Palm Coast looks to keep Much Needed Sea Ray Jobs in Flagler County

Palm Coast looks at Sea Ray funding options

"PALM COAST -- City Manager Jim Landon didn't bother to sugarcoat it Tuesday.

Landon proposed at a City Council workshop costly economic incentives to help improve Sea Ray Boats' local plant and keep the manufacturer in operation.

As part of the deal still under consideration, Palm Coast could grant Sea Ray $1.2 million in funding for outstanding capital improvements.

In turn, the company must remain open or repay the city.

The city also will offer $200,000 debt forgiveness annually for each year Sea Ray stays open, Landon said.

"This, by no means, is a giveaway; this is an investment," Landon said."

Jobs are vital to the success of the Palm Coast Community. With the sudden stop in both residential and commercial construction that helped boom Flagler to the fastest growing County in the United States for several years...the economy has been hit very hard due to a lack of diversification in industry. When the construction shut down...all the jobs disappeared..skyrocketing Palm Coast, FL to one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation.

It almost seems to be that every time Palm Coast, FL takes one step forward, with the announcement of new jobs coming to the area with "Project Sprint" and AMREP's decision to move 700 new jobs to their Palm Coast Data Offices, in addition to keeping the 1000 employees already here...it takes one step backwards. Sea Ray offers high paying jobs for the area and to lose them would be straining to say the least.

As far as a community, a place to live, a place to retire...Palm Coast, FL will always be desirable...but we cannot live off of retirees alone. It will be interesting to see how this scenario plays out..stay tuned.

That being said...the home prices in Palm Coast, Fl & Flagler County have once again become very affordable in the last three years, and since it is a desired area for those that work anywhere from Jacksonville to Orlando...and for second home owners wanting to have property at the beach or on the Intracoastal Waterway...now may be a great time to buy some excellent bank owned and waterfront properties.

We will be looking back on this time as an opportunity in the future...but you must be prepared to buy and hold in this market and buy for the right reasons. This is not a flipper's market anymore...so unless you have a good 7 - 10 year time frame...now is not the time for you to purchase.

If your time frame is long term and you are looking for a home to call your own or rental property to add to your portfolio...I would jump quick because the best properties come on and off the market quickly.

If you are in a position where you "MUST SELL" your home...feel free to contact me to discuss how we can make that happen. If you are considering just listing your home for sale in "hopes" that it will sell and are not properly educated on the current market conditions...please read my blog post

Kristi Ross - REALTOR - With over 12 years of experience in buying, selling, managing & investing in real property personally in addition to being a very active, full time REALTOR in Palm Coast/Flagler County, Florida for 7 years ....I have learned that information is power and I am an advocate for customer empowerment.

Please feel free to search the MLS for free at my website www.Palm-Coast-Hot-Properties.com. You can sign up to be on the list of first to know when properties meeting your ideal criteria are newly listed, go pending or are sold.

*DICLAIMER: The above statistical data was gathered from the Flagler county MLS and is not to be guaranteed reliable or accurate and is for informational purposes only.

**Disclaimer: The search homes information is provided through IDX and Kristi L. Ross PA, Hawk Beach Realty, My Broker or associates are not in anyway responsible for any mistaken information provided.