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Florida
Florida is the third most populous state and, because of its year-round warm climate, contains the most golf communities of all. Indeed, The Villages, a huge retirement community in the north central part of the state, can boast of 35 separate golf courses alone. During the early years of the recession that began in late 2007, Florida real estate prices crashed, with homes in many golf communities losing between 30% and 50% of their value. But now, prices have rebounded to near pre-recession levels in the most popular areas of the state, including Naples, Sarasota and Jacksonville. Because summers can be too hot for many, Florida golf communities are a magnet for second-home owners who are tired of cold winters, still enjoy spring and summer in the North and appreciate the lack of an income tax in the state. Many "snowbirds" stay in Florida for six months and a day to take best advantage of the tax situation.
Harris Poll: Florida inspires schizophrenia as destination state
A Harris poll that asks Americans the state where they would choose to live if they didn’t live in their own state indicates that Florida is the most popular state of all. But Florida also ranked 7th...
Price drop for Venice home puts it in bargain range
We are monitoring the progress of a home for sale in the popular Venice, FL, community of Waterford. Waterford features three golf courses, a location near the Gulf of Mexico beaches and, needless to say,...
Winter Retreat: Venice, FL, Golf Home for Sale
Just in time for winter, a friend has placed his mother’s home for sale in the comfortable community of Waterford in Venice, FL. Venice, which is a magnet for snowbirds from the North, is located between...
That's Good!
Dick Huber probably thought the biggest challenge of his round at Englewood, FL's Myakka Pines Golf Club recently would be to keep his ball out of the golf course's ponds. But when he and his group...
Florida 3rd most populous state; Naples rises again
Rumors of the death of Florida were greatly exaggerated during the recession that began in the late mid-2000s. Indeed, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report recently, Florida has surpassed the state...
Intra-U.S. Migration Numbers Indicate Florida's Back
For anyone doubting Florida's return to its glory days of net population inflows, a quick glance at some recent migration numbers confirms the resurgence. Whereas the Phoenix metro area led the...
Naples not as expensive as you think…for now
Those considering a golf home often eliminate Naples, FL, from contention even before they check out the market because of the notion that homes there are stratospherically priced. They aren’t,...
Living a long life in God’s waiting room
Florida golf communities have long been a major destination for retirees looking for a warm climate and lots to do. But perhaps because the weather makes most septuagenarians hermits in the long hot...
Costs of Ownership: Dues and fees can add up, even before you add golf membership
I thought today about a friend of mine who lives in a nice Florida golf community –- on the east coast of the state -– and pays nearly $30,000 in carrying costs annually, even after resigning his...
Naples and south Florida real estate market getting back to where it once belonged
The rule of thumb for the real estate market after 2007 was that those areas whose prices had risen the fastest and farthest to that point wound up falling quicker and deeper post 2007. Think...
Contrarian’s view of Florida market
No sooner had the pixels dried on our glowing report on the Florida real estate market (“Bull Run: Housing experts predict double-digit rise in Florida prices for 2013,” March 19) than a Florida...
Hope floats: Oddest practice range of 2012
Hitting practice shots on the range at Heritage Bay Country Club in Naples, FL, is a slam dunk, literally. The “aqua” range features a few flags stuck into greens for aiming purposes, but from a few...