Julie's Blog

Not all resort vacations require travel.  Those of us lucky to live and work in Fort Lauderdale need not travel far to experience a bit of stress-relieving decadence.  I've conducted some "back yard" research and discovered luxury weekend vacations are only a coconut's throw away.  Beach side res...

With $48 Million in green energy incentives coming to South Florida, I would like to contribute my two cents to energy conservation: streamlining standby energy in our own homes.  We all have standby energy usage and probably don't even know it.   I did some "green" research on the Internet and l...

To my mind, one of the gifts of a more challenging economy is awareness.  I have become aware of a positive trend in the South Florida luxury real estate market.  I am curious to know how perceptive people are to this good news and if anyone else has some positive input to add.  My personal sale...

 A previous blog of mine cited the U.S. Department of Energy in saying that Floridians spend about 20% less per person on energy than any other state in the country. One reader wondered why. I offered an immediate response, but the question got me thinking.  Why is Florida so energy conscious?  I...

The National Association of Realtors reported a 30% decrease in the sale of second homes in 2008.  In contrast, analysts predict long-term demand for investment and vacation residences remains favorable because of those buyers in their prime years looking for a retirement home.  This may be espec...