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...
Florida’s no stranger to the unusual and the extraordinary. But even seasoned locals might not know about the therapeutic wonder tucked away in the heart of Naples. If you’re craving a unique escape that promises to soothe your senses and detoxify your spirit, then you’re in for a real treat. Nestled amidst the sunshine and palm trees is a secret salt cave that’s more than just a...
For those in the know, the array of dining options is quite diverse and today I just wanted to take you outside of the box a little and introduce you to some food choices on offer that are also a bit quirky and off the beaten track! So if you are venturing outside of Central Florida, maybe you can look up these restaurant and see what you think. Whether you’re a local foodie on the hunt for...
'The cost is so great the condos aren't selling as quick as they were,' Christina Auer says NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. — The rising cost of home insurance for one Palm Beach County condo is a story that seems to playing out at condos all across Florida. "It's shocking to watch in a few years to go from under $100,000 to pushing a half a million," Christina Auer said. "It's out of line." That...
Changes and additions for at least two of your senses are happening at Icon Park, the entertainment and shopping complex on International Drive. The attraction, which includes the Orlando Eye, has installed new eating options with “fast comfort” street foods inside the Wheelhouse. The eateries include The Bone, a Korean fried chicken concept; Winnie Tea Bar, which serves boba tea and...
A luxurious eco-spa and hotel complex could soon be built in Clermont, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. The project — Sundara Inn and Spa — will be modeled after an existing facility by the same name at Wilderness Resort, the country’s largest waterpark resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Amenities there include a fitness studio, pools, an exclusive restaurant, a golf course,...
Potential flippers should understand the process of home flipping before jumping in. Some of the common unknowns include the tax benefits. In recent years, home sellers have experienced record profits as the value of real estate has risen dramatically. Bankrate indicates the median home price across the United States is around $486,000. Flipping homes gained popularity prior to the spike in real...
Building a real estate portfolio can provide passive income opportunities but also comes with challenges. Investing should be done strategically. Real estate investments can be an attractive way of boosting your income. However, getting it right isn’t always easy. Like anything, it requires careful planning and serious consideration before you jump in. With that in mind, let’s look at the...
Weeki Wachee was named by the Seminole Indians, meaning “little spring” or “winding river.” In 1946, Newton Ferry, who trained Navy Frogman to swim underwater, thought this little spring would be perfect for his new business. He experimented with underwater breathing hoses and their ability to help create the illusion of a mythical creature that lives underwater. Newton scouted and trained...
Typical homes in Florida are on the market 62 days. When homes sell faster, it can be a sign the market is less buyer friendly. The pace at which homes sell in the U.S. tends to ebb and flow over the calendar year, with homes selling fastest in the summer and slowest in the winter. But high home prices and mortgage interest rates are keeping many potential buyers on the sidelines. The median...
Insurance insiders are optimistic about the home insurance market in Fla., saying rates are continuing to stabilize. A major hurricane could change things though. Home insurance rates in Florida far outpaced inflation over the 18 months that ended on Dec. 31, but the rate of increase slowed in the fourth quarter of 2023 to its lowest point of the period. And many insurance insiders are...