Kennedy & Rick Bayless in the Yucatan? In Merida? Wow, I have known of them & their cookbooks since the early eighties. I own several well-loved & well stained copies of their books. You see, I read cookbooks like other people read novels.  I started cooking when I was about 7 years old & started working in restaurants during the summer at age 13. When I lived in California, I at one time owned over 300 cookbooks. Some of my most used & cherished books are Italian, Greek, Mexican & Native American cookbooks. And now, to find out the authors of some of my favorite … (0 comments)

A few notes on St Petersburg, Florida - 02/20/11 04:03 PM
St. Petersburg (St. Pete) in Pinellas County, Florida has been known as one the best destinations for vacation for both American and foreign tourists for many years. St. Petersburg is the second largest city in the Tampa Bay Area, which is about 2.7 million residents, and the fourth largest city in the state.
St Petersburg's nickname is "The Sunshine City" because on average we receive about 360 days of sunshine. The city has been a major destination for retirement & health reasons as well as a vacation spot, especially for those from colder climates in the USA, Canada & Europe. Today the temperature … (0 comments)

10 Things That Make Buyers Bite - 02/18/11 01:13 AM
By FrontDoor.com |
1. A Nice EntrywayImpress buyers right off the bat with a beautiful entrance. "I always tell sellers to put a fresh coat of paint on the front door," says real estate agent Theresa Evans of Charleston, S.C.
And if you don't have an entrance at all, make one. "A lot of my buyers have mentioned that they don't like to just go through the front door into the living room," says Los Angeles-based realtor Rhonda Kohn.
This problem, more common in condos and apartments, is solved by cleverly placing furniture to create more of an entryway. "A console … (7 comments)

My Love Affair with Merida, Mexico - 02/16/11 12:53 AM
While visiting the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico in October 2010, I was in heaven! For 11 days, I savored the people, the food, the music, the architecture & the climate-it is all so beautiful.
Catedral de Merida, Mexico 10-2010
In Merida, as a blonde woman, I immediately felt welcomed, comfortable & safe. Even though I was there on business, I was able to take in some of the wonderful sights & smells. I love how the ancient traditions blend with the modern daily life & technology. As I walked through the Plaza Grande, Mayan vendors sell basically the same delicious … (3 comments)