2010-AUG-11: In North Port, tiny wheels of commerce are turning
A major vacancy in one of North Port's busiest commercial centers has drawn interest from two serious investors, who say they are prepared to bring jobs and an infusion of capital to a city badly in need of both. The 85,000-square-foot center lost its anchor recently, when Publix moved to a new development just to the east on U.S. 41. But what first appeared to be major loss in North Port's battered commercial sector could quickly rebound. Joy Wilson, a 36-year-old life coach and former mortgage broker, says she has raised between $1.5 million and $2 million from out-of-town investors who will back a roller rink in the old Publix space. Goodwill Industries-Manasota says it is ready to put a donation, retail and job training center in the building, an investment of up to $350,000 that would bring 50 to 60 jobs. @ Sarasota Herald Tribune | Posted: 08/11/10 at 0201 EDST
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2010-AUG-09: Few green shoots amid region in recession
So far, this region seems to be weathering the storm quite well. Last week, data from Florida Department of Revenue showed that overall sales in Sarasota County rose 2 percent from a year ago. That came after several months of a more booming recovery. Charlotte County's sales dropped to 4 percent, but remained in positive territory, where they have been since January. Manatee County also showed progress. The county has not posted positive results literally for years, but the decline moderated in April and May. Sales were down only 1 percent in May. @ Sarasota Herald Tribune | Posted: 08/09/10 at 0201 EDST
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2010-AUG-16: Occupancy up at S. Fla. hotels in July
Hotel occupancy across South Florida rose again in July, according to data from Smith Travel Research. Palm Beach County had the biggest gain in occupancy, to 62.1 percent from 53.2 percent in the prior-year period. Occupancy in Broward grew to 63.7 percent from 59.9 percent. Occupancy in Miami-Dade grew to 67.9 percent from 64.1 percent.The average daily room rate rose 1.8 percent in Miami-Dade, to $118.33 from $116.25. The rate in Broward fell 0.2 percent, to $89.23 from $89.39. Palm Beach County’s average rate fell 1.5 percent, to $96.38 from $97.85. @ South Florida Business Journal | Posted: 08/19/10 at 0201 EDST
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2010-AUG-13: Economic forecast paints brighter picture
Florida economists raised state tax revenue estimates for 2011 by 1.4% over calculations made five months ago.
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2010-AUG-04: In spite of economy, East Manatee region keeps growing
The international symbol of municipal growth -- the McDonald's golden arches -- will soon grace an East Manatee neighborhood that is suddenly bursting with new life. With S.R. 64 recently widened from two to six lanes, and new Lakewood Ranch developments creeping up from the south, the arrival of a McDonald's and a Walgreens in the area are the most visible indicators that East Manatee remains a region that refuses to stop growing even in the face of a dismal economy.
@ Sarasota Herald Tribune | Posted: 08/04/10 at 0215 EDST
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2010-JUL-30: Fla. still on path to economic recovery
The Gulf oil spill hasn't ruined the fragile recovery and modest growth (2.9%) will continue this year, says UCF report.
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2010-AUG-04: Florida's seafood sales gain despite spill
Apalachicola Bay oysterman and shrimper Frankie Crosby caught 500 pounds of shrimp and 180 pounds of oysters working all day and night in May. The 26-year-old was working around the clock to harvest as much as he could, fearing the oil spill would close fisheries in the Florida Panhandle. One of the industries that had skyrocketing sales that month was seafood dealers, whose sales jumped 84 percent as worried buyers stocked up on fish. @ Sarasota Herald Tribune | Posted: 08/04/10 at 0201 EDST
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2010-AUG-06: Oil well cap brightens Fla. economic outlook
In June, a UCF economist said the oil crisis might cost Fla. $11B; this week, he lowered that estimate about 80%.
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Mortgage Market AND Homeowners Insurance
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2010-AUG-05: FHA is in better shape than expected
A report last year predicted trouble, but FHA says tighter standards and lender crackdowns have made it stronger.
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2010-AUG-20: Average mortgage rates hit low of 4.42%
Rates hit a record low for the 8th time in nine weeks and pushed refinancing to its highest level since May 2009.
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2010-AUG-17: Inventory of homes for sale shrinks
Observers still worry about a shadow inventory of homes, but available listings in South Fla. dropped 35% in two years.
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2010-AUG-12: Florida has seen higher existing year-to-year home sales.
Florida’s existing home, condo sales up in 2Q 2010 -- Sales of existing single-family homes in Florida rose 21 percent in second quarter 2010 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Realtors®. A total of 51,564 existing homes sold statewide in 2Q 2010; during the same period the year before, a total of 42,604 existing homes sold. It marks the eighth consecutive quarter that Statewide sales of existing condominiums in the second quarter rose 45 percent compared to the same time the previous year. This marks the seventh consecutive quarter for increased statewide sales in both the existing home and condo markets compared to year-ago levels. @ Florida Association of Realtors | Posted: 08/12/10 at 0215 EDST
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2010-AUG-12: Inventory of homes for sale shrinks in South Florida
The number of homes and condominiums for sale across South Florida has steadily declined over the past two years, an encouraging sign for the region's battered housing market. Broward County had 19,869 properties on the market in July, down 35 percent from July 2008. Palm Beach County's inventory of homes and condos slid 31 percent to 23,947 during the same period.
@ Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel | Posted: 08/12/10 at 0245 EDST
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2010-AUG-20: Buy Owner service is in liquidation
Buy Owner, a FSBO-listing service with offices in four Fla. cities, is out of business unless it can find a buyer.
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2010-AUG-20: Homeowner confidence in real estate dips
30% think home values will rise locally in short term; 28% think values will decline; 5% expect to list in next six months.
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2010-AUG-17: Housing construction rises 1.7% in July
However, building permits, a sign of future home starts, fell 3.1%, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.
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2010-AUG-19: Port of Palm Beach sees one-day shipping record
Nine ships totaling 95,526 tons were in the port on Monday, including four container ships from Tropical Shipping, the Bahamas Celebration cruise ship and the Albany Sound, which unloaded sugar from Mexico. The port's previous single-day mark was set in 2003. @ Palm Beach Post | Posted: 08/19/10 at 0223 EDST
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2010-AUG-19: Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport was up 10 percent in July
A total of 39,561 passengers traveled through the county-owned facility, compared to 36,561 in July 2009, according to airport director Rick Karl. "We are very pleased with the continued growth and remain optimistic this trend can continue into 2011," he said Monday, noting traffic has been up in eight of the last nine months. For the 12 months ending in July, 457,783 passengers traveled through the airport, which was a 6 percent increase over the prior 12 months, @ Daytonna Beach News Journal | Posted: 08/19/10 at 0215 EDST
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2010-AUG-20: Cat sets aggressive plan for next five years
Caterpillar Inc. believes it can achieve $55 billion in sales and revenues in 2012, its leadership said Thursday after telling analysts they don't believe a double-dip recession is in the offing. The company further believes $8 earnings per share is possible in 2012 if it can continue to improve efficiency while keeping costs contained by applying lessons learned during the recession.
@ Peoria Journal Star | Posted: 08/20/10 at 0255 EDST
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