Dennis Handa

Port St Lucie
Port St Lucie is approximately 120 miles southeast of Orlando and 120 miles north of Miami, along the Atlantic coast. A convenient highway network--including Interstate 95, the Florida Turnpike and State Road 70--makes it easy to travel throughout Florida.
To the east of the city lies the attractive Atlantic Ocean barrier island and beaches known as Hutchinson Island (bridges at Jensen Beach and Stuart, both a few miles east and south). To the west lies the Lake Okeechobee area, and its recreational options. The area offers plenty of golf and other outdoor recreation, as well as significant arts and cultural resources.

The area shares advantages of both the small scale of some of its Old Florida smaller surrounding towns and its own larger scale as a rapidly growing mid-sized city. Add to this its ready access to the metropolitan areas – the Palm Beaches, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami – of the rest of Southeast Florida, and you have a recipe for an attractive relocation possibility.
Some quick facts
The Port St. Lucie (and by extension Ft. Pierce and Stuart) area has recently become a significant growth area in Florida, for both new permanent and snowbird residents, and for business owners and investors.

There are many reasons for people to relocate to Port St. Lucie, including climate, modern amenities, affordable prices, transportation convenience and accessibility to South Florida’s urban centers, and attractive business incentives.
For example:

The year-round climate makes for great living and working conditions. The average annual temperature is 73.2 degrees, with a drop of only 16.7 degrees between the extremes of winter and summer temperatures.
Port St. Lucie is a young city, incorporated in 1961; and it’s a young city in terms of its residents too, having a median age of just 42 years old.
Port St. Lucie, Fla., had the nation’s fastest growth rate among large cities (100,000 or more population) between July 1, 2003, and July 1, 2004, according to new U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
More than 125,000 residents make up Port St. Lucie, ranking it as the 15th largest city in the Sunshine State. Projections for the county’s population, currently 214,000 are 314,000 by 2010
Transportation

As noted above, major highways criss-cross this area, making north-south and east-west travel convenient for both personal and business distribution purposes
Airport travel, considering the advantages of Port St. Lucie’s location outside South Florida’s metroplex, is relatively convenient. St. Lucie County International Airport’s commercial commuter service is rapidly expanding. Other nearby airports include: Vero Beach Municipal Airport, some 20 miles north of St. Lucie County, with round-trip daily flights to Miami; Palm Beach International Airport, 60 miles south, with 80 scheduled departures daily; and, Melbourne International Airport, 55 miles north, serviced by Delta with connecting flights through Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and New York.
Education

Extensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state's Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm)
Business Incentives

In its continuing efforts to provide an atmosphere that supports business, the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners assists companies with expansion or relocation expenses through its Job Growth Incentive Grant Program.
The Commissioners may issue grants ranging from a minimum of $1,000 to $2,000 per new job created in St. Lucie County. A minimum of five or more new jobs must be created in order to be eligible, with a minimum average county wage of $10.88.
Bonuses are also offered for companies that exceed the minimum requirements. For example, if: 75% of the new employees hired live in St. Lucie County; the company is a St. Lucie County "Targeted" industry; the company's average salary is 115%, 125% or 150% of the St. Lucie County average.
A grant to an individual company may not exceed $500,000.00 For more detailed information, go to http://www.stluciecd.org/BusIncentives.asp
Employment

The local economy is heavily services oriented, and the top 10 employers in St. Lucie County are:

St. Lucie County School District
St. Lucie County
Liberty Medical Supply
Indian River Community College
Wal-Mart Stores (includes Sam's Club)
State Government
Lawnwood Regional Medical Center
City of Port St. Lucie
QVC 975
Publix Super Markets
For more information, please see:
http://www.edcstlucie.org/relocation.html
In conclusion
If you like a modern way of life without all the crowding but at the same time don’t want too small of a town, Port St Lucie could be the place. It has some of the benefits of its smaller surrounding towns and yet has the advantages, for many people, of a place of somewhat larger scale.

To see additional information about the area go to (on this Website) the Stuart info links, and to the general information on Ft. Pierce, whose cultural life, parks, and ease of access to outdoor recreational choices Port St. Lucie shares. For a good general site on St Lucie county on line, go to http://www.stlucieco.gov

.©2006. Florida Real Estate Network Inc. All Rights Reserved

A small town feel with the amenities of an upscale metropolitan area. That is an apt description of Stuart.
Stuart and St. Lucie (St Lucie and Martin counties) are commonly called, “The Treasure Coast” (after the Spanish treasure galleons sunk offshore hundreds of years ago, whose coins still wash up occasionally on the beaches). Here, the diversity and quality of life is what it’s all about.

If you like recreational activities, especially the water, then this is the place. From the Atlantic, to the Indian River Aquatic Preserve, to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, to Lake Okeechobee, your options are incredible. And they also include some 45 miles of those aforementioned beaches, which to this day are mostly left unspoiled. Add in lots of sun and great weather.

Downtown Stuart or the historic district is filled with unique shops, and great restaurants. There is also a vibrant night life scene going on here. Jensen beach, St Lucie and Fort Pierce just to the north all have their own ambience. Ft. Pierce is where the African-American landscape painters known as “The Highwaymen” got their start in the 1950’s.

In conclusion, your choices here are broad. As to real estate, you can go from golf course town-homes and condos to living near the downtown or the beach.

The price ranges are broad here. And you have the best of two worlds: the easy accessibility of metropolitan Florida to the south, and the still old-Florida ambiance of a quieter, more hinterland area of the State where access to the full range of outdoor activities is not yet restricted by too many people.
Incorporated areas

Town of Jupiter Island
Town of Ocean Breeze Park
Town of Sewall's Point
City of Stuart
Unincorporated areas

Hobe Sound
Indiantown
Jensen Beach
North River Shores
Palm City
Port Salerno
General Information.

Located in the central east coast portion of Florida, 100 miles north of Miami, 115 miles southeast of Orlando and 250 miles southeast of Jacksonville.
556 square miles (Martin county)
Average summer Temperature 82°F
Average winter temperature is 63
Average yearly temperature 74
Average Annual Precipitation 49 in
Average Rain Days 127
Population projection 2005 -140,00 Martin County
Stuart population-14,600
Average home cost-June 2005-$261,000
Cost of Living-almost 98.39-20th in the state
Median age-47 for Martin county median age county, 48 for Stuart
Major Golf center
Major job Employment By Industry in order of numbers

Construction 9.6%
Education & Health Services 18.3%
Financial Activities 4.8%
Information 1.9%
Leisure & Hospitality 13.5%
Manufacturing 5.5%
Natural Resources & Mining 1.8%
Other Services 5.1%
Professional & Business Services 11.5%
Public administration 5.0%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 23.0%
An unusually good quality of life, a strong and rapidly growing economy, good schools, nearby colleges, safe neighborhoods and a vast array of protected natural environments are what Stuart and Martin and St.Lucie counties are all about.

For specifics in other general categories, see the links to the left.

©2006. Florida Real Estate Network Inc. All Rights Reserved

Orlando and Orange County Investment opportunities
Aside from commercial investments the two situations most people are looking for in Florida are:

Vacation homes/2nd homes, both single family or Condos that can be rented out.
Generally a purchase involves a 1031 tax exchange or just someone looking for a second home in an area that he/she or the family will use occasionally.
A home to eventually retire to and rent in the meantime to help pay mortgage costs.
Due to the incredible growth in tourism and people relocating to Orlando, Kissimmee, Sanford and Winter Park, investments ( both commercial and 2nd family home rental) in these communities should be a strong consideration.

As to Orange County-where would the best rentals probably be located? The following is a partial list.

· Orlando, near theme parks.
· Orlando-historic downtown area.
· Homes and Condos on the lakes, golf courses (all locations)
· Sanford, historic downtown area.
· Kissimmee
*To get an idea on rates charged and potential income of vacation (short term) rentals, see nightly rates: http://www.awardpoolhomes.com/Rates.htm

Long term
*The downtown areas in cities are also seeing strong growth. In short some people are going away from life in the suburbs and opting
for closeness to theatre, restaurants and the vitality of a city environment. So, don’t overlook the downtown areas.
To know:

The best areas to rent are generally near the water and the best rental income will start at open water locations, followed
by homes/condos with a partial view to homes on canals. The neighborhood and the furnishings will also dictate the rent amounts you can get.
In the Keys-the best situation was a home at least three bedrooms and up on the Ocean or Gulf with a pool and a boat dock. In some cases these
bring as much as $5000.00 per week, depending on the home/area.
It is very important that you find out early on which residential areas and which condo associations allow weekly rentals-as this will be generally be your best return.
In some cases you may want to just rent out long term and skip the dealings with handy men and cleaning services.
In all of this—the most important thing is that you find a qualified agent. He/she can guide you through the process completely—including setting up property management.

Orlando and Orange County Employment
Orange County has employment opportunities in a wide range of industries.
As new businesses continue to move into the area and existing businesses grow, employment will continue to be on the rise. Orange County has an educated and motivated workforce traditionally functioning in a non-union work environment.

The greatest area for potential employment lies in the services industry, which represents approximately 40 percent of all employment. Within the services area, the tourism sector is particularly promising. Two of the three biggest employers comprise theme parks and hotels: the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando.

Health care and retail (stores) also are major employers within the services sector.
In addition, several corporate headquarters are located throughout the region. They include Siemens Westinghouse, American Automobile Association, Dixon Ticonderoga, Darden Restaurants, Hilton and Tupperware International.
Above from site at http://www.ahoraorlando.com/english/business.htm
Some statistics:
Labor force (2004) 528,933

Average wages

All Industries $34,623
Construction $38,525
Education & Health Services $35,666
Financial Activities $48,414
Information $48,205
Leisure & Hospitality $21,921
Manufacturing $47,730
Natural Resources & Mining $20,952
Other Services $24,722
Professional & Business Services $40,246
Public administration $41,642
Trade, Transportation and Utilities $33,130
Employment by industry as of 2004

Construction 5.1%
Education & Health Services 15.0%
Financial Activities 6.5%
Information 2.7%
Leisure & Hospitality 22.2%
Manufacturing 4.6%
Natural Resources & Mining 0.8%
Other Services 2.9% 3.2%
Professional & Business Services 17.3%
Public administration 4.4%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 18.6%
eflorida.com/profiles/CountyReport.asp?CountyID=14&Display=al
http://www.labormarketinfo.com/library/oes.htm
Major Employers (2003)

Walt Disney World
Business Line: Entertainment
Number of Employees......53,500 Orange County Public Schools
Business Line: Education
Number of Employees....22,807
Adventist Health Systems
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees...17,059 Universal Orlando
Business Line: Entertainment
Number of Employees..14,500
Orlando Regional Healthcare System
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees...12,000 Orange County Government
Business Line: Government
Number of Employees.... 6,577
Additional resources for demographic information include:

Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida (BEBR)
http://www.bebr.ufl.edu/
U.S Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov
Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation – Labor Market Information
http://www.labormarketinfo.com
Orlando job site
http://www.workzoo.com/local-jobs/FL/Orange/
State jobs http://dms.myflorida.com
Orange county Government employment
http://www.orangecountyfl.net/cms/default.htm
Additional resources for job and demographic information
*If you have to work for a living, you might as well be in a great environment.
In conclusion, the job market is growing fast and there are jobs waiting for good employees. So if you like good weather and lots of recreational opportunities, why not work in paradise.

Take a look at http://www.employmentwizard.com/?pid=172