Venice Information and Property Search
Venice is a charming, vibrant city located just south of Sarasota and nestled directly on the Gulf of Mexico. The north end of the city features a spectacular area known as Venice Island. Residents of Venice Island are greeted by streets lined with palm trees that provide a jubilant, relaxing sensation.
Read more... »Siesta Key Information and Property Search
Siesta Key is an eight-mile long barrier island just southwest of downtown Sarasota, Florida. Sarasota Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway border Siesta Key to the East and the Gulf of Mexico lines the beaches of the western shore of this island utopia.
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Krautfleckerln – Cabbage-and-noodle casserole with ham
Krautfleckerl This dish has its roots in Hungary but is also popular in the south of Germany and in Austria. It is a simple and very good meal. During my childhood my mother makes this dish often because my sister and I like this very much. It is a good tasty combination and not only kids would love it. Cabbage-and-noodle casserole with ham; called “Krautfleckerln“ 4 servings Ingredients: ½ lb pasta for Fleckerl (small squares cut from flat noodles or lasagne noodles) 1 small white cabbage head (1 ½ lb) 6 oz ham (little squares) 6 oz vegetable broth 2 onions (chopped) 2 cloves garlic (chopped) 2
Read more... »Ralf’s Recipes – From German Master Chef and Baker, Ralf Mehler
Ralph Mehler is from Hanover, Germany in Lower Saxony. Ralf and his beautiful wife, Cordula, have a home in Port Charlotte, FL and spend as much time there as they can. Ralf has had a career in the culinary arts and has agreed to share his delicious recipes with the public, here on our blog. Please check in regularly to view Ralf's newest recipes. He promises to post them often. Of course we welcome your comments and questions about the recipes. Try them out for yourself. You will certainly enjoy them!
Read more... »USF Creativity Weekend
The 10th Annual Florida Creativity Weekend, a joint effort of The University of South Florida, the Florida Creativity Coalition and Florida Studio Theatre, is scheduled for March 1 through 3. The weekend is a conference to help strengthen creative thinking for artists, musicians, writers and actors) as well as others who wish to learn and network skills to improve personal creativity. More than 60 different workshops are scheduled. Sessions range from instruction in fundamental creativity techniques to whimsical meetings that are designed to be thought provoking and just plain fun. Topics include “A Basic Introduction to
Read more... »Economists say “Outlook Good” for 2013
An article in USA Today says that economists are optimistic that the economy will grow this year. While unemployment is not predicted to fall a great deal, the overall outlook for future growth is looking up. The economists surveyed expect an average growth of 155,000 jobs per month. The article quoted Richard Moody, chief economist at Regions Bank, as saying, “I think we’re really on the verge of this becoming a self-sustaining recovery”. He added, the revisions reflect a job market that’s expanding more rapidly than previously believed. Things improved because Congress and the White House agreed to keep income taxes stable for
Read more... »Be Careful When Applying for a Mortgage
There are many things that can go wrong, even after you have been pre-approved. Click here to read the do's and don't's: http://rotonda.suncoasteam.com/2013/01/23/how-to-mess-up-a-mortgage-pre-approval
Read more... »Florida’s Real Estate Market Ends 2012 On a Positive Note
According to a report by Florida Realtors®, Florida’s housing market had more closed sales, higher pending sales, higher median prices and a reduced inventory of homes for sale in December, 2012. December marks the 12th consecutive month of higher statewide median sales prices for both single-family homes and for townhouse-condo units year-to-year, according to Florida Realtors’ data. Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 18,031 in December, up 15.8 percent compared to the year-ago figure, according to data from Florida Realtors Industry Data and Analysis department in partnership with local Realtor
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Punta Gorda, A Fun Place To Live
While riding through Punta Gorda Isles today, Bill Ogden saw this fire hydrant on Via Tripoli... Someone has a sense of humor!
Read more... »Real Estate Research Firm Predicts 6% Price Increase in 2013
IRVINE, Calif. – Jan. 14, 2013 – CoreLogic, a real estate market research firm, released its CoreLogic Home Price Index (HPI) report today. It found a 7.5 percent increase in home prices during 2012, the largest home price increase since 2006. CoreLogic projects home prices to increase 6 percent in 2013. Factors pushing the increase are greater affordability fueling steady demand, a lower level of foreclosure property sales and a lower inventory of unsold homes. Among Core Logic Findings: • Total homes sales increased 6 percent to 4.2 million in 2012, up from 3.9 million in 2011 for the first increase since 2005. •
Read more... »Home owner affordability
2012 set a record as affordable homes were sold and interest rates low. http://rotonda.suncoasteam.com/2013/01/11/housing-affordability-sets-a-record-in-2012
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Capt. Tom Lewis of the Punta Gorda Police Department
The Southwest Florida Police Chiefs Association honored Capt. Tom Lewis of the Punta Gorda Police Department at a recent meeting. The association named Captain Lewis its Outstanding Command Officer of the Year for 2012. The association cited his “leadership, vision and innovation.”
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