Last Thursday, Governor Charlie Crist extended the state of emergency regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to include Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Monroe, Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The beaches and shorelines of Sanibel remain in pristine condition with no impact or imminent threat from the oil spill, say city officials. At this time, there is no smell or presence of oil on our local beaches. City staff continues to closely monitor the situation and coordinate planning efforts with local, state and federal partners. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) has been working on several fronts in preparation for the possibility of oil from the Deepwater Horizon rig landing on the islands.
• SCCF is registered with the St. Petersburg Unified Command Center as an affiliated volunteer organization.
• In terms of wildlife impacts, since oil or tarballs are considered a hazardous material, SCCF is keeping tabs on when and where training certification opportunities, accepted by the coast guard and BP, will be offered.
• SCCF is working closely with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission on sea turtle and shorebird protocols involving nesting females, nest protection and hatchling survival. They have tasked the foundation with protocols or the potential of oil or tarballs on our beaches.
• SCCF has worked with the City of Sanibel, the J.N.”Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Captiva Erosion Prevention District and the Captiva Community Panel to supply data and revise geographic response maps and area contingency plans in order to provide
the St. Petersburg Unified Command Center with up to date resource information for protection efforts.
“The level of involvement by local volunteers should the oil reach us is still being clarified but we are keeping a list of people who have called in to volunteer,”
said Erick Lindblad, executive director. To be added to that list, e-mail sccf@sccf.org.
“Realistically, the threat from this incident will probably remain a concern through the summer and into the fall. One major unknown is the possible role of hurricanes,” said Lindblad. “All forecasters acknowledge that a major storm in the gulf could greatly impact how and where the oil or tarballs spread. As we learn more, we will keep you posted.”
Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
City of Sanibel Plans to use Booms to Protect Shores from Oil
The continuing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and its potential to wash up on local beaches weighed heavily Tuesday on the Sanibel City Council and staff. However, city officials are already making plans to place booms along the beaches and mangroves to keep the crude oil from damaging Sanibel’s environment and its tourism industry. Mayor Kevin Ruane said, “We are continuing to work with our partners, both federal and state, as well as local... (in) planning and preparing for this event.” After the Florida governor’s office on Monday extended the state of emergency from the Panhandle to Sarasota, Ruane and City Manager Judie Zimomra participated in a conference call with the governor. So far the city manager has ordered the finance director to prepare cost tracking forms and has met with representatives of the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation to coordinate efforts and documentation of pre-disaster conditions. Additionally, the city is coordinating with local partners to document pre-disaster conditions and coordinating identification of environmentally sensitive areas. At the council meeting, Ruane held up various maps as Zimomra described the potential movements of the oil slick and how to combat it. Natural Resources Director Rob Loflin said the gulf loop current is 20 to 80 miles offshore. If oil were to get into the current it would move quickly down the coast, Loflin said. He recommended that Sanibel place booms along 30 miles of beaches and about eight miles of mangroves and openings to the refuge. “If you get this (oil) in the mangroves, there is nothing you can do,” he added. “We have snowy plovers nesting on the beaches and it’s the start of turtle nesting season.” Ric Base, executive director of the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce, is stressing to the public that “there is little chance of the spill coming this far east and south. Our beaches are open and clean.” Meanwhile council members were wondering why oil companies drilling in the U.S. are not required to use cut-off valves to stop the oil from spewing out of the sea bed.Vice Mayor Mick Denham said such valves have been mandatory in Norway since 1993 and are required in most other countries. He said Sanibel should lobby elected officials and send a letter to Senator Bill Nelson, who is encouraging communication. “We as a council should begin to lobby for the ultimate in safeguards,” Denham added.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
FLORIDA REAL ESTATE HAS HIT BOTTOM
UF: Florida real estate market has hit bottom
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – April 29, 2010 – Florida real estate markets show the first tentative signs of recovering from the most painful recession in the state's history, according to the latest University of Florida (UF) report.
"Results of our first quarter survey indicate that the real estate market in Florida has hit bottom and is in the process of stabilizing across most property types," says Timothy Becker, director of UF's Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies.
But while most of the survey respondents report the market probably won't get any worse, few say it has actually begun to improve yet, Becker says. "One of our respondents summed it up by stating that 'if anything, we will get less bad.'"
On the positive side, private capital – both foreign and domestic – is continuing to enter the state in search of quality investment deals. As banks start to deal with their problem assets, more deals will come to market.
Another good sign: Life insurance companies have started to re-invest in commercial properties after backing off for the last year and a half, Becker says. Because these companies use premiums from life insurance policies to make investments, they are not deterred by the lack of available bank financing.
"(Life insurance companies) see the fundamentals of the economy stabilizing and they see the opportunity to get quality assets at a good price," Becker says. "So if they think things aren't going to get worse and they may actually get better, it follows that they're going to want to start investing again."
On the negative side, unemployment continues to be one of the state's biggest problems, edging up to 12.3 percent in March, its highest level since the state began keeping count in the 1970s. Florida has lost more than 880,000 jobs since 2007.
Although there is a potential for job growth later in the year, even under the most optimistic assumptions it will take three to four years to return to 2006 levels, Becker says.
Also of concern is the continued reluctance of commercial banks to lend money because of pressure from regulators to manage risks along with depressed values that make it difficult to refinance mortgages.
The retail and office markets are the worst off, Becker says. "Until there is an increase in job growth, there is no need for more office space, and people aren't spending as much money as they used to."
Apartments continue to be the best market in the state due to high demand from people moving out of foreclosed homes. "More people are going to be living in temporary spaces than trying to buy homes just because it's gotten a lot more difficult to buy homes from a financing perspective," Becker says.
Statewide, Florida's new housing market will continue to be slow, a result of more foreclosed homes becoming available. "That competition makes it very difficult for new homes to get built and purchased because buyers can often get an equal or nicer home for a much cheaper price on the foreclosure market," Becker says.
One of the strongest areas of the state is South Florida, especially Miami-Dade and Broward counties, with their diverse economies, steady migration and influx of foreign capital. "The glut of condos in South Florida is actually starting to change hands – they're beginning to rent them – and I think there is more life in downtown Miami than there has been in a long time," Becker says.
Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville also are picking up. "Florida's big cities – those four areas – are less bad off than the rest of the state, and they're going to recover quicker than other places," Becker says.
Jacksonville, in particular, is in a good position because its housing market never got as hot as other markets; and, as a result, it doesn't have as many foreclosures. "I think Jacksonville is primed to really take off, and with the expansion of the port is going to have a lot of jobs coming into the marketplace," Becker says.
A positive note overall is that survey respondents' confidence in their own business has risen for the fifth consecutive quarter. In previous breakdowns by profession, developers and lenders had extremely low expectations for their own businesses, and that has grown substantially in the last few surveys.
"It's always a good sign for us that the lenders think their business is going to get better," Becker says. "Maybe it means there is some light at the end of the tunnel, even though we're still not at a great spot."
© 2010 Florida Realtors®
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – April 29, 2010 – Florida real estate markets show the first tentative signs of recovering from the most painful recession in the state's history, according to the latest University of Florida (UF) report.
"Results of our first quarter survey indicate that the real estate market in Florida has hit bottom and is in the process of stabilizing across most property types," says Timothy Becker, director of UF's Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies.
But while most of the survey respondents report the market probably won't get any worse, few say it has actually begun to improve yet, Becker says. "One of our respondents summed it up by stating that 'if anything, we will get less bad.'"
On the positive side, private capital – both foreign and domestic – is continuing to enter the state in search of quality investment deals. As banks start to deal with their problem assets, more deals will come to market.
Another good sign: Life insurance companies have started to re-invest in commercial properties after backing off for the last year and a half, Becker says. Because these companies use premiums from life insurance policies to make investments, they are not deterred by the lack of available bank financing.
"(Life insurance companies) see the fundamentals of the economy stabilizing and they see the opportunity to get quality assets at a good price," Becker says. "So if they think things aren't going to get worse and they may actually get better, it follows that they're going to want to start investing again."
On the negative side, unemployment continues to be one of the state's biggest problems, edging up to 12.3 percent in March, its highest level since the state began keeping count in the 1970s. Florida has lost more than 880,000 jobs since 2007.
Although there is a potential for job growth later in the year, even under the most optimistic assumptions it will take three to four years to return to 2006 levels, Becker says.
Also of concern is the continued reluctance of commercial banks to lend money because of pressure from regulators to manage risks along with depressed values that make it difficult to refinance mortgages.
The retail and office markets are the worst off, Becker says. "Until there is an increase in job growth, there is no need for more office space, and people aren't spending as much money as they used to."
Apartments continue to be the best market in the state due to high demand from people moving out of foreclosed homes. "More people are going to be living in temporary spaces than trying to buy homes just because it's gotten a lot more difficult to buy homes from a financing perspective," Becker says.
Statewide, Florida's new housing market will continue to be slow, a result of more foreclosed homes becoming available. "That competition makes it very difficult for new homes to get built and purchased because buyers can often get an equal or nicer home for a much cheaper price on the foreclosure market," Becker says.
One of the strongest areas of the state is South Florida, especially Miami-Dade and Broward counties, with their diverse economies, steady migration and influx of foreign capital. "The glut of condos in South Florida is actually starting to change hands – they're beginning to rent them – and I think there is more life in downtown Miami than there has been in a long time," Becker says.
Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville also are picking up. "Florida's big cities – those four areas – are less bad off than the rest of the state, and they're going to recover quicker than other places," Becker says.
Jacksonville, in particular, is in a good position because its housing market never got as hot as other markets; and, as a result, it doesn't have as many foreclosures. "I think Jacksonville is primed to really take off, and with the expansion of the port is going to have a lot of jobs coming into the marketplace," Becker says.
A positive note overall is that survey respondents' confidence in their own business has risen for the fifth consecutive quarter. In previous breakdowns by profession, developers and lenders had extremely low expectations for their own businesses, and that has grown substantially in the last few surveys.
"It's always a good sign for us that the lenders think their business is going to get better," Becker says. "Maybe it means there is some light at the end of the tunnel, even though we're still not at a great spot."
© 2010 Florida Realtors®
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Congress Extends flood insurance to May 31
WASHINGTON – April 16, 2010 – Congress approved an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) yesterday and President Obama signed it into law within the hour. The change, part of a larger bill that covered unemployment, extends the flood insurance program to May 31, 2010; and coverage is retroactive to March 28 when the current program ran out.The extension is a patch for the program, and current bills in Congress would solidify the flood program and extend coverage beyond a few months. H.R. 4213, if passed, would extend flood insurance coverage through Dec. 31, 2010.“In theory, the NFIP will now return to normal operations and, since the extension is also retroactive, any new policy applications or renewals that were signed and submitted during the hiatus will be effective from the date of application (or in the case of waiting periods, the waiting period will start from the date of application),” say officials of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America.The flood insurance extension was part of a larger bill that extends unemployment insurance benefits to June 2.Source: National Underwriter, Arthur D. Postal, April 16, 2010© 2010 Florida Realtors®
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Homebuyers' Top Questions about the Tax Credit
WASHINGTON – March 30, 2010 – The Florida Open House Weekend, April 10-11, is the last, best opportunity to secure up to $8,000 in tax credits for first-time homebuyers (up to $6,500 for move-up buyers).
According to the National Association of Home Builders, the following are top questions asked by prospective homebuyers. In all cases, buyers should check with the IRS or a qualified financial advisor for specific personal advice.
How does a homebuyer claim the tax credit?
The credit is claimed when the homebuyer files or amends his or her federal income taxes. For qualifying homes purchased in 2009 or 2010, the taxpayer must complete IRS Form 5405 and attach a copy of the settlement statement. In most cases, the settlement statement is a properly executed Form HUD-1.
In circumstances where a HUD-1 is not provided, such as purchasing a mobile home or a newly constructed home, the IRS will accept an executed retail sales contract (mobile homes) or a copy of the certificate of occupancy (new homes).
Does the homebuyer have to sell their current home in order to qualify for the $6,500 repeat homebuyer tax credit?
No – a homebuyer does not need to sell their current home in order to be eligible for the repeat buyer credit. They can continue to own both homes and rent or use the former home for something else providing it no longer serves as their principal residence. The taxpayer is required to use the new home as their principal residence and live in it for at least 36 months; otherwise, they must repay the credit.
Do married couples both have to meet the eligibility requirements in order to claim the credit – even if they file taxes separately?
Both spouses must fully meet all the eligibility requirements for either the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit or the $6,500 repeat buyer tax credit, regardless of whether they file joint or separate tax returns. However, if an unmarried couple purchases a home and only one person qualifies, the eligible person may claim the full credit.
Do all home purchases need to be completed by April 30, 2010, in order to be eligible for the credit?
There are two exceptions to the April 30 deadline. If the buyer enters into a binding contract by the deadline, they have until June 30, 2010, to complete the purchase. The deadline has been extended a year, to April 30, 2011, for members of the uniformed services, Foreign Service or employees of the intelligence community who have been on qualified extended duty outside the United States for at least 90 days between Jan. 1, 2009, and April 30, 2010.
For more information on the tax credit and the Florida Open House Weekend, visit Florida Realtors website at: http://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/OpenHouse/index.cfm/index.cfm
© 2010 Florida Realtors®
According to the National Association of Home Builders, the following are top questions asked by prospective homebuyers. In all cases, buyers should check with the IRS or a qualified financial advisor for specific personal advice.
How does a homebuyer claim the tax credit?
The credit is claimed when the homebuyer files or amends his or her federal income taxes. For qualifying homes purchased in 2009 or 2010, the taxpayer must complete IRS Form 5405 and attach a copy of the settlement statement. In most cases, the settlement statement is a properly executed Form HUD-1.
In circumstances where a HUD-1 is not provided, such as purchasing a mobile home or a newly constructed home, the IRS will accept an executed retail sales contract (mobile homes) or a copy of the certificate of occupancy (new homes).
Does the homebuyer have to sell their current home in order to qualify for the $6,500 repeat homebuyer tax credit?
No – a homebuyer does not need to sell their current home in order to be eligible for the repeat buyer credit. They can continue to own both homes and rent or use the former home for something else providing it no longer serves as their principal residence. The taxpayer is required to use the new home as their principal residence and live in it for at least 36 months; otherwise, they must repay the credit.
Do married couples both have to meet the eligibility requirements in order to claim the credit – even if they file taxes separately?
Both spouses must fully meet all the eligibility requirements for either the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit or the $6,500 repeat buyer tax credit, regardless of whether they file joint or separate tax returns. However, if an unmarried couple purchases a home and only one person qualifies, the eligible person may claim the full credit.
Do all home purchases need to be completed by April 30, 2010, in order to be eligible for the credit?
There are two exceptions to the April 30 deadline. If the buyer enters into a binding contract by the deadline, they have until June 30, 2010, to complete the purchase. The deadline has been extended a year, to April 30, 2011, for members of the uniformed services, Foreign Service or employees of the intelligence community who have been on qualified extended duty outside the United States for at least 90 days between Jan. 1, 2009, and April 30, 2010.
For more information on the tax credit and the Florida Open House Weekend, visit Florida Realtors website at: http://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/OpenHouse/index.cfm/index.cfm
© 2010 Florida Realtors®
Sunday, March 28, 2010
1st Annual Edible Molusk Oyster Eating Contest to be held on Sanibel!
When: Saturday, April 17th 2010, 11am - 1pm.
Where: The Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market
Why: To celebrate "Oyster Love" and to raise money for the Bailey- Matthews Shell Museum Mollusk Exhibit.
Rules: Individuals have 90 seconnds to eat as many oysters as possible. Each contestant will receive a tray filled with 30 pre-shucked oysters on the half shell. Supplemental oysters will be given if needed. Each individual may have someone behind them cheering them on and each contestant will be assigned an individual judge to ensure all the oysters are swallowed. The judges will be the ones responsible for counting oyster shells to determine the number eaten. Contestants will be allowed to "flavor or dress" each oyster before the competition begins, but are not allowed to remove the oyster out of their shell prior to the start of the competition. For an oyster to be counted in the final total, it must be in the contestant's mouth at the end of the time limit.
All's Fair: Oysters can be slurped from the shell, hands-on grabbing and throwing them in the mouth or even dumping them in a pint glass and guzzling them. We don't care as song as they end up in the mouth and swallowed within the time limit!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Sugar Contract
Extended For U.S.
On March 11 South Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board cast a unanimous vote to extend the agency’s contract terms with U.S. Sugar Corp. over the pending acquisition of land that will be used to save the Everglades.
The contract extension was required to secure the acquisition of 73,000 acres of much-needed land that will be the cornerstone of a cost-effective water management initiative designed to sustain the water supply of millions of people and rescue the treasured Everglades ecosystem from certain peril.
“The members of the governing board demonstrated considerable leadership today by committing to this vitally important land acquisition within the Everglades Agricultural Area. This is the best opportunity we will have in our lifetimes to sustain our water supply and build the foundation for all future Everglades restoration projects,” said Kirk Fordham, CEO, Everglades Foundation.
“This land acquisition will save taxpayers money in the long term and provide the South Florida Water Management District an opportunity to prioritize projects around a water treatment and storage footprint that will provide the maximum benefits to residents and the environment.”
The Everglades Foundation has long advocated land acquisition in the Everglades Agricultural Area as the most cost-effective option available for Florida to fulfill its commitment to Everglades restoration. In addition, the foundation expects the revised proposal for U.S. Sugar Corp. land to provide the initial acreage to launch promising water quality projects and allows for the acquisition of additional land for restoration purposes in the near future.
The foundation’s position is that the health of the Everglades is not only vital
to the environment, but also to the economy and quality of life in South Florida.
The organization has assembled a team of scientists, policy experts and communications
professionals and works with partners on several fronts to educate, advocate and litigate -- when necessary -- to advance Everglades restoration. In addition, the foundation provides grants to like-minded local, national and international organizations and collaborates with other business, civic and environmental groups to form coalitions and set priorities to move restoration initiatives forward.
Extended For U.S.
On March 11 South Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board cast a unanimous vote to extend the agency’s contract terms with U.S. Sugar Corp. over the pending acquisition of land that will be used to save the Everglades.
The contract extension was required to secure the acquisition of 73,000 acres of much-needed land that will be the cornerstone of a cost-effective water management initiative designed to sustain the water supply of millions of people and rescue the treasured Everglades ecosystem from certain peril.
“The members of the governing board demonstrated considerable leadership today by committing to this vitally important land acquisition within the Everglades Agricultural Area. This is the best opportunity we will have in our lifetimes to sustain our water supply and build the foundation for all future Everglades restoration projects,” said Kirk Fordham, CEO, Everglades Foundation.
“This land acquisition will save taxpayers money in the long term and provide the South Florida Water Management District an opportunity to prioritize projects around a water treatment and storage footprint that will provide the maximum benefits to residents and the environment.”
The Everglades Foundation has long advocated land acquisition in the Everglades Agricultural Area as the most cost-effective option available for Florida to fulfill its commitment to Everglades restoration. In addition, the foundation expects the revised proposal for U.S. Sugar Corp. land to provide the initial acreage to launch promising water quality projects and allows for the acquisition of additional land for restoration purposes in the near future.
The foundation’s position is that the health of the Everglades is not only vital
to the environment, but also to the economy and quality of life in South Florida.
The organization has assembled a team of scientists, policy experts and communications
professionals and works with partners on several fronts to educate, advocate and litigate -- when necessary -- to advance Everglades restoration. In addition, the foundation provides grants to like-minded local, national and international organizations and collaborates with other business, civic and environmental groups to form coalitions and set priorities to move restoration initiatives forward.
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