Florida Division, Real Estate 400 W Robinson St. Suite N308 Orlando, FL 32801 Ph: (407) 423-6053 407-245-0800 |
Population: 13, 878, 905 Economic Base: Tourism, agriculture, phosphate mining, commercial fishing 67 Counties Florida = "flowered", and so it is. Bok Tower Garden, 157 acres of gardens located on Iron Mountain at Lake Wales, Florida's highest point, displays the glory of Florida's shrubs, trees, flowers & birds. Enjoy the architecture of the tower to the music of a 57 bell carillon concert.
Voting
Voter Registration may be done online, or by mail, at least 29 days prior to an election.The Florida State sales tax is 6% in 1999. Groceries, medicine & professional services are exempt. Florida has no personal income tax nor inheritance tax, but it does have an intangible tax on stocks, bonds, accounts receivable, & mortgages outside the state. Property taxes are due by March 31. A $25, 000 homestead property tax exemption is available to resident homeowners. Additional exemptions are available to certain property owners including widows, widowers & quadraplegics.
Environment
Florida has more than 7000 miles of coastline (we have found very authoritative sources claiming fewer than 800 miles & more than 8000 miles!), but the beaches are eroding an average of three feet per year. Florida has 10, 000 lakes, including Okeechobee, the second largest fresh water lake in the U.S.; 300 springs & 166 rivers.Florida consists largely of ocean-front/water-front property presenting unique challenges for home owners. Purchasing Paradise and Building in Paradise offer tips to consider for Florida buyers & builders. The St. Johns River is examined in Stuart Lieberman's enviromental law column. Amusement
Disney World may be the best known amusement park, but central Florida offers a wide variety of attractions. Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral is the launch site for rockets & space shuttles. The exotic Cypress Gardens Inside Central Florida, perhaps best known for waterskiing, abundant flowers & Southern Belles, was Florida's first theme park (1936) featuring a magnificent botanical paradise. Sea World, Universal Studios, Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum, Epcot Center are just a few of the other man-made attractions. The best known natural feature of Southern Florida, the sub-tropical Everglades (Homestead, FL) is the only area in the U.S. where the freshwater reptiles, alligators, & the saltwater reptiles, crocodiles, exist side by side. Perennially threatened by the encroachment of mankind, the Everglades is only partial protected by National Park status. Four fifths of the area is not included in the park. The watery wilderness is an ecological wonderland. Freshwater lakes & saltwater tidal pools, swamps & rivers are mixed with hammocks (tree islands) supporting thousands of varieties of plant & animal wildlife. Civilization infringes upon the ecology in its quest for water. Canals & roads, drainage for development & pesticides used for nearby agriculture all combine to reduce the wildlife population & change the ecological systems of the region.
Real Estate Agency
NOTICE OF NON-REPRESENTATION
You should see a lot of this form. Every real estate license holder in Florida is required to provide it to you at first contact. Each time you see it ask for a full explanation of what it means. You may find that you get a different explanation erery time!Consider the explanations carefully in selecting the person you will work with to buy or sell a home.Agency is a legal status."Non-representation" means there is NO agency relationship. Since you'll be dealing with a major financial transaction, you need to be sure you know what this means to you, especially if you assume the salesperson is "on your side." FLORIDA LAW REQUIRES THAT REAL ESTATE
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