A new Babcock Ranch home came with an alligator squatter in the main bedroom. The reptile was quickly evicted. BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. – In a scene straight out of a horror movie, an 11- to 12-foot alligator was found hanging out in the master bedroom of a newly built southwest Florida home. The bizarre discovery was made this month in Babcock Ranch, where homes sell for as much as $1.5 million. The...
More needs done to fix Fla.’s property insurance market, and the governor expects the Legislature to “have another bite of the apple very, very shortly.” Gov. Ron DeSantis expects lawmakers to make changes in Florida’s troubled property-insurance system sometime this year, at the latest after the November elections. DeSantis did not include property insurance issues as part of a special...
SeaWorld Orlando: Mako roller coaster topped out Mako, the upcoming shark-inspired roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando, has reached a construction milestone. The thrill ride was topped out Wednesday. Workers moved the uppermost part of the attraction -- the peak of its 200-foot lift hill -- into place. When complete, will be the tallest roller coaster in Central Florida. Other Mako numbers: It will go...
The First Footage from Disney's 'Moana' Is Here! Disney's next big animated feature will take us to the Pacific Islands where we'll be introduced to Moana, an all-new princess who takes to the sea to complete a quest for her family. We've been following the movie's development for a while now, and can't wait to see what it looks like, which is why we wish the first footage for the movie lasted a little...
If you’ve been to EPCOT recently, you may have noticed something new… . Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana officially opened as part of the EPCOT transformation on October 16th, 2023 after weeks of previews. This is a walkthrough attraction that teaches visitors about the water cycle with a fun Moana theme and it has won the hearts of many Disney...
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped a quarter of a percentage point this week, as home buyers prove their rate sensitivity. Home buyers rushed to lock in this week’s lower mortgage rates, with applications for home loans seeing their first increase in a month as the average for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dipped to 7.5%, according to Freddie Mac and the Mortgage Bankers Association....
A housing bubble burst isn’t imminent, but here are the factors to keep an eye on. Any period of economic uncertainty can make a major financial decision – like buying a house – more stressful. While the housing market on a national scale has seen prices decline since the all-time highs of mid-2022 amid high interest rates, experts are noting that a sudden and abrupt housing...
Holiday events begin this month at resort Holiday decorations at Magic Kingdom. Nov. 2, 2023 (Landon McReynolds, WKMG) Disney’s Magic Kingdom has once again pulled off a remarkable overnight transformation, ushering in the holiday season in style. Wednesday night, Disney’s Holiday Services teams worked tirelessly to bid farewell to Halloween and welcome the holiday season to the iconic...
If a seller’s home has solar panels, they should research how those panels could impact their transaction before going under contract. If a seller has solar panels installed on their property’s roof, it’s worth investigating whether the way those solar panels are financed or leased could impact a future transaction. Many sellers aren’t aware of these issues, so if you ask the right...
It’s time to announce the yummy fall offerings at our resort hotels and Disney Springs. If you’re a fan of all the exciting autumn eats at our parks, then this list is just for you, because we have even more offerings across property to celebrate the fall season! These offerings are all available on various dates throughout the fall season, so be sure to take note of which delicious bites...
A housing bubble burst isn’t imminent, but here are the factors to keep an eye on. Any period of economic uncertainty can make a major financial decision – like buying a house – more stressful. While the housing market on a national scale has seen prices decline since the all-time highs of mid-2022 amid high interest rates, experts are noting that a sudden and abrupt housing...
"Looking back at previous housing recessions, we think the 1980s are a better analogy for today's market than the 2008 housing crash," Economists Jeseo Park and Michael Gapen say in a Bank of America Securities report. Bank of America economists issued a report Thursday cautioning against “potential turbulence ahead” for the 2024 national housing market, dismissing theories of another...
Less is best. Grass, that is. That summed up one attendee’s learning experience at a Florida Friendly Landscaping workshop recently at Venice City Hall. Around 60 residents attended. Members of the University of Florida’s Extension Office described the nine basic principles of Florida Friendly Landscapes and imparted sage advice that left some scratching their heads. For example, do your shrubs...
In the digital age, selling a home involves much more than simply listing it online. Today's homebuyers expect a comprehensive, immersive online experience that gives them a clear sense of the property before they even set foot in it. One technology making this possible is the real estate virtual floating tour. Offering a “floating journey through your property before even viewing it”. Virtual...