| Welcome to South Florida! |
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For many, the vision of their ideal dream home plays across their fantasies, as they consider South Florida the perfect place to buy a beautiful dream home to fully enjoy this tropical paradise. And still others look for a quite place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. Miami and Fort Lauderdale are only a couple of hours flight from New York and only minutes from the Bahamas... Of course it's not just savy real estate investors contributing to the growth of Florida. Tourism plays a primary role in the state's economy; in 1996 visitors to Florida spent over $48 billion. Walt Disney World, a massive cluster of theme parks near Orlando that is one of the world's leading tourist attractions; Universal Studios, a combination theme park and film and television production facility, also near Orlando; and other attractions draw millions yearly. Famed beaches, such as those at Miami Beach , Daytona Beach , and Fort Lauderdale , attract hordes of vacationers. With more than 4,000 sq mi (10,360 sq km) of inland water and with the sea readily accessible from almost anywhere in the state, Florida is a fishing paradise. Other attractions include Everglades National Park, with its unusual plant and animal life; Palm Beach , with its palatial estates; and Sanibel Island's picturesque resorts. Famous for its citrus fruits, Florida leads the nation in the production of oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, and market-ready corn and tomatoes. Other important crops include sugarcane and many varieties of winter vegetables. Cattle and dairy products are important, as is commercial fishing, with the catch including crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.
The State of Florida is located in the extreme SouthEast United States. Florida is a long, low peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida is bordered by Georgia on the North and Alabama on the West.
Area, 58,560 sq mi (151,670 sq km).
Capital of Florida, Tallahassee.
Nickname, Sunshine State.
Motto, In God We Trust.
State bird, mockingbird.
State flower, orange blossom.
State tree, Sabal palmetto palm.
Population statistics - according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2004 Census)
State of Florida, 16,990,183
Broward County, 1,734,734
Miami-Dade County, 2,316,708
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When you think of Miami or Fort Lauderdale what comes to mind? Images of beautiful sandy beaches stretching for miles along the Atlantic Coast and hot steamy tropical nights of dining and dancing most likely come to mind. South Florida and especially Miami and Fort Lauderdale are a slice of tropical paradise, with all of the Latin and Caribbean flavors, but with all the comforts of a metropolitan lifestyle.
Did You Know?
| Always get an inspection. |
| Any purchase offer you make should be contingent upon your approval of a qualified home inspector's report, even when buying a new or almost new home. Friends, family, or your Realtor may be able to refer you to a good inspector, or you can contact the Better Business Bureau for a list. Even if your lender does not require it, you may want to consider conducting a full land survey--property line disputes could potentially cost you thousands down the road, and are typically not covered by title insurance. |
Keith James Blazek, PA
ABRM, CRB, CRS, GRI, TRC, e-PRO, is a proud member of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, a free online community for real estate professionals to promote their business over the Internet. You can find other outstanding Florida real estate agents on ActiveRain.com.
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