beaches

Longboat Key, Florida – Your Next Vacation Spot

Need a great vacation spot? If you have not already discovered Longboat Key then you need to treat yourself by visiting this luxurious but relaxing barrier island on the west coast of Florida. People flock to this barrier island every year to enjoy the sunshine, golf courses, tennis courts, arts, culture and beaches.

Viewed by many as a private island, Longboat Key is also a fabulous place to live or vacation. There are a variety of homes and condos available. Vacationers can stay at the world class Resort at the Longboat Key Club. Many of the privately owned condos can also be rented during the winter. Snowbirds love to escape the harsh, cold winters of the north and come to Longboat Key for the great weather and fun. If you would like to live in such a place there are a variety of Sarasota FL real estate options.

There are a number of interesting things to do while visiting this slice of heaven. Cannons Marina offers boat rentals and tours to explore this incredible barrier island. The water life is amazing. If golfing is more your style then both the Islandside Golf Club and Harborside Golf Courses are beautiful as well as challenging.

Beach lovers really cherish the beaches along Longboat Key. They are much different than those on Siesta Key. Since there are very beach access points you will not find large crowds. In fact you can walk along the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico a see very few people. It is great for a romantic stroll along with your loved one.

There is plenty of nature to look at around Longboat Key. Take a stroll down the beach and you will see a variety of birds like an Osprey, Crane, Seagull, Snow Egret and White Ibis. If you make it out on a boat or swim in the ocean you are likely to catch a glimpse of a dolphin or manatee.

Fine dining is at its best in Longboat Key with exquisite restaurants like Euphemia Haye and many others. It is also just a bridge away from the bustling upscale city of Sarasota for those moments you want the pace of life to be a bit faster.

Longboat Key, Florida is definitely a place you need to experience. It offers residents and vacationers a fabulous relaxing yet exciting change their daily grind. Rest assured that you will not see oil on the beaches here. This is a great place to bring the family or for a romantic time with your significant other.

Brody Boyd – Sarasota Real Estate

beaches

Costa Rica Real Estate – Weathering The Storm

Costa Rica is a major tourist attraction for people from around the world but, primarily, the U.S. and Canada. Indeed, tourism accounts for nearly eight percent of its gross domestic product. This tiny country, only about the size of West Virginia, is world-famous for its warm, sun drenched beaches and beautiful tropical mountains and landscape. Though it encompasses only one tenth of one percent of the planet, it is home to an incredible diversity of plants and animals. In fact, nearly one of every five species of plants and animals on the globe is found here. There are more kinds of butterflies in this little place than on the entire African continent and nearly the same number of species of birds as in the continental United States. It is no wonder, then, that Costa Rica draws tourists like a magnet. This country, which has been a democracy since it cast off its Spanish conquerors, has acquired the status of a tourist hot spot in Central America. The boom in the tourism industry has contributed positively to the growth of Costa Rica real estate over the past decade.

The Pacific coastline, in particular, with great weather and numerous amenities, has been the most popular area for travelers for a number of years. The need for developed property serving the desires of the growing number of visitors has led to a sharp rise in prices of real estate there. Hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars, and places for daytime and nighttime fun have sprung up dramatically. This has led to an acute shortage of land in some places that has brought increased upward pressure on land prices.

Additionally, the massive influx of retirees and folks who have elected to live in a tropical paradise and leave behind the pressures of day-to-day life has also contributed to the increase in property prices in some coastal areas. Plenty of investment has been coming into real estate from outside the country. The U.S. has led the way, certainly, but there are lots of investors from Canada and Western Europe. China has been increasing its presence in Costa Rica dramatically over the last few years, too and today there are thousands of Chinese who live there. In addition to beach-front property, the main areas of investment are farms, called fincas, which are being developed into subdivisions, mountain properties, and vacation rentals. Real estate prices have soared along the Pacific coast and some other parts of the country because expatriates and people wanting second homes have realized just how cheap, relative to the U.S. and Europe, land is.

Costa Rica real estate has been, and continues to be, a good investment because the country has a very stable political system and a growing economy. Unlike Mexico, foreigners can own free title to land. The crime rate in Costa Rica remains low, though increasing, and human development indices are very high compared to other Central American countries. The tourist influx has also seen the country evolve to accommodate the international community. More and more international investors have come to the conclusion that Costa Rica is a great place to invest in real estate and their returns on investment have borne out that faith.

How has the financial downturn in the States and Europe affected Costa Rica? Not surprisingly, subdivision and condominium development have dramatically slowed or even been put on hold, and in some parts along the Pacific coast American second-home buyers, now cash-strapped, have been selling beautiful properties at large price reductions. These are properties that were by American and European land prices good buys when made. Now they have become extraordinary opportunities.

Despite today’s uncertain economic climate in the States and Europe, the general perception is that there will be a large rebound in Costa Rica real estate. Why? One reason is the incessant flow of investments based upon the lucrative returns to be had from property development. Another is that, in comparison to the Unites States and Europe, real estate prices, particularly on sunny, tropical coastlines remain incredibly reasonable. Land prices along the coasts are still just a fraction of the cost elsewhere. Further, real estate investors have found extraordinary returns on their investments over the last decade.

The beach properties along the Pacific coast have seen, and will probably see, the largest increase in prices over time. The Caribbean coast remains relatively undeveloped. Certainly prices there, like all of Costa Rica, are rising but not nearly as much as on the other coast (which, of course, means that stress on prices have been less lately than on the Pacific side). And, as more and more Ticos move from the country into the big urban area around San Jose, available prime property has become increasingly scarce. Demand remains strong in the urban areas and, for more and more expats who live in Costa Rica, the amenities and climate around San Jose are proving irresistible.

Victor C. Krumm writes from sunny Costa Rica and has a popular websiteCosta Rica Vacations. Check out the prettyCosta Rica Real Estate

beaches

St Pete Beach Vacation Rentals Best on Florida Beaches

St Pete Beach is one of the best beaches on the Gulf Coast of Florida and is one of the best beaches for weddings and wedding receptions on the Gulf Coast of Florida. St Pete Beach is the beach next to this Beautiful Fort De Soto State Park, there are no homes or business on Fort De Soto Park, St Pete Beach is the nearest beach community. The barrier island of St Pete Beach is known for its sandy white beaches that stretch for miles under the glow of the Florida sun, bathed in the warmth of the Gulf of Mexico.

No matter which location you choose, you can’t go wrong. Most locations have taken great care in preserving their shorelines, placing boardwalks or piers to sight see from, and offer low priced and upscale hotels and condominiums to enjoy. Whether you are looking for a seasonal getaway or want to call one of these seaside locations home, you will not be disappointed. Florida is blessed with warm weather almost year round which makes it a great place to stroll in the sand, splash in the water, enjoy a sunset or take advantage of the beachside restaurants that provide lively entertainment and night life. When many people think of Florida the first thoughts they have are sunshine and beaches. That’s because Florida has gorgeous sunshine year round and breathtaking white sandy beaches that attract residents and visitors year round. Some beaches are more well-known such as The Florida Keys, Miami’s South Beach. The east coast has Daytona and Cocoa Beach and on the west coast there is St. Pete and Clearwater Beach. Panama City has also become a popular spring break and summer getaway for younger beach goers who are looking for a great place to unwind and enjoy the sun.

You can take sight seeing cruises where you can see dolphins, sea turtles or go to many small or remote islands off these coasts. The Florida Keys is an ocean lovers paradise and popular for lobster catching, snorkeling or scuba diving. It has great live coral and the scenery is breathtaking. Florida is surrounded by great waterways to enjoy. You can charter a boat or Jet Ski to play on the water. A good captain will be able to help you catch snook, grouper or the many other types of fish in these waters!

Local restaurants and hotels have begun serving appetizers and drinks out on the patio areas and people have started to enjoy sitting by the ocean at night listing to the crashing waves. Now these beachside locations are some of the most popular in town! Recently, many beaches have started to expand to not just offer daytime activities but to really spice up their night life. Visitors were coming to this area and spending their days at the shore and their nights in larger cities nearby. These cities decided they wanted their visitors to stay nearby and have taken an interest in offering beachside entertainment such as bands, magicians, and street vendors.

If you are looking for a great place to vacation or live, don’t miss the Florida Beaches. These white sand beaches overlook some of the best water and sea life. View dolphins splashing in the water or go for a day of fishing and you will see why so many people come to Florida year round! Florida Real Estate has always been very popular on the water. Hotels are remodeling to attract more guests. Condominiums and town homes are undergoing renovations to update their facilities and offer more amenities to their owners. Waterfront property has never been more popular.