REMAX SOUTHERN REALTY CLIENTS EARN VACATION REWARDS FROM SOUTHERN RESORTS

The benefits of being a PLATINUM REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES of RE/MAX SOUTHERN REALTY -

Our Go Southern Team, offers PLATINUM REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES of RE/MAX SOUTHERN REALTY clients the following discount to stay at one of the Southern Resorts properties.
· In Season (Memorial to Labor Day) 15% discount on published rate
(Not applicable on monthly stay).
· Off Season: 25% on published rate (Not applicable on Monthly stay)
· Normal fees apply,
· Based upon availability,
· Normal minimum length of stay requirement applies.

Properties are located from Port St Joe to Perdido Key and vary in size and location to accommodate most any request.

RENTAL MARKET HAS BECOME A SWEET SPOT IN REAL ESTATE

This observation of the national rental market holds very true for our local market. With the local military housing units being reduced drastically, the influx of new military personnel being moved here because of BRAC 2005, the shortage of available/suitable housing, and many other factors, has put our rental market out of this world.

Rental market: Sweet spot in real estate WASHINGTON – Sept. 8, 2011 – The rental market is continuing to heat up and can offer potentially big returns for buyers willing to jump into the landlord role. For investors looking to take advantage of low record-reaching mortgage rates and big discounts on home prices, the opportunities are plenty. Rents are rising and demand is up too, partially due to the 4 million former homeowners who’ve faced a foreclosure and are now renters. In response, more homes are turning into rentals: Nearly 35 percent of occupied homes were rented in 2010, which is a 33.8 percent increase from 2000, according to a recent study. In more than 500 cities, demand for rentals has increased, with vacancies for rental housing reaching its lowest level since 2003, according to U.S. Census data. Plus, rents are on the rise too: Nationwide, rents increased 11.6 percent in 2010 to $1,320 a month, on average, according to Hotpads.com, a real estate research firm. Investors are buying rental properties with the intention to hold onto it for a longer time too: On average, investors say they plan to hold onto the property for 10 years before selling, according to a survey by the National Association of Realtors®. “Whereas leverage is dangerous when buying stocks, [buying a rental] can be a good long-term strategy with real estate,” real estate investor Marshall Sonenshine told Money Magazine. Experts suggest the wisest move for investors is buying a property near their permanent residence and sticking to buildings with four units or fewer to avoid stricter financing requirements, such as larger downpayments and higher mortgage rates. Also, experts say rental income should cover at least the mortgage payments on the property as well as an extra 20 percent cushion to pay for any repairs, property management or get you through any vacancies.Source: “Cashing in on Rental Property,” Money Magazine (Sept. 2, 2011)

$22M INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT BEING MADE AT CRESTVIEW AIRPORT

22 MILLION DOLLARS, THAT’S RIGHT. 22 MILLION DOLLARS OF IMPROVEMENTS TO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AIRPORTS TO SUPPORT OUR MILITARY DEFENSE, THE CRESTVIEW INDUSTRIAL AIRPARK IN NORTH CRESTVIEW. JUST A SHORT 5 MINUTE TRIP BY AIR FROM EGLIN AFB, HURLBURT AFB, DUKE AFB, AND OF COURSE, THE NEW 7TH SPECIAL FORCES CANTONMENT CENTER, YOU CAN HOPEFULLY SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL HERE. THESE IMPROVEMENTS AND A NUMBER OF MILITARY MISSIONS TO OUR AREA WERE BECAUSE OF MILITARY STREAMLING PROCESS TO SAVE MONEY. FROM THE STANDPOINT OF FUTURE STREAMLINING AND FROM WHAT I HERE, MILITARY DOWNSIZING IS NOT A BAD THING FOR US, IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE PICTURE. STAY TUNED.

September 07, 2011 6:36 PM
Brian Hughes, Crestview News Bulletin
Members of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce PILOT young professionals committee learned about the importance of both Crestview’s airport and the county’s commercial airport in the region’s economic future. And, they learned, our regional airports are integral to their own professional growth as well. Okaloosa County Airports Director Greg Donovan spoke to the group at its August meeting, sharing updates on airports infrastructure projects and offering a business profile of Vision Airlines, the newest tenant at Northwest Florida Regional Airport, which made VPS its hub. “From a career standpoint, you are the future of our community,” Donovan told the group. “What we are building at our airport system is something you’ll inherit.” The ongoing $22 million in infrastructure improvements that began several years ago at Bob Sikes Airport is preparing the airport, which boasts the region’s longest runway, for future growth. Current projects include a new, enhanced storm water drainage system, a tenant hangar, and wider taxiways and turns to handle the world’s largest aircraft. A recently announced project to acquire land for a U.S. Highway 90 front entrance for the airport is also picking up momentum, Donovan said. It will facilitate getting large trucks to and from airport tenants, and eliminate airport traffic having to go through residential neighborhoods. “It was kind of a speed-bump to our development,” Donovan said of the current access, adding that an $11 million access road project “opens all kinds of doors.” “We’re putting in the infrastructure to accommodate massive companies to come here,” Donovan said. Some PILOT members were surprised to learn that their taxes don’t fund the airport improvements he described. “All of it is money that is generated in the airport system,” Donovan explained. “If you’ve not been to the airport, you’re not paying one dime toward what’s happening at the airport. Improvements at the county’s commercial airport include four new terminal gates due to open in October, Donovan said. The University of West Florida Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development recently reported the airport has a half-billion-dollar impact on the region, he added.

TOURIST FLOCK TO OKALOOSA, WALTON AND SANTA ROSA COUNTIES IN RECORD NUMBERS

TOURIST FLOCK TO OKALOOSA, WALTON, AND SANTA ROSA COUNTIES IN RECORD NUMBERS

Okay folks, I don’t know what to say, but “I told you so”. Just kidding. I have been told, I am a extreme optimist, I am bullish on the Emerald Coast. Well what I am is, a realist, someone who does my homework, observe and participant in a wide array of business related functions, which cross many lines. I also listen attentively to customers on their motivations and seek out data in order to understand their actions. With this said, I believe the information, which I have passed along from the movement of new military units, new businesses, our great education system, new interest in our tourism, are just a reflection that we are in one of the bright spots in this country and we are lucky to be here. Now, just on the horizon, we have the annual “Snow Bird” migration coming and they have also been coming in record numbers to run from the cold of the winter. Put that together with some great pricing, some record low interest rates, combined with our great atmosphere and surrounding beauty of the country side to the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, you will be seeing a large number of “Baby Boomers” coming here to call our area home. So read on to some more great news on our area, it is some interesting stuff.

Emerald Coast sets bed tax record
July revenues were the most ever for Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties
By DUSTY RICKETTS, Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4448 dricketts@nwfdailynews.com  
July was another record-breaking month for the tourism industry in Northwest Florida. Tourist development agencies in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties all recorded their highest bed tax collections ever in a single month in July, officials said. “It was unbelievable . I think it far exceeded many of our expectations,” said Mark Bellinger, executive director of the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council. “It was the best month since we’ve been keeping statistics in the past 20 years. It far exceeded all the numbers.” Bed tax collections were up 85 percent in Okaloosa compared to July 2010. Collections were up 53 percent in Walton County and 67 percent in Santa Rosa County compared to July a year ago. Okaloosa collected $1.1 million in taxes on short-term rentals in July. Santa Rosa collected $185,168. Figures for Walton were not available. Bellinger said the region’s tourism agencies worked together following last year’s oil spill to bring visitors back, and the efforts have paid off. Dawn Moliterno, executive director of the Walton County TDC, agreed. “We knew we were going to have a good July based on the feedback we were getting,” Moliterno said. “We had no idea we would fare as incredibly well as we did. “Overall, we’re excited, we want to keep the momentum going,” she added. “We’re seeing good signs through the shoulder season, and we just want that to continue to carry us into a solid spring next year.” The TDCs are now focused on drawing tourists for the fall months. The Okaloosa TDC is promoting the Destin Seafood Festival and Destin Fishing Rodeo. The Santa Rosa TDC has its sand-sculpting contest later this month and the annual Beaches to Woodlands event in October. “You know how pretty September and October are around here, and I think people are beginning to realize that,” said Kate Wilkes, executive director of the Santa Rosa TDC. Moliterno said a strong shoulder season now is the best way to promote the area for next summer. “Fall is a great time for weddings. Fall is a great time for a romantic getaway or a girls’ trip or a guys’ golf trip. By bringing them back and reminding them how beautiful this place is, that keeps in the forefront when they’re building their family vacations for that following year. It’s really important to keep them coming back time and time again, and not just a once a year vacation.”

TWO MORE F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTERS ARRIVE AT EGLIN ON AUGUST 31, 2011

They keep coming as promised, with more on the way. As you know, I was given a briefing on the F-35 Training Program a couple of weeks ago and after leaving, this program is alive and well, with efforts are being made to expedite the training program for a variety of reasons. One being, it is the right thing to do for the national security of our country, period. So stay tune, as you will see some great news coming from Eglin and the training program and the impact it will have on our community.

FORT WORTH, Texas --- Two Lockheed Martin F-35As, AF-10 and AF-11, along with two F-16 chase aircraft, landed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Wednesday afternoon at 1:19 p.m. CDT today. On Friday, the F-35 Joint Program Office has authorized the return to flight operations for F-35 production aircraft. AF-10 and AF-11 completed the 90-minute flight marking the ninth and tenth F-35 contractual deliveries of 2011. The pair of conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) jets will be used for training pilots and maintainers at the new F-35 Integrated Training Center there.

OKALOOSA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TAKE TOPS IN ACT SCORES

We have done it again. Our schools continue to be another great reason for folks to move to our area. Great job by all for their efforts and the support given by the community. Without this team effort, the children would not be succeeding. BRAVO ZULU.

Okaloosa tops ACT scores
By KATIE TAMMEN
Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4440 ktammen@nwfdailynews.com   Okaloosa County students again have earned the highest scores in Florida on the ACT. Seniors from the class of 2011 earned a composite score of 22.7, which was about three points higher than the state average, according to information from the Florida Department of Education. “We’re ahead in everything,” said Superintendent of Schools Alexis Tibbetts. “It says that our students are well prepared (for college).” Students in Santa Rosa and Walton counties also earned composite scores above the state average. However, Florida was tied with Kentucky near the bottom in the nation for its overall score. Only Mississippi and Tennessee had lower composite scores, and 100 percent of students in each of those other states took the test. Only about 66 percent of Florida students took the test. Local educators said the state’s low composite score is not reflective of local education trends. “We’re the best of the best in Florida and that means our county is competitive (in the nation),” Tibbetts said. The test, which is not mandatory for Florida students, is a cumulative college entrance exam. It is divided into four sections — English, reading, math and science — that measure a students’ readiness for college, said Steve McLaughlin, who oversees the test results for Okaloosa County schools. In Okaloosa, which sees about 60 percent of each senior class go to college, 57.7 percent of seniors took the test. McLaughlin said that paints a fairly accurate snapshot of the district. “I would say it’s very reflective,” he said. “It’s a big mirror of the community.” More than 60 percent of students in both Santa Rosa and Walton counties also took the test. Santa Rosa’s composite score remained mostly unchanged, increasing by one-tenth of a point. Walton County, which is a significantly smaller school district, saw a slight dip in all areas. “We’re not super discouraged by it and we’re hoping to ramp everything up,” said David Jeselnik, coordinator of school improvement and accountability for the Walton school district. The slight drop in the score was a first in several years for the district, and officials haven’t had enough time yet to identify what happened, he said. In the meantime, to help increase not only test scores but student preparedness for college, the school district has begun bringing more Advanced Placement courses into the high schools. In the past, it has focused more on dual-enrollment courses not only because of the costs associated with AP courses, but also because it’s what students and their parents were interested in. “For a small school district we’ve really stepped up to do this in a big way,” Jeselnik said. “And we’re hoping to see the results soon.”

F-35 PROGRAM ALIVE AND WELL AND MOVING FORWARD

As the President of the Northwest Florida Military Officers Association, I was able to attend a briefing and tour at the F-35 Training Squadron on Friday, August 19, 2011. This facility was quite impressive and movement around the installation was at a very high pace. I can tell you the two F-35 Joint Strike Fighters are very impressive and are doing quite well. Also, the morale is very high from the top to the bottom of the chain of command. I have seen both the 7th Special Forces Group new installation, and I can assure you, the F-35 Training Facility does not take a back seat. Both of these installations have cost close to a 1 BILLION dollars, yes 1 BILLION. I am quite confident from our briefing, you want this plane and this country needs this plane. Just listen to the news tonight on what an air campaign can accomplish in Libya and what the Special Forces folks have recently done, as well. Both of these programs are the tip of our spear in the Defense of our Country. More importantly, they save lots of money, and more importantly, they save lots of lives. Yes, military lives. Oh yea, these two programs have been transferred here. I wish I could tell you more and I wish I could have showed you more. But all I can tell you. I am proud to be an American.