A guide to gulf coast living in the Sunshine State

The Florida lifestyle is great: many are lured to stay longer and eventually reside in the Sunshine state because of the laidback beach living and the romance of seaside towns.  Florida’s Gulf Coast forms part of the Gulf of Mexico, with a coastline of 770 miles, thus promising endless water-related activities and enough seashells for a sizable collection.  The twin cities of Clearwater and St. Petersburg were voted as the best beach destination in the United States.

Aside from lounging on a quiet beach and getting a natural tan, visitors can frequent numerous museums, galleries, charming historical venues, and natural attractions.  Here are three out of the many gulf coast areas where you can spend a vacation or decide to set up residence:

Clearwater

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It is a peninsula located in Florida’s West Coast, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and Tampa Bay to the east.  Active families will appreciate living here because of diverse beach activities, playhouses, festivals, and extensive park system. 

St. Petersburg

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It is a cultural hub of central Florida and the Gulf Coast because of nationally renowned museums, performing arts centers, and galleries.  A popular attraction is the St. Petersburg Pier that hosts shops, restaurants, and an amazing nightlife.

Tampa

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This place has a lot of amusement parks and a single day’s activities can be spent on shopping, attending sporting events, and fine dining at gorgeous hotels.  Tampa has old cigar factories and unique buildings that boast amazing architecture. 

Gulf coast living and entertainment need not be limited to the beach alone.  Countless experience await for every tourist and residents alike. 

Melissa Yardy is a professional real estate broker for over 30 years that has access to thousands of Pinellas County and St. Pete Beach homes. Check more real estate updates here.

Real estate forecasts: Investment trends to keep an eye on

The culmination of the business year brings about inventories and financial summaries that chronicle both successes and failures. Citations are made for the most profitable industries, and those that boomed despite slow economic growth. Among the successful business sectors are financial services and real property investments involving construction.

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Considering a positive trend in these industries, wise investors are sure to hit maximum gain by extending projects to the busy seasons of the following year. Recapping 2014’s notable developments, investment experts relay the following forecasts for the real estate industry next year:

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• The comeback of the “smile philosophy,” that is, real estate projects move through a literal smile geographically, with investments initiating in the northeast regions, down to south, then back up toward the northwestern part of the country;

• With high-end apartment buildings becoming more problematic, single-family markets still lead the market in terms of condominium development. Multi-dwelling units are projected to decrease in demand;

• With home prices geared toward pleasing the seller than the buyer, lending standards will loosen up, allowing more shadow banking to emerge;

• Second-tier cities are set to lead the market recovery next year. With bay area, 24-hour cities becoming swamped, more deals can be made in traditionally 9-to-5 cities. Urbanization in these cities will transform housing, dining, and walk-to-work offices creating consistent economic growth;

• Watch out for millennials. These young generation will move the market but not as homeowners, as they postpone purchasing a home until later in life, but as renters. Looking into how this generation perceives housing poses a huge challenge, but millennials are a great source of potential business activity as well;

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• Telecommuting and online shopping are also shaping the future of real estate property investments. With more home-based work and more options in retail shopping, more commercial spaces are left empty. The conversion of malls and traditional offices for mixed-use is seen to be profitable.

Scouring the market for the most profitable sector is an arduous task necessitating extensive research. Getting a hint from industry experts would be a great exercise in ensuring continuous success in real estate investment.

The president of a RE/MAX Preferred office in St. Pete Beach, Florida, Melissa Yardy is the go-to person of individuals and families who wish to make a successful investment in the real estate. Learn more how she can help you land a good deal here.