Julie Jones

John Brian Losh, CEO of Luxuryrealestate.com recently stated, "The good news for luxury homebuyers is that they are getting about 20% ‘more house' than they were able to buy two years ago, plus the prestige of owning a $1M home is returning."

Luxuryrealestate.com is a national and international affiliation of top luxury brokers who feed market reports and opinion to the institute almost daily. This is a reliable statement that is being endorsed by brokers from all of the major luxury markets across the US and globally. This is encouraging news for the buyers about to start their search this sales season.

I have just returned from New York and could feel the chill in the morning and evening air! For those of you looking to escape the cold winters and achieve the tax advantages of living in South Florida it is now time to plan a visit and research the exciting options that await you here in Fort Lauderdale.

Rates on 30 year loans remain at 5.04% as of September 28^th. The 15-year fixed rate mortgage fell to 4.46% (lowest on record since 1991) according to Freddie Mac. Applications for home loans rose nearly 13% last week from a week earlier as refinancing applications surged according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. For those qualifying under the new financing regulations this is good news indeed.

For further market information and local opportunities please do not hesitate to contact Julie Jones at 954-328-3665 or luxuryrealestateftl.com.

South Florida tourism is taking a pro-active approach to attracting visitors to our tropical paradise. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airports, entertainment arenas and cruise lines have all taken steps to make the idea of vacationing here even sweeter.

A recent article in South Florida Business Journal cites that the leaders of Virgin America Airways had been eyeing South Florida as a destination, and chose to debut at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport due to the city's centralized location. This same airport expects a 1-1.5 percent year-over-year increase in air passenger traffic for September, showing Fort Lauderdale's strength as a destination city and the airline carriers' faith in putting seats into this destination. In addition, by ensuring lower operations costs, the airport attracts and keeps low-cost carriers such as JetBlue, Virgin, Spirit Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Major events coming to South Florida, such as the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl are also expected to enhance tourism here. The former Dolphin Stadium renovated as Land Shark Stadium, now owned by Jimmy Buffet, has enhanced the area's attractiveness for entertaining and sports events. To quote the stadium's website: "Our mission is to be recognized both nationally and internationally as the premier sports and entertainment showplace in the Americas." For more information on the new stadium, visit: http://www.landsharkstadium.com/content/stadium.aspx.

Despite cruise lines experiencing a drop in passengers, deep discounts continue to keep cruise ships departing South Florida at capacity. Fort Lauderdale based MSC Cruises (USA) has doubled North American passengers every year since 2003. Royal Caribbean's 5400 passenger ship, Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship ever built, is expected in Port Everglades in November, clearly showing the cruise line's confidence in South Florida.

Whether as a destination city for vacation, business or a planned relocation, Fort Lauderdale remains strong as the tropical site to live, work and play.

My London colleague, Nick Churton of Mayfair International Realty, has once again shared his unique view on the puzzling state of the UK property market this fall. It is my pleasure to share with you that, despite the conflicting signs, Nick finds there is reason to be very optimistic. Read on, and enjoy!

Winston Churchill once said of Russia that the vast country was "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma". Much the same can be said of the real estate market.

The big question in the UK at the moment is, just what is happening? August has been one of the most active on record, and this following a rather busy July. So, after the dark and dreadful credit crunch months, what on earth is going on? After all the ‘real estate experts' seem to think that the market could take many years to pick up again. But then what do they know? Where were their warning voices when the credit crunch first happened?

This underlines the fact that nobody can really be a true expert forecaster in real estate. We can expertly play the hand we are dealt, and we can skilfully help buyers and sellers to make the best of the prevailing conditions. But to try and out-guess the real estate market is an entirely different proposition.

So, if we aren't going to be foolish enough to try to foretell the future, at least we can try to understand the present. What the gurus couldn't factor in was the behaviour of the house buyer and seller when crisis turned to opportunity. Neither group is silly. Homeowners understand that there is a strong chance that the market has hit the bottom and now the only way is up. So the longer they wait the more they may get for their property. Buyers, on the other hand, are keen to buy now as they anticipate that this is the perfect time to purchase. Indeed, latest figures for the UK show that residential real estate is now at its most affordable for thirteen years.

The recent property activity is a riddle, and the mystery of where things will go next does lie within the enigma that is the market. But one thing we do know: those astute buyers and sellers do understand a thing or two about supply and demand. Reluctant sellers mean a dearth of real estate coming onto the market and that, in turn, is stimulating a level of activity that is now causing competition between many buyers. Hence the recent surge in property activity. In some areas this means multiple offers and even rising prices against the run of play and certainly against the forecasts.

So, what a great position to be in. Don't sell and you will make money. Buy now and you will make money. It's win-win and that is a concept that should be no riddle, mystery or enigma to anyone.

In my quest for continuing education in living "Green", I discovered an article written on Solar Energy and the positive rewards for taking that leap into energy change. (I'm reminded of Sesame Street's Kermit the Frog singing, "It ‘Aint Easy Being Green.) Here's an opportunity to change that myth.

Robert Alcock is the founder of GREEN Building Products. His company is local and is fighting climate change through building efficiency products and renewable energy systems. Robert believes the basic problem in the world of home energy productions systems is that most people don't know much about them.

Robert insists you can't compare the cost of a home-based solar energy system to your FPL (or local power) bill, because there is no comparison. He likens the contrast to buying a car vs. a bus ticket. Inquirers usually want to know the costs and payback for their investment. He believes where a power bill is a liability, a solar power system is an asset. Here are some facts:

A good-size solar energy system (typical for a 5KW system) is about $50K. Payback is about 12 years. (Payback from an industrial power plant is decades.)

Also, look at the cost benefits of such a system, based on California--the US's most mature solar market:

1. The state of Florida offers a renewable energy rebate of $4/watt. This equals $20,000.

2. The Federal government offers income tax credit of 30% of the system. (Approx. $15,000 based on type of accounting.)

3. Value of your home/building increases by approximately 120% of the value of the system ($60,000).

So, basically, after the initial investment of $50,000, best case scenario for the effective cost of the solar system could be earning up to $45,000 back in rebates and tax credits---or worse case scenario, the cost of the system amounts to $15,000 with values and credits.

These numbers do not factor in savings on energy bills, reduced heat absorption to the roof, resale value of the home, and the priceless value to our environment.

So, check your roof space, think over your options and best of all, calculate your years of bills paid to your local power company and ask yourself, shall I continue to invest in my local power company, or shall I invest in my own home!

Robert Alcock is available for further questions at ra@greenbuildingproductsfl.com or 954-270-1754.

Not only is Fort Lauderdale proving to be a hot Honeymoon destination with exotic, luxury hotels like the W offering a complimentary 3^rd night's stay for free, this Venice of America is attracting tons of attention from West Coast jet-setters.

Beginning this Fall, JetBlue Airways is offering a "Trade the Bay for the Beach" campaign by adding a long-requested, non-stop service between San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale, starting November 17^th. Fall, of course, begins the "Season" for our tropical paradise. So, who wouldn't want to be here?

JetBlue's service from San Francisco compliments their non-stop Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale service since 2003. Overnight flights from West Coast cities to Fort Lauderdale feature JetBlue's complimentary "Shut-Eye Service" with a snooze kit containing earplugs and eyeshades and a "good morning" hot towel. In addition to free snacks and beverages, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, fruit juice and bottled spring water will be offered to refresh guests before landing. It is clear JetBlue takes traveling to Fort Lauderdale seriously!

JetBlue is not the only airline invested in Fort Lauderdale. Virgin America and the Broward Country Aviation Department also announced a new partnership at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Virgin America and Fort Lauderdale see this connection as an excellent corridor for tourism and job growth. This attention from the West Coast, once again, emphasizes the continuing enthusiasm for repeat travel to Fort Lauderdale.

Who knows? Perhaps, the next step will be that travelers from the West Coast will see the wisdom in owning a luxury waterfront property in our fabulous city. The value-to-dollar ratio certainly makes the prospect appealing. I certainly am available to answer any question on that possibility!

Welcome to Fort Lauderdale--beautiful, cosmopolitan and easily accessible from so many key places.