Aquanuts in Largo is going...going...gone...

[CBulla]

but the truth is that the hurricanes only accelerate the process. It's not the highrises that get blasted, it's the older mom-and-pop structures. And guess what get rebuilt in their place?

If you think Ivan and Dennis has slowed the condo-velopment of the panhandle, you haven't been there lately. Everything is being rebuilt bigger and "better", with more bland concrete and steel.

Heh.. I live on the south side of the Charley zone, your preachin to the chior here. Our house prices have blown up 47% since Charely to roughly 270k as a median housing price... WAY above what anyone on the average pay around here can afford... and it showing no sign of slowing. In fact, building permits are over 1000 a month right now.

Think about that for a moment and you'll know why I put lawn/landscaping on my occupational license, have gotten fairly adept at most landscaping skills, am working on starting a tree nursery, and thinking about a dump truck of some sort. If you've seen the mess after a storm and what get sold afterward I'm just being prepared for the next one. Charley was a little scramble, but I still made $ clearing debris with ye ole chainsaw.

 

[stu_in_fl]

i wonder who much it would cost to buy the dive op and hobos - that would be a great combination to open them together.

....quick - someone win the lottery

 

[KBeck]

Stu, I'm with you. Between all us Conchers, we'd run a heck of a business.

Colin, last month's report on median home price in Palm Beach County: $406,000. I can't even afford my own house now.

 

[Li'l38]

....quick - someone win the lottery

OK, I'll do my best!

 

[drbill]

Wow... glad dive buddy Stephanie and I dove with them last March.

Time to find a Third World haven before the rest of the world finds it. The same thing is happening in many parts of our country, including here on Catalina (where my house has increased from $255K to about $700K in 6 years). In fact, it's happening in places like Costa Rica.

Where are people getting these ridiculous sums of money? Probably tax cheaters. Unfortunately I've been honest (even returning $2,000 to the IRS which they said they owed me... but didn't).

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Stu, I'm with you. Between all us Conchers, we'd run a heck of a business.

Colin, last month's report on median home price in Palm Beach County: $406,000. I can't even afford my own house now.

Hear ya loud and clear. Same for me.

 

[Bill51]

Sign me up as maintenance man, boat mechanic, webmaster, 6 pack captain, DM or something. When does the new tacky dive resort open?

 

[matts1w]

This came from a friend a few days ago...

"Word on the street is that Holiday Isle has been sold and will "go condo." This will take a while to rebuild - so look for traffic during the week while they rebuild the property. I have not heard of a time frame yet.

Developers are buying up a number of the smaller hotel / motels / RV parks and are going to rebuild as condos. The whole strip on the south side of the Tavernier bridge AND to marina have been sold for condo development. Most of the properties from the old Rowell's up to and including the Caribbean Club - sold - and going condo.

The old Italian fisherman that was bought and being developed as shops, bars and restaurants - resold - going condo. The America Outdoors RV park (yes, one of the largest and best) - you guessed it - Condo construction starts next April.

Everyone is lining up for the preconstruction contracts hoping to sell at a big profit before completion. This is beginning to resemble Miami with all the speculation. If you already own - it's helping your property value. If you do not own already, it's moving even further out of reach.

We have a couple of sayings here now: One is that if you want to continue living here, you can not sell your house because you could not afford to buy it back. The other saying is "Asset rich, cash flow poor"

I remember talking recently about the changing nature of the neighborhoods in Key West. I think that is coming to the upper Keys as well. I think the target for most of these is the affluent baby boomer cashing out some stock options or spending their inheritance. At least that is what some of the local realtors were quoted as saying. A friend of mine works at a title company. Over half of the over $1 Million homes are cash deals and there are very, very few homes on the water for less than that.

I guess paradise is not cheap."

 

[CBulla]

Modern day pirates...

 

[Mrs.Prages]

I sure hate to hear about these trends continuing. I will just never understand it. The reason my dad paked us up and moved us out to the very remote regions in WV is all of the commercialism and condo-velopment in that was happening in Florida - not even our beloved swampy Florida Glades were safe. So he packed us up and moved us to the country. Of course even here I am having to fight subdivisions and developers now. There is no safe haven anymore. I am sorry to here about Aquanuts. I hope it slows down and we get to keep the diving haven. I mean geeze, I just found it.