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Florida Northwest: an ideal place to invest in real estate

We vacation in Northwest Florida, Walton County, in especially the last twenty years – and I love it! world-class beaches – reasonable prices – great restaurants – beautiful beach homes to visit! We're sold on the region – but what about the financial realities of investing in Florida – at the moment?

The peninsula of Florida has a tourism economy dynamic and steady, with low unemployment. The brand new Panama City International Airport, which is scheduled to open in March 2010, make the region more quickly accessible from anywhere in the country and Europe. Airport boost to the economy of the region, and increase demand for real estate.

We believe Northwest Florida is a great place to invest in real estate, and property values, but now right flat (January 2008) are likely to move up sharply, especially for homes by the sea and Gulf view vacation. But it is our opinion! Here's what some other people in the region.

CNN Money.com (February 12, 2007) chose Panama City, Florida, the # 1 place to invest in real estate in the United States.

American Express says that Northwest Florida is one of its top ten tourist destinations in the United States. The peninsula of Florida is the second in the Orlando area in Florida tourism. Northwest Florida beaches are world class, drawing and more seven million tourists each year – more than any other region East Coast vacation.

real estate professionals in Walton County say that Prices are lower than during the boom year of 2005. But they expect the closure to increase as more deals come on market. Many holiday homes are priced below the cost of building a replacement. "If you're looking for an investment to cling to for the next five years, the time to buy today. We are still very undervalued compared to other parts of Florida. "

The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), which is headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, is the largest landowner in the Northwest Florida, with over 718,000 acres of priority development – half within ten miles of the coast. St. Joe has been a major player in Florida for many years, starting as a lumber company, but the realization of recent decades that the value of its landholdings was much larger than the investment property. So now St. Joe is in business development cottage, large-scale events centered on the Walton County.

According to the department St. Joe's Investor Relations at long-term outlook for real estate in Florida Northwest is quite optimistic.

In the long term financial trends and the population continues to favor Florida, whose economy is fundamentally sound and diversified. State's population is expected to increase three-quarters (28.6 million) by 2030. Its rate of growth of the population regularly exceeds that of the rest of the United States: over the last forty years, the annual rate of growth in Florida has exceeded the national average of 100%. By 2010, Florida go beyond New York to become the third most populous state.

Florida strong and diverse economy consistently exceeded the average of the United States, with a strong tourism industry, many high-tech jobs manufacturing sector and a rapidly growing high technology. A strong military presence a number of foundations active and growing provides a stabilizing effect on the economy the region. In Northwest Florida, Walton County has an unemployment rate lowest in Florida and the U.S. United States.

Florida is Mall of the Americas. The geographic location and the financial and political stability, puts the state at heart of trade and trade throughout the region. sale for holiday retired people remain healthy, and Florida is a great place to relocate retirement.

Northwest Florida's beaches are second in the state's most popular tourist destination, behind Orlando. beaches of the North-West Florida attracting over seven million tourists each year, more than any other stretch of beach on the east coast.

Beaches of Northwest Florida rates as some of the most spectacular in the country and the world. Beaches in Walton, Bay and Gulf counties were chosen for the first row by Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a expert on beach quality and author of the best beaches in America.

The peninsula of Florida has a temperate climate, with mild winters, abundant sunshine and blue sky. The peninsula of Florida is located in the United States Climate Zone 8, the same climate zone as vacation areas known as Hilton Head (SC), Amelia Island (FL), Kiawah Simons Island (SC) and St. Lawrence Sea Island (GA). the beauty of Florida and diversity is well known. Northwest Florida has a unique geography, culture and cuisine that is unique.

The Florida attracts about seven million visitors each year. According to Visit Florida, the state tourism agency and the visitors, 33 percent of these tourists are from families with incomes above to $ 75,000 and 16 percent are from families whose income exceeds $ 100,000.

The number of resorts popular in Florida Northwest is increasing. In resorts like Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Watercolor and WaterSound Beach, beachfront lots sold for $ 40,000 linear foot waterfront families wealthy who have chosen Northwest Florida.

The new airport in Panama City, currently under construction is expected to enter service in March 2010. This will be a major international airport, paving the area easy access east and west coasts, the Midwest, Canada and Europe. Previously, access to the area by air has been limited to regional airports.

Economists expect the new airport is very likely to become a powerful engine for economic development in the region. Throughout the history of airports have solid experience increase economic development activity.

The new Panama City airport will be the first major airport built in the country in more than 15 years. As a new airport development on a large scale, it offers new opportunities and unprecedented flexibility for companies dependent on aviation and logistics infrastructure.
There are strong analogs for the development of this airport in Huntsville, AL, Savannah, GA Jacksonville, FL, Fort Myers, FL and Northwest Arkansas. All these airports have stimulated a major development adjacent.

The state forecasts Florida only during its first decade, the new airport would create 8,000 new jobs and end a total of 13,000 jobs. A parallel construction the new Southwest Regional Airport in the FT. Myers / Naples in 1983, which had a significant impact on property values. Since the opening of the airport In 1983, total residential property values ​​in the region increased by an average of one per cent per annum.

Fortune Magazine (October 14, 2007) has selected the St. Joe Company as one of "Ten Best Stocks for 2008", citing the potential long-term societal and development home rentals company located in northwest Florida. Here's some of what they have to say: "When the Florida real estate does rebound, investors themselves will be kicked for not recognizing today's stock price $ 28 for St. Joe Co (JOE) – Florida's largest private landowner – as a rare opportunity. "

In the rapidly changing economic climate, it is important to research and ask questions before making an investment choice. Yet the truth is that Northwest Florida is a rarity, with a mild climate and beautiful, mostly deserted beaches. As you sit on pristine, white sand, feet in the clear emerald waters of the Gulf, with pelicans and seagulls and dolphins cruising by general wheel – you can see that there are intangibles very important here. The Emerald Coast is a very special place – and they do not create a lot more beach!

About the Author

David Yarian, Ph.D. is a practicing Psychologist, and a real estate investor specializing in fractional ownership of luxury vacation homes. He writes the blog Florida Fractional Ownership http://www.FLfractionalOwnership.com which covers the fractional vacation home market in Florida and around the world. His latest project, Abaco Rose, may be seen at http://www.AbacoRose.com. As a committed environmentalist he supports green building practices and sustainable development. His environmental resources website and blog are at http://www.SavingtheEarth.net.