Florida Real Estate, Tourism and Immigration News

Whilst most cities in Central Florida are on the grow – especially the Four Corners area – some cities in Seminole County – north of Orlando, have seen a decline, but ot by much, most of this has been caused by the lack of annexation by the cities to new communities outside of the city boundaries. – Altamonte Springs for instane lost 408 residents last year, however with 1200 people moving to the state everyday these numbers are dwarfed by the influx of newcomers.

However in terms of population growth the City of Orlando itself increased its number by 6936 last year to a total now over 220,000 as part of the Orlando Metro area which encompasses 2 million people! Other top growers on the list included Winter Garden, Kissimmee and Sanford – as well as Apopka who has its large scale annexation to thank for the growth numbers.

Florida has two of the fastest growing cities in the nation – Port St. Lucie and Cape Coral.

As reported by the Orlando Sentinel

Buyers and builders alike are realising the benefits of building and buying green. Westmont homes was given the opportunity to demonstrate green building at the 2008 International Builders Show. Owner Jume Rahman says that they do most of those tings already!

There are builders out there and there is an increasing market for green homes. Gopal Ahluwalia, Vice President of the NAHB Reasearch Center, said that results from surveys show that buyers are willing to pay extra ($17,000 more on a $292,000 home) for a house that incorportates green technologies that will lower maintenance and utility costs.

People are becoming conscious on Global Warming and Climate Change

Green Subdivisions are springing up all over the place, Oakland Park on Lake Apopka and Blue Spring Reseve in Clermont. Oakland Park is the first subdivision to receive green certification.

The idea of a green build is a home that minimised te environmental impact of contruction and uses products which are from renewable resources. On top of this homes may use green technology such as low wattage energy saving bulbs, having wood furniture from managed forests, solar heating or electicity.

However as homeowners look to save on energy costs every little helps. Turn off that light, turn down the heating/turn ‘up’ the air con and use the economy cycle on the washing machine and dishwasher and the big one that many people do not recognise…turn those appliances off standby!! Some older appliances use nearly the same amount of energy on standby as they do switched on! All of these things add up to savings for you and for the planet.