Florida’s Quality of Life Means ‘Home Sweet Home,’ Says Florida Association of Realtors
ORLANDO, FL – July 1, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — What does Florida have to offer? Pick up a travel brochure and some benefits are clear: Beautiful beaches. Miles of scenic parks and nature preserves. Oceans, rivers and lakes offering boating, fishing, swimming and other water recreation. A rich and varied history, which includes the city of St. Augustine, the oldest permanent European settlement in the mainland United States. Unique entertainment parks and other family-friendly attractions. Cultural activities that offer residents and visitors fine theater, music, dance and arts events. Then there is Florida’s climate featuring an average annual high of 81 degrees Fahrenheit and an average annual low of 60 degrees, giving the Sunshine State its well-known nickname and reputation.
“Florida is a great place to live and I feel privileged to call it home,” said 2009 Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR) President Cynthia Shelton. “There is so much to see, to experience and to enjoy in Florida, from the distinctive white sugar sand beaches of Destin in the north, to the family fun offered by Orlando’s theme parks and attractions, to the leisurely, laid-back lifestyle in the Keys. Whatever you like to do, you’ll find it here in Florida. We have visitors coming here from around the world to vacation in Florida. But they only get to sample what Florida offers for a brief time; when you’re lucky enough to be a Florida homeowner, there’s no end to the possibilities!”
State officials, Florida Realtors® and business recruiters agree: Florida’s unique quality of life is one of the state’s best assets. Enterprise Florida, a public-private partnership devoted to statewide economic development, notes on its Web site (http://www.eflorida.com) many of the amenities found in the Sunshine State.
• Florida beaches were awarded more top 10 spots than any other state, including the No. 1 beach in the U.S., Caladesi Island State Park, on America’s Best Beaches list for 2008. This internationally recognized ranking by Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach) is based on 50 criteria including number of sunny days, sand softness, algae and pollution content, safety record, and more. Leatherman is a Ph.D. coastal scientist, professor of environmental studies and director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University in Miami.
• The state’s park system, one of the largest in the U.S., has 160 parks covering more than 700,000 acres and 100 miles of Florida’s beaches.
• Seven of Relocate-America’s Top 100 Places to Live in 2008 were Florida cities, including one, Flagler Beach, which was named to the Top 10. These rankings attest to Florida’s high quality of life, and are based on a combination of economic data and feedback from people who live in each area.
• In many ways, Florida’s cost of living is below that of other states with similar economic growth and in-migration rates. For example, the state’s homeownership rate currently stands at about 70 percent, well above the national average. And, with data from the Florida Association of Realtors showing that $187,800 was the statewide median price for an existing home at year-end 2008, housing prices compare well to other similar states.
• Noted for its outstanding statewide system of trails, Florida was named the Best Trails State in America, winning the biennial National Trails Award in this past November from the national nonprofit organization American Trails.
• Five Florida universities were named to the Best Values in Public Colleges list for 2009 by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. The schools are University of Florida, ranking No. 2 in the nation; New College of Florida, No. 8; Florida State University, No. 17; University of Central Florida, No. 42; and the University of South Florida, No. 75. Among other criteria, these rankings recognize schools with top academics and affordable costs.
What Do You Know About Florida? Fun Facts to Share from the Florida Association of Realtors®
Florida’s Climate Is Business-Friendly, Says Florida Association of Realtors®
The Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 115,000 members in 67 boards/associations. For more FAR media releases, go to www.media.floridarealtors.org.
Contact: Jeff Zipper, Vice President of Communications
407/438-1400, ext. 2326 or 2314
