Monday's Daily Pulse
The rise and fall of the house on 96th Street
The ups and downs of a home's value in south Florida tell the story of the state's broader real estate market over the past decade. Read the story.
 Michael and Giovanna Hoeflinger, shown here with their two daughters, bought the home late in 2011 for $740,000, 51% less than it sold for at the height of the market five years earlier. [Photo: Brian Smith] |
Financing Florida Real Estate:
A return to standard mortgages
Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com in North Palm Beach, has the bottom line on qualifying for a mortgage in the mid-2000s. "If you could fog a mirror, you could get a loan. I'm not sure even fogging the mirror was a requirement." Times change. Read more...
Health care law helps, hurts, provokes in Florida
An ailing therapist in Hollywood finally got health coverage, but some kids lost theirs. A Lantana orange shipper got a big tax credit. A Cooper City mother got a mammogram at no charge. Those few are among thousands of Floridians directly affected by the massive health care overhaul passed by Congress two years ago. On Monday, the law faces its biggest challenge when 26 states — including Florida — ask the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down as unconstitutional the law's mandate that everyone obtain health insurance in 2014. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Younger Southwest Florida workers face tough market
The disadvantage to younger workers has been great. In 2011, the average unemployment rate across Florida for workers age 20 to 24 was 15.5 percent, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For workers age 16 to 19, the picture was even worse: 28.6 percent unemployment. [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]
Florida Department of Citrus tries targeting young women
"What's old is new again."
That old adage always works with style, so why not with what's in style for a healthy diet?
Here in Florida, it certainly applies to the case of the grapefruit, a fruit — and juice — once often consumed by senior citizens is now being marketed to young women through the use of social media.
[Source: Lakeland Ledger]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› West Palm could be in Trader Joe’s second wave of Florida stores [Palm Beach Post]
The Downtown Development Authority hasn’t been shy about its quest to bring Trader Joe’s to downtown West Palm Beach, putting together a video pitch to sell West Palm to the boutique grocer’s higher-ups. As Trader Joe’s expands to Florida, DDA director Raphael Clemente said Friday that he’s hopeful West Palm is “moving up the list.”
› A 'thank you' to 20 people who made Tampa Bay a better business place [Tampa Bay Times]
Folks don't always get the acknowledgment they deserve for their everyday acts of generosity. So indulge Times Business Columnist Robert Trigaux while he says thanks to 20 people whose contributions, some big and in plain sight and some more subtle, helped make Tampa Bay a better place to live and work.
› Florida construction jobs nearly at bottom, economist says [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Employment in Florida's construction industry has been bad, but last year it got worse.
The state lost the most construction jobs, 20,700, of any state in the nation, bringing industry jobs in Florida down to 307,800 in January, according to an Associated General Contractors of America report. The peak was 687,200 in June 2006.
"We're probably close to the bottom, if we haven't reached it," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist.
› Recession brings diversity to Sarasota [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
An unexpected outgrowth of the worst recession in 70 years: Sarasota has quietly become more cosmopolitan.
While hard times discouraged Midwesterners and New Englanders from moving here, more Peruvians, Italians, Brazilians, Ukranians and many others made the Gulf Coast home.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Trump’s tower of trouble: anatomy of a financial fiasco
[Miami Herald]
For Donald Trump, it was a stunning landmark of the 21st century: a luxury high-rise shaped like an ocean liner and bearing his name that would turn Fort Lauderdale Beach into an international draw.
Now, with the hulking, empty tower casting a shadow over one of Florida’s most popular beachfronts, investors are demanding details of the massive project’s collapse and debts of $185 million.
› FastTrac gives business owners the tools to grow [Fort Myers News-Press]
After a full day’s work, 12 business people gathered at the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce last Monday night to learn more about business, but it’s not the typical textbook course you’d find at a university or college.
Participants strolled around the room playing FastTrac bingo.
› Spirit among 16 contenders for ‘Worst Company in America’ title [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Miramar-based low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has scored a spot in the top 16 on Consumerist.com’s 7th Annual ‘Worst Company in America’ tournament, according to a recent report.
Spirit, who made the tournament for the first time this year, beat out Delta Air Lines, a veteran tournament contender, as bracket favorite.
› Building a successful endeavor [Gainesville Sun]
The seeds of the Innovation Gainesville initiative were planted nearly five years ago when the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and Council for Economic Outreach were updating their blueprint for economic development.
› Vision becomes artistic reality at Miami Marlins Park
[Miami Herald]
It began four years ago on a paper napkin.
That’s when Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria sat down with renowned ballpark architect Earl Santee to discuss his vision of how a Major League baseball venue in Miami should look.
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