Florida Real Estate, Tourism and Immigration News

In the last few years the US "Greenback" has seen some substantial changes. The notes have been redesigned and -whilst keeping a certain amount of green on the back – now come in a whole host of colours.

However, the $5 and $100 bills have yet to be changed. All this will change when early next year a new $5 bill will be unveiled and the $100 bill is scheduled to be redesigned late 2008.

The new $5 incorporates purple and grey colouring and has new security features. The $100 bill which makes up 70% of the $776 billion of currency in circulation (2/3′s of which is held overseas) is getting an extra effort in the redesign process which will include 650,000 microlenses which give the appearance of the note shimmering in the opposite direction when moved.

All of this may be exciting to notaphilists but it is important for tourists to accustom theirselves with the new note designs. At present the $1 bill will not be changing design as it is not a target for fraudsters – it has had the same design since 1963.

Check out the links below to the new pastel coloured US notes!

Foreign investors are snapping up US Real Estate like there is no tomorrow! Investors from Canada are benefiting from a dollar worth more than the US at the moment and UK buyers are experiencing 26 year highs for their Pound. Not to mention the Europeans who have a strong Euro – they are all in it to purchase a slice of the American Dream!

Florida naturally is high up on the list of hot spots, – from a villa near Disney to a condo on South Beach! New York is also a desirable location for Brits who at the exchange rate can easily afford a small apartment on 5th avenue! Southern California also is desirable with investors looking to San Francisco and LA for properties for them to sink their cash into.

ABC News reports – see link below.

After phenomenal success in the gorgeous planned town of Celebration, Sherlocks – the British owned tea room, wine seller and purveyor of british goods is opening in more locations in Central Florida!

A branch in Cagan’s Crossings off highway 27 just north of US 192 is now open with another branch planned to open in Lake Buena Vista soon.

All of this exciting activity is great news for British Expats and tourists alike who love the atmosphere and curios sold at Sherlocks – it is a slice of British charm in the sunshine state!

The ambiance of the new location, as at the original Celebration location is one of relaxation and is achieved by soft lighting and well chosen furnishings and objet d’art.

When on the look out for afternoon tea visit Sherlocks at Celebration and Cagan Crossing to satisfy the urge!

In Ocala in Northern-Central Florida as in the Orlando metro area, the Real Estate market is moving.

As national and state press lump together statistics it is hard not to get depressed hearing negative publicity about Florida Real Estate.

However, as Ocala.com reports Marion County has reported an increase in the average price over 2006 and that what is driving the growth in the older residential areas as well as newer subdivisions is senior citizens relocating to the area.

Like the rest of central Florida the area is not untouched by the British pound. Although there is no vacation rental in the area as it is way over an hour away from the attractions some Brits like the idea of a horse ranch or simply a family home to get away from it all near to the Ocala National Forest.

In line with the rest of Central Florida it represents excellent value for money!

A Central Florida developer is drawing up plans for a community designed around the needs of people with disabilities. In the last few years access in places such as airports and theme parks access has improved considerably, however there are still many barriers to complete access.

Bountiful Lands, the Lake Wales company planning to build Monticelli at Tower Lake south of U.S. Highway 192 in Polk County sees that is is necessary to built a community which caters for those needs.

The Monticelli community would from the exterior look like any other vacation community, however on the inside the 59 units are designed for those with diabilities.

Read the attached Orlando Sentinel Article which gives more details on this community and the idea.

Universal Studios in Orlando Florida had a bumper summer with an attendance level topping 3.1 million visitors! A 12% Increase over Sumer 2006 and the first summer increase since 2004.

Similarly Walt Disney World posted year on year increases! Similarly SeaWorld are expecting to post record numbers.

Universal are not only posting bumper numbers but the visitors are also spending more! They believe that the increase is due to the publicity of the blue man group as well as the coming Simpsons ride and the long anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter in just over a year!

The figures are great for the tourist industry as a whole in the Orlando area.

Theme parks a definately an exciting topic for discussion, however someone always wonders; who designs the rides? Who comes up with the ideas? What rides may be in store in the future?

Well, the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) trade association is holding an expo in the Orange County Convention Center to show off the latest ideas and technology to industry insiders.

This is where inspiration occurs! Check out the article below for the weird and wonderful ideas that are at the expo!

With a slowdown in US Housing, investors are seizing the chance of a weak dollar (particularly for British and Irish buyers) and snapping up Florida property!

There has been wide publicity on this issue with the injection of cash being welcome news to the doom and gloom publicity about US housing in the press. The dollar is on sale and home prices in the US have fallen back to affordable levels for foreign buyers.

For instance one property that the British Homes Group has listed is a 5 bedroom 3 bathroom pool home 15 minutes from Disney and it is up for $225,000 (As of today) -at the current exchange rate of $2.05 to £1.00 a British buyer would be able to snap this bargain up for £109,750! European buyers with a strong Euro will equally be able to snap up this property at a great price.

With concerns over the real estate market at present and the number of foreclosure properties you would be forgiven for thinking the outlook is bleak.

However, the opposite is true, prices are holding and in some areas increasing – foreclosures however are presenting a great opportunity for investors to purchase homes at rock bottom prices!

With the exchange rate for British buyer’s being at the best rate for a generation (at over $2 to £1) Now is the time to buy!

With a 5 bed pool home 15 minutes from Disney, furnished with bookings in place for under £110,000 (at the current exchange rate) why wouldn’t you want a home in the Sunshine state! 

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Forms Alliance with British Home Loans Florida to Finance International Sales of Florida Luxury Properties

LAKE MARY, Fla. – Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty www.stirlingsir.com has formed an alliance with British Home Loans Florida, a Florida based international mortgage brokerage company that specializes in arranging financing for British, European and other ‘Foreign National’ homebuyers in the U.S.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said British Home Loans and its affiliates will provide foreign national financing for U.K. and European buyers here in the U.S. through several British and American lenders including Lloyds TSB Bank.

“We anticipate this new alliance will lead to a steady stream of, not only British, but also International and domestic U.S. investor buyers for the various product groups represented by Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty,” said Soderstrom.

Soderstrom said Stirling Sotheby’s International will market a wide range of Florida properties to British Home Loans’ clients through Stirling Sotheby’s Global Gallery in downtown Orlando and its auction services group.

“Under our new alliance, British Home Loans will pre-qualify all interested prospects prior to directing them to Stirling Sotheby’s,” Soderstrom said. 

"Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty will also conduct home-buying seminars in the U.K. in conjunction with British Home Loans," Soderstrom added.

“With the British pound, Canadian dollar and the Euro continuing to trade at record highs, British and International buyers are finding tremendous value in U.S. luxury vacation and resort homes,” said Soderstrom, “and Orlando ranks as one of the most desirable locations for Florida home buyers from the U.K.”

British Home Loans Florida (www.BritishHomeLoansFlorida.com) is well positioned in the U.K. and Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty brings a very recognizable brand to their market.  We will offer them a wider range of property types including single family, vacation, second and retirement home opportunities,” he said.  “We feel this is a very powerful alliance that will benefit not only both organizations but also the consumer.”

For more information, please contact:

Roger Soderstrom, Owner/Founder, Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407.588.1260; http://www.StirlingSIR.com 

Beth Payan or Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications, 407.644.4142 

About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty currently operates Real Estate Galleries in Ormond Beach, Heathrow, Winter Park, Downtown Orlando, Clermont, Windermere and Dr. Phillips.  Each Real Estate Gallery employs state-of-the-art technology, including video walls, panoramic tours of area communities, luxury home designs and photo galleries of homes throughout Central Florida and the world.

About British Home Loans Florida, Inc. >

British Home Loans Florida, in association with Lloyds TSB Bank’s offices in the U.K. and Hong Kong and other “Foreign National” mortgage lenders, specializes in arranging multi-currency financing for overseas home-buyers and U.S. residential property investors. Mortgages are available in U.S. dollars and a variety other currencies including British Pounds, Euros, Swiss Franks and Japanese Yen. The company’s Florida headquarters are in Kissimmee. Visit (www.BritishHomeLoansFlorida.com)