Saturday, June 06, 2015

Live Theater In Florida: The Other Escape

Live Theater In Florida: The Other Escape

By Doug Wise
view original post: http://www.state27.com/blog/2015/6/5/local-theater-in-florida-the-other-escape 
I love going to movies, especially during the summertime. Movies are a great way to escape the heat and chaos of life. And, of course, I love watching movies and eating popcorn in a movie theater. There’s something even soothing about walking into a movie theater and smelling popcorn.
However, there’s also something soothing about walking into a small, quaint theater and watching a play — even if you’re not a theater-going regular.
  Source: www.madcowtheatre.com. Photo credit: Tom Hurst

Source: www.madcowtheatre.com. Photo credit: Tom Hurst

Reasons to Catch a Play

Like a movie theater, the climate is cool, it’s dark, and it’s two hours of escape from your cell phone and "to-do" list. Sure, you often can’t sit there and throw back popcorn while actors perform their craft, but most local theaters have awesome baked goods, other snacks and beverages of choice (even beer and wine) available during intermission. Some theaters even allow you to take your drink to your seat, while you watch the performance.
Of course, these reasons are all superfluous, hopefully, to the feeling of connecting with a story and its actors in a live, up-close environment.

Florida: Your Ticket to Local Theater

In case there’s any question, Florida’s theater scene is as vibrant, plentiful, and talented as any theater scene in the country. Depending where you live, at the bottom of this blog post are some options. These theaters offer up productions that range from kids plays to new plays (and playwrights) to musicals to Shakespeare to Pulitzer prize-winning classics — something for everyone.
Once again, check out the list at the bottom of the page and then be sure to comment with any theaters I might have missed!

College and University Theater Productions (and High School!)

They usually don’t have the prestige or promotion of your local and regional theaters, but many colleges, universities, and high schools offer great productions — that are also easy on the wallet/pocket book.
Obviously, the higher the education level, such as a large university, the more likely you are to see a professional-quality production (not that some high school students aren’t ready for Broadway, because there’s some amazing talent out there).

What to Wear

This is a conversation I have with my wife every time we get ready to see a play, no matter how many plays we’ve seen. “Do I need to dress up,” we’ll ask each other. The answer to this question is often “not necessarily.” (How’s that for definitive!)
However, the answer truly lies in your comfort level, as well as the venue. If it’s a special event, such as an opening night gala, then typically you want to dress according to the event guidelines.
Anything from jeans to business casual is what you’ll typically find at the theater. The larger the venue, such as a performing arts center, the dressier you’ll see people get.
Most theaters don’t have a dress code. They just want you to enjoy the show and turn off your cell phone.

And Now … the List

It’s what blogs do best. Below is the aforementioned list of theaters throughout Central and Southwest Florida.
Be sure to comment with any theaters I might have missed!
Editor’s Note: For the purpose of this blog post, I kept the list to only theaters that show plays — but not dinner theaters — the subject of dinner theaters is another blog article to come!
Orlando-Tavares-DeLand Area
Mad Cow Theater — Orlando
Breakthrough Theater — Orlando
Winter Park Playhouse — Orlando
The Athens Theatre — DeLand
Sonnentag Theatre — Mount Dora
Tavares Theater — Tavares
Garden Theatre — Winter Garden
Shoestring Theatre — Lake Helen
Lakeland Area
Lake Wales Little Theatre — Lake Wales
Theatre Winter Haven — Winter Haven
Tampa Bay Area
Straz Center — Tampa
Gorilla Theatre — Tampa
American Stage — St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg City Theatre — St. Petersburg
Ruth Eckerd Hall — Clearwater
Free Fall Theatre Company — St. Petersburg
The Palladium Theater — St. Petersburg
The Mahaffey Theater — St. Petersburg
Richey Suncoast Theatre — New Port Richey
Francis Wilson Playhouse — Clearwater
Sarasota-Bradenton Area
The Players Theatre  — Sarasota
Florida Studio Theatre — Sarasota
Banyan Theater Company  — Sarasota
Theatre Odyssey — Sarasota
The Island Players – Anna Maria Island
Port Charlotte-Punta Gorda Area
Charlotte Players — Port Charlotte
Venice Theatre — Venice
Enjoy the show!
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Friday, May 15, 2015

Go Retro With Florida’s Drive-In Movie Scene

May 15, 2015
By Natashia Ford 
(original post link: http://www.state27.com/blog/2015/5/15/go-retro-with-floridas-drive-in-movie-scene)
This past weekend on a day trip to Lakeland (which is a great city – stay tuned for a future post about it), I did something outside of the box and a bit old school. I took my kids to a drive-in movie! Yes, you can still find a drive-in movie theatre in Florida!
We went to the Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre. It has two movie screens that show popular new releases like “Avengers Age of Ultron”, which is what we decided to watch. 
Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre opened on April 14, 1948 and was the first drive-in theatre in Lakeland, Florida.  Photo credit: Lauren Mitchell Flickr CC
Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre opened on April 14, 1948 and was the first drive-in theatre in Lakeland, Florida.  
Photo credit: Lauren Mitchell Flickr CC
Low Cost Fun
Silver Moon charges $5 for ages 10+ and $1 for children ages 4-9. On “Bargain Thursdays” ages 10+ pay $4. All in all, these ticket prices are a steal compared to big box movie theaters.
Parking 
I'd recommend you get there early for a good spot as the parking lot does fill up. If you have a truck, hatchback or SUV and you plan to sit in the back of your vehicle for the movie, the back row is your best bet. This helps to not block the view of others. That's where we decided to park.
How to Handle Mosquitoes
Our repellent power in action! We put the wristbands on super early!
Our repellent power in action! We put the wristbands on super early!
I love being outdoors, and the night air was perfect. Of course, living in Florida, we had to contend with mosquitoes, but we were prepared. Not only did we bring spray repellent, but I found these neat bug repellent wrist/ankle bands that come in a 3-pack of fun colors! (They're called Bugables® and you can find them at Target.)
Photo Credit: Visit Florida Editor Flickr CC Copyright 2014
Photo Credit: Visit Florida Editor Flickr CC Copyright 2014
 Low Cost Food
Once we were mosquito proof, I ran to the concessions to get our snacks. Drive-ins make all of their money from their concessions. So to keep the drive-in open, it’s always best to support them through food purchases. I was pleasantly surprised by the insanely affordable prices. A large popcorn (that includes refills) is $4.75, cotton candy that they make right there is $2.00, bottle of water $1.50 — how can you not get excited about that? 
As the movie started we tuned into the drive-in’s radio station to hear the audio. If you really want to go old school, Silver Moon does have a limited supply of the speakers that attach to your car.
This was my kids' first time at a drive-in, so they weren’t quite sure what to expect. In their opinion it was like a movie in the park, but better because you get to watch a new movie, and the food at the concession stand was great!
Spotted this lovely lady at the concession area. She's so fierce!
Spotted this lovely lady at the concession area. She's so fierce!
Where To Find A Drive-In Theatre
Check out Florida’s drive-in theatre scene at any of these last remaining drive-ins:
Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre – Lakeland, FL 
Ruskin Family Drive-In – Ruskin, FL 
Ocala Drive-In Theatre – Ocala, FL  
Fun-Lan Movies & Swap Shop – Lake Worth, Fort Lauderdale & Tampa 
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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Fla.’s housing market shows strength in 1Q 2015


 
Related
NAR: Metro home prices maintain steady growth in 1Q 2015
ORLANDO, Fla. – May 11, 2015 – Florida's housing market had more closed sales, higher median prices, more new listings, fewer days on the market and a slight uptick in inventory during the first quarter of 2015, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Closed sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 59,599 in 1Q 2015 – 18.6 percent more the 1Q 2014 figure.
"In the first three months of 2015, distressed property sales continued to decline in Florida – a sign of the strong housing market," says 2015 Florida Realtors President Andrew Barbar, a broker with Keller Williams Realty Services in Boca Raton. "The state's population is increasing, more jobs are available and the economy is growing. To that point, Florida has just been ranked as the second-best state in the U.S. to do business, according to a survey of CEOs in a report from Chief Executive magazine.
"In another positive indicator for Florida's housing market, new listings for single-family homes over the three-month-period rose 7.4 percent year-over-year, while new townhouse-condo listings rose 3.1 percent."
The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in 1Q 2015 was $182,000, up 8.3 percent from the same time a year ago, according to data from Florida Realtors Industry Data and Analysis department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations.
The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties during the quarter was $145,000, up 7.4 percent over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.
In Florida's townhouse-condo market, statewide closed sales totaled 26,637 during the first quarter of 2015, up 7.1 percent compared to 1Q 2014. The closed sales data reflected fewer short sales last month: Short sales for condo-townhome properties declined 48.4 percent while short sales for single-family homes dropped 33.5 percent. Closed sales typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.
"The numbers in our quarterly report confirm the vibrancy of the housing market in Florida," says Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo. "Even the condo market, which had lagged the single-family market, has performed nicely. Of special note is the continued improvement in single-family sales and prices in all Florida metro areas. However, we are still concerned with tight inventory, particularly in the single-family market."
In 1Q 2015, the median days on market (a midpoint for the number of days it took properties to sell) was 58 days for single-family homes and 56 days for townhouse-condo properties.
Inventory was at a 5.1-months' supply in the first quarter for single-family homes and at a 6.1-months' supply for townhouse-condo properties.
According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.72 percent for 1Q 2015, down from the 4.36 percent average recorded during the same quarter a year earlier.

To see the full statewide housing activity reports, go to Florida Realtors' website under "Research." Association members (login required) also have access to local data specific to their market.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

EB-5’s future

South Florida attracts foreigners keen on these special visas, but the federal program will sunset in September

April 01, 2015
By Francisco Alvarado
022-EB5-0415
From left: Tibor Hollo’s Panorama Tower in Brickell and SkyRise Miami
With 70 regional centers dedicated to the federal government’s EB-5 visa program, Florida has established itself as one of the fastest growing markets for foreigners seeking permanent U.S. residency through the program.
“California, Florida and New York are the top three states for EB-5 activity,” said Adrian Pomery, a spokesperson for EB5 Investors magazine. “South Florida in particular is one of the hottest areas.” 
Regional centers are organizations approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to assist developers and entrepreneurs in making their projects eligible for the EB-5 program, as well as to secure the visas for the foreigners funding their projects. As of March, California was the only state with more regional centers (160) than Florida, according to a list released by USCIS. New York has 58.
Since Congress enacted the program in 1990, EB-5 visas have been a path to permanent U.S. residency for foreign nationals who create at least 10 domestic jobs and invest at least $500,000 to $1 million in a U.S. business venture. Nearly half of the regional centers in the Sunshine State are based in South Florida’s tri-county region. Miami-Dade has 17, Palm Beach has 13 and Broward has four. 
Developer Jeffrey Berkowitz’s SkyRise Miami project was granted EB-5 status late last year based on his promise to create 4,000 to 6,000 jobs. In February, shortly before flying to China to recruit investors, Berkowitz told The Real Deal he hopes to collect $270 million — more than half the tower’s estimated construction cost — from roughly 540 foreigners. 
Other local projects with EB-5 designation include Tibor Hollo’s Panorama Tower in Brickell, The Crimson tower in Edgewater and a 41,000-square-foot office condo building in Doral by Riviera Point Development. 
“There are several factors that make South Florida attractive,” Pomery said. “Its proximity to the water and it’s also a place that investors, especially in China, have heard of.”
Historically, Chinese nationals have applied for and received the lion’s share of the 10,000 EB-5 visas doled out in the U.S. annually. Chinese accounted for 8,308 of the visas approved in fiscal year 2014. 
South America had the second highest number of the visas with only 162. Pomery noted foreigners in politically unstable regions have easier access to other visa programs. 
A spokesperson for USCIS said the agency does not break down the number of EB-5 investors or projects in each state. While USCIS caps the number of individual investors from each country who can receive EB-5 visas at 3,000, it does not put a cap on the immediate family members who also receive the visas.
The growth of Florida’s EB-5 market comes at a time when the program is facing an inevitable backlog and an uncertain future. In December, Charles Oppenheim, the State Department’s visa control and reporting chief, warned that USCIS will run out of the 10,000 special visas earmarked for fiscal year 2015 by mid-summer. According to USCIS’ 2015 first-quarter report, there are more than 7,000 pending EB-5 visa applications. Eighty percent are from China. 
Meanwhile, supporters are concerned a new Republican-led Congress might allow the EB-5 program to expire when it sunsets at the end of September. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, opposes the EB-5 program and noted on his website that “there appear to be some major flaws that need fixing.”
Lauren Cohen, founder and owner of e-Council — a consultant firm specializing in EB-5 visas — said no one really knows what the future of the program is.
“When I first got into this industry, there was the same fear. Congress did not renew it until almost the last day of session.”
One positive indicator, Cohen said, is a bill proposed by Democratic Congressman Jared Polis of Colorado and Republican Mark Amodei of Nevada called the American Entrepreneurship and Investment Act of 2015. The legislation would make the EB-5 program permanent and streamline the processing time to obtain visas. 
Polis said he co-sponsored the bill because he believes the EB-5 visa program has been instrumental in creating jobs. “It’s an important tool that brings innovation and investment to the United States,” he said.
Original post can be found at: http://therealdeal.com/miami/issues_articles/eb-5s-future/
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Saturday, April 11, 2015

20 Perfect Florida Picnic Spots!



Mead Gardens

April 10, 2015 
by Laura Knight
Original content source: http://www.state27.com/blog/2015/4/10/20-perfect-florida-picnic-spots#comments-5527e71fe4b0dcaf95c98a3b=

We’re pretty spoiled here in Florida with our year-round picnicking weather, so kick off your flip-flops, spread out, and enjoy a day at one (or all!) of these charming spots. Local Realtors® submitted many of these picnic picks — they always know where all the best stuff is, don’t they?
Where: DeBary (West Volusia County)
Cost: Free
Picnic under old oaks, stroll the arched footbridges and rent a canoe or kayak. Oh, and you can bring your pup!
Where: Downtown Orlando
Cost: You might have to pay for parking if you can’t find freebie
You knew this park was going to be on the list, right? Of course it is! We love Lake Eola.
Where: Winter Park (Orange County)
Cost: Free
This park is a gem nestled in a quiet Winter Park neighborhood. There’s a lovely boardwalk trail, butterfly garden and native plant demonstrations. Howell Creek runs along the back of the park. Dogs are allowed.
Where: Oakland (Between Winter Garden and Clermont)
Cost: Free, donations encouraged
ONP is a 128-acre preserve on the southern shore of Lake Apopka. You’ll likely spot gopher tortoises. There are live animal exhibits, gardens, boardwalk trails and a visitor center with delightful rocking chairs out front.
Where: Clermont (Lake County)
Cost:  $5
Canoe and kayak rentals available, pristine lakes. Bring your bicycle — there are extensive paved and unpaved bike trails.
Where: Kissimmee/Poinciana Area
Cost: Free, donations encouraged
A national model for wetland restoration, DWP has more than 1000 species of plants and animals. Hike a one-mile trail to the shore of Lake Russell.
Where: Downtown Kissimmee
Cost: Free
Paved trail, boat ramp, bait shop that rents fishing gear. Free movies!
Where: Lake Wales (Polk County)
Cost: Adults/teens $12 | Kids $3 (free under 5yrs old)
Gorgeous gardens and a unique singing tower with a wonderful Koi pond.
“Public events include concerts under the stars, where you are encouraged to picnic with friends (and there are even contests for the best-dressed picnic table!) … I love it!!”  –Lynne H.
Where: Anclote Island (Near Tarpon Springs)
Cost: There are fees for ferry service (call to inquire)
Picnic on an island for the day — you live in Florida so it’s totally doable! Ferries leave from the Sponge Docks at Tarpon Springs.
“Forget the Bahamas, come to our Island, Anclote Island!” –Yvy P.
Where: Downtown Tampa
Cost: Parks are free, but plan to pay for parking and other attractions
Picnic at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and watch boats cruise by and the buildings light up at night. The Tampa River Walk has enough to do to fill a weekend, let alone an afternoon. Enjoy!
Where: Odessa (north of Tampa)
Cost: Adults/teens $12 | Kids $10 (free under 2yrs old)
Educational guided tours, lunch spots by the lake.
Where: Zephyrhills (Pasco County, north of Tampa)
Cost: Free
“Beautiful, wide-open park. Nice walking path, lush green grass, and plenty of shade trees!” –Adam G.
Where: Dunedin (Tampa area)
Cost: $8
The name says it all! Seriously, it’s a breathtaking beach. There’s a dog beach, too.
“Honeymoon is friendly to critters, offering a dog beach that is a half-mile hike off the main road.”  –Joe  P. 
Where: Downtown Bradenton
Cost: Free
Features outdoor living rooms and a Tidal Discovery Zone.
Where: Lakewood Ranch (Sarasota area)
Cost: Adults/teens $12 | Free for kids
Enjoy the “Sport of Kings”! Dogs okay on a leash.
Where: Tierra Verde (St. Pete area)
Cost: $5 parking fee
Historic fort, fishing and one of the few beaches you can take your dog to.
“This park has an incredible amount of things to do. It’s like going on vacation.” 
–Pat R.
Where: Largo (Clearwater area)
Cost: Free, donations encouraged
21-acre living history museum with dozens of historic structures.
Where: Englewood (Southwest Fla.)
Cost: Parking is 75 cents per hour
Volleyball! Boardwalk trails.
“This great beach in our lovely town sits right on the Gulf of Mexico.  It is lovely because it’s not overly commercially developed.”  –Pamela C.
Where: Downtown Venice (Southwest Fla.)
Cost: Free
Free concerts happen often here.
“Under a Golden Rain tree … it’s the best spot around.”  –Kimberly G.
Where: Punta Gorda (Southwest Fla.)
Cost: Varies, contact to confirm
In rural SW Fla., this place is truly wild! Eco-tours are available. Wildlife viewing is practically guaranteed.
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Wednesday, April 01, 2015

7 Fla. cities best in for real estate investment

 
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The JWB Group, a real estate analysis company, created a list of top U.S. cities for investors who want to buy real estate for use as a passive investment. JWB says several sources of independent data were used to compile the list, but it did not include rental communities that can have fluctuating rent indexes.
Seven Florida cities made the top 25 for passive real estate investment, with Jacksonville landing in JWB's No. 1 spot, followed by Ocala and Palm Bay.
"People who have money to invest are not always experts in housing industry investments and can have many questions before investing an IRA or cash funds," JWB's report said.
Top 25 U.S. cities for passive real estate investment
1. Jacksonville, Fla.
2. Ocala, Fla.
3. Palm Bay, Fla.
4. Memphis, Tenn.
5. Las Vegas, Nev.
6. Toledo, Ohio
7. Detroit, Mich.
8. Orlando, Fla.
9. Syracuse, New York
10. Atlanta, Ga.
11. Richmond, Va.
12. Kissimmee, Fla.
13. Homosassa Springs, Fla.
14. Muskegon, Mich.
15. Tampa, Fla.
16. Mobile, Ala.
17. East Stroudsburg, Penna.
18. Marietta, Ga.
19. Baltimore, Md.
20. Clarksville, Tenn.
21. New Orleans, La.
22. Cincinnati, Ohio
23. Indianapolis, Ind.
24. Tacoma, Wash.
25. Milwaukee, Wis.

© 2015 Florida Realtors®
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Thursday, February 26, 2015

Tax tips for the self-employed


 
NEW YORK – Feb. 26, 2015 – One of the biggest perks of the job is being your own boss. But you have to do a lot of other things to run a business, including playing the role of tax accountant.
The Internal Revenue Service has made it easier to unlock valuable tax deductions for self-employed Americans.
Jeff Reeves, author of "The Frugal Investor's Guide to Finding Great Stocks," has nine tips that can help at tax time:
1. Tap the home-office deductionMany self-employed people work out of their homes, and a home-office deduction can unlock big tax breaks – including writing off a percentage of your utilities or property taxes. Thankfully, "it is not a red flag for an IRS audit," says Monica Rebella, a certified public accountant based in California. "In fact, the IRS has come up with a simplified method" that allows you to write off $5 per square foot of office space up to 300 square feet. But, Rebella warns, just make sure your space is exclusively used as an office.
2. If it's business-related, then it's deductible
If you're a Web programmer, your laptop is a qualified business expense. But don't overlook everything that goes into running your business, including subscriptions to trade publications or even fruit baskets sent to your clients. Rebella said gifts have a maximum of $25 per person per year. The IRS describes deductible business expenses as "ordinary and necessary," so don't be afraid to claim an expense if it was directly related to the operation of your business – as long as you have the receipt.
3. Cash counts
"I find that business owners pay for business expenses with cash but forget or lose the receipts and miss thousands of dollars in tax deductions," Rebella said. She points to business lunches, tolls between appointments and postage as examples of qualified expenses you can deduct on your business taxes. If you lost the receipts, unfortunately the ship has sailed on your 2014 deductions, she said. But if that's the case, make sure you put an envelope in your glove compartment ASAP as a catchall for this year's receipts so you don't miss out next year.
4. It pays to save
Joseph Heider, president of Cirrus Wealth Management in Cleveland, notes that saving for retirement is tax-deductible, even in 2015. "If the small business has a retirement plan, they may deduct contributions" until they file their returns. Through options such as a Simplified Employee Pension plan, small-business owners and the self-employed can save up to 25 percent of net earnings and then deduct that amount on their taxes.
5. Name your kids as employees
Do you pay your son a few bucks to help with filing documents, or does your daughter run the lawnmower for your landscaping biz? You may want to officially put them on your payroll, because those expenses could bring down your overall tax burden as a business.
6. Be diligent about income
One of the biggest red flags to trigger an IRS audit is if a contractor or customer reports a transaction with you but you fail to do the same. It's crucial you keep accurate records of your true income and track down the relevant 1099s. And don't forget to check your math.
7. Deduct your health insurance
Being self-employed means no corporate entity providing cushy benefits. But the good news is that you are eligible to deduct the full cost of health insurance in many cases on your personal tax returns. This also goes for any employees for whom you pay insurance.
8. Don't overlook bad debt
Have you finally given up on chasing down a customer who skipped out on their bill? Well, while the lost revenue for your home business is obviously a bad thing, the good news is that the IRS allows you to deduct a bad business debt in the year it becomes worthless. As long as you have documentation, including a copy of the original transaction and any letters or e-mails you sent in an attempt to collect, Uncle Sam will help make up for your lost business with a tax break.
9. Confused? Then write off tax preparation
If you're intimidated by the minutiae of tax law, or if you just want to go to a professional to see what other deductions you're eligible for, you're in luck. The IRS allows tax-preparation expenses, as well as other professional legal and accounting services, to be deducted as a qualified business expense. So don't wing it – because there's no reason not to get the help you need when preparing your 2014 taxes.
Copyright 2015 USA TODAY  
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4Q U.S. home prices rise higher than expected


 
WASHINGTON – Feb. 26, 2015 – U.S. house prices rose 1.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI).
December prices
According to the HPI for December, prices rose 0.8 percent. Analysts generally predicted a smaller 0.5% increase.
The December increase follows a similar 0.8 percent increased in November.
Fourth quarter 2014
It's the HPI's fourteenth consecutive quarterly price increase in the purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index. In a year-to-year comparison of housing prices, the fourth quarter saw a 4.9 percent increase.
The HPI is calculated using home sales price information from mortgages sold to, or guaranteed by, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Since it looks at repeat sales of the same homes over time, it's generally considered an accurate gauge of U.S. home values.
"Contrary to prior indications of a possible slowdown, home price appreciation in the fourth quarter was relatively strong," says FHFA Principal Economist Andrew Leventis.
"The key drivers of appreciation over the last few years – low inventories of homes available for sale and improvement in labor markets – likely played a role in driving up prices during the quarter," Leventis says.
Other findings
  • Between the fourth quarter of 2013 and the fourth quarter of 2014, the seasonally adjusted, purchase-only HPI rose in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
  • Of the nine census divisions, the Mountain division saw the strongest increase in the fourth quarter, posting a 1.8 percent quarterly increase and a 5.5 percent increase since last year. House price appreciation was weakest in the New England division, where prices fell .03 percent.
  • The monthly seasonally adjusted, purchase-only index for the U.S. has increased for 23 of the last 24 months (November 2013 had a decrease).
© 2015 Florida Realtors®  

 Original Post:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?p=1&id=320062
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