Florida Real Estate, Tourism and Immigration News

FAR (Florida Association of Realtors) reported that the worst of the houseing slowdown may be over with UCF’s Economics Professer Sean Snaith reporting that the market will grow in the near future through 2009. He said the may be a "slow upward climb through 2009"
This news come amongst figures of unemployment nationwide, however locally as reported previously CNNMoney picked the Orlando Metro area top in its forcasted job grow poll for cities.

All great news for the area…

The launch blasted off as expected on Friday, for those who want to keep on top of the mission they can listen to the mission audio between Houston and Atlantis using the NASA Media page from this page you can watch NASA’s local public TV channel or my favorite listen to the Mission Audio and hear in true "one small step for man" hiss and crackle audio style live audio!

The launch itself was seen throughout Central Florida and was an awe inspiring sight as always.

We all wish the astronauts well and await their return home.

It has been a long time coming but finally Space Shuttle Atlantis is ready to go! After lengthly repairs to the external fuel tank which was damaged by a freak hailstorm in February were carried out the launch is now finally ready and is scheduled for 7.38pm tomorrow (Friday) night. There is a 70% chance that the weather will be favorable. STS-117 is a go!

The launch is the first shuttle launch this year and will be an awe inspiring sight as always. It is broadcast on the local Public Service NASA TV channel – although minor launches like the rocket carrying satellites earlier this year was broadcast on Central Florida News 13 (A BRIGHTHOUSE cable channel) which also allowed streaming audio over the internet. However, NASA TV is also broadcast over the internet. Click on that link or the one below. It has different formats (Windows Media player for full screen is very impressive, you get the full countdown and everything!)

However, if you want to experience the launch you really can’t beat being here, even if not on the beaches at Titusville or Cocoa from Clermont or Davenport which are 60-70 miles from those locations you can see the launch (ok the rockets look smaller but it still lights up the sky.)

Relief all around as the Monetary Policy Committee held the base rate at 5.5%. However this relief is still short lived, the UK is still suffering from high levels of inflation, which are way off Target 2.0 levels, the UK still has a runaway housing market which, although is suffering in the wake of the HIP’s chaos is still going up. So this relief is most likely temporary and it is expected that there may be a further couple of rate rises before the end of the year.

This is good news for Florida property if you are considering a sterling mortgage. Which is still very attractive with the exchange rate as it is! Our range of Sterling Mortgages from BMA track the Bank of England base rate. There are currently three fixed rate products available from BMA so now really is the time to get one to future proof your mortgage against the possible rate rises on the horizon. Contact Us today.

Within the US, nationwide the state is number one on the list for travellers. A survey by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russel, a Central Florida travel marketing and research firm said that nearly a third of all leisure travellers are interested in visiting Florida sometime in the next 2 years – just beating California to the top spot!

It is thought that the usage of the internet as a planning tool has helped boost the figures, people now book flights and reserve hotel rooms online. Also with the theme parks in Central Florida there is more reason to visit!

Guest staying in top flight hotels as well as you more ‘run of the mill’ luxury ‘chain hotel are expecting more for their buck nationwide. This trend is sure to effect Central Florida due to its thriving tourist industry and the number of chain hotels in residence…with many already offering such services!

The average guest is now looking for more than a bed for the night, they want to know after a hard days shopping and doing the sights that they can have a relaxing massage or perhaps a spot of Yoga?…perhaps this is a little too much activity? Maybe just stick with the brandy and indian head massage…

There are a whole range of spa treatments from massages to other holistic therapies including hydrology and aromatherapy…cool!

The Swan and Dolphin hotels at Disney World share a spa complex which includes a meditation garden and 13 treatment rooms! Gaylord Palms off International Drive and the Osceola parkway also has fabulous spa facilities. Keith Salwoski, spokesperson for Gaylord Palms said:

"Traditionally, Orlando hotels were a bit short on amenities because there was a feeling that most people would spend their time at theme parks during the day,"

This means that many of the older luxury hotels must move with the changing market.

Just north of popular and peaceful Clermont is the  city of Minneola. Minneola is an interesting place, it shares similar characteristics as Clermont but is still smaller by comparison.

However it looks as if growth is on the cards. With estimations that the city’s 4000 homes will become 18,000 homes in the nest 20 years. Officials began planning the first ever capital growth plan for the City. Plans include a potential Police Deaprtment, Baseball Stadium, City Office Complexes and a possible Library!! – Which would be welcome as the library in old town Clermont has recently closed and is scheduled for demolition.

Minneola could also have four fire stations evntually versus the one it has right now, what is for sure is that each of the items on the plan costs a few million each, City officials want to keep public services in line with the growth of the area, it even has plans for a High School. At the moment there are two hgh schools in the area, East Ridge and South Lake, both, although are a few minutes from Minneola but not under the City’s control. Schools however are one item on the agenda which although popular are difficult to manage effectivly.

What is sure is that the area is going to grow, Highway 27, from Clermont to Minneola is being redeveloped and widened all the way up to the Citrus Tower (the famous Central Florida Landmark)

This potential $300million monsterous 52 story condo tower in downtown Tampa would have been another luxury condo block to hold the Trump name. However Trump has filed a lawsuit against the developer for unpaid licensing fees of around $1 million! The Developer had also failed to of showed that enough condo’s ad been sold claims Trump.The condo’s are valued at between $700,000 and $6.2million. Trump has therefore pulled out of the project.

The development has been plagued by problems and still hasn’t got off the ground, the developer could continue without the backing of Donald Trump but it is unsure whether it wants to. This soaring tower would be the jewel in the crown of high rise blocks on the Gulf of Mexico, however it looks as if it may remain a pipe dream…

The international craze that has become Harry Potter has been begging for a theme park for its fans…now the wait is.. well, nearly over! Unversal Studio’s Orlando – who had been rumoured previously – although declined to comment – to have been in negotiations over creating a Harry Potter theme world, now have announced that it will be building such a park.

"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" will open in 2009 at Universal Studio’s Orlando and fans will not be disappointed, there are authentic locations such as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the ‘local’ wizarding town of Hogsmeade as well as the more scary… Forbidden Forest! This is sure to create Pottermania in the area and fans of the books and films will surely enjoy the park…you will be able to visit Dumbledores office as well as the quaint village shops in Hogsmeade, as well as possible locations in the upcoming installment!

This really is exciting news for all who are looking to buy in Florida…