Study:

MIAMI – Sept. 29, 2009 – A Gallup study of 26 U.S. communities found that the worst economic crisis in decades is not a key factor in attracting and retaining residents.

“While the pain from the recession is deep, other factors far outweigh economics when it comes to determining how emotionally attached people are to their communities,” says Warren Wright, managing partner for Gallup, which conducted the study with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The study found that a community’s social offerings (fun places to gather), its physical beauty and openness to new and different people are most important to making residents love where they live.

“The findings are particularly important in a globalized economy, where cities are fighting for the talented workers they need for a vibrant workforce and economy,” says Paula Ellis, Knight Foundation’s vice president for strategic initiatives. “Local leaders, city officials and residents can use this information to better understand their community – and strengthen it to be a destination where people want to live, work and play.”

The “Soul of the Community” survey was designed to explore the connection between economic growth and residents’ emotional attachment to their community. The latest results, from year two of the three-year study, suggest a significant correlation between the two. While the current economic crisis doesn’t seem to change residents’ love for their community, it appears to work in the other direction: Residents’ positive feelings about their community may improve local GDP growth.

Within a smaller microcosm, such as a company, Gallup surveys show that increasing employees’ emotional connection to their company leads to improved financial performance for the organization.

In addition, the study also made several conclusions that will interest leaders concerned with keeping top workers:

• The cities studied wanted to keep recent college graduates and stem brain drain, and all considered it continuing challenge to do so.

• New residents are the least attached of any demographic group to their community – and were even less attached in 2009, as compared to the previous year

• Residents who are satisfied with their jobs usually have an emotional connection to their community.

In Tallahassee, for example, social offerings are the No. 1 driver of community attachment. Efforts to create cultural spaces where residents can meet and create a sense of place are particularly important to the Florida’s capital as it entices local college graduates to stay in the area, build a career and help diversify the local economy.

The nationwide communities in the study vary in population size, economic levels, and how urban or rural they are. Florida cities in the study include: Bradenton, Miami, Palm Beach, Fla. and Tallahassee.

Gallup randomly surveyed a representative sample of more than 10,000 adults from Feb. 17 to April 25, 2009, by phone.
 
For complete survey findings, visit www.soulofthecommunity.org.

© 2009 Florida Realtors®

 In an article published by NBC News, there is a new discussion about how to fix the problem if your home was built with “Chinese Drywall”.  Many homes in SW Fla have been affected by the product and as of now, the only pending solution has been a costly one. In the attached article, A New-York based company is proposing to fill the home with a “gas” and hopefully the problem is solved.

Chinese drywall: Can fumigation fix the problem?

LEE COUNTY: A New York company is attempting a bold experiment on a south Fort Myers home built with Chinese drywall. The company is testing whether the solution to the drywall problem is as easy as fogging the house for one day.

Homeowners blame the defective drywall for corroding appliances and wiring, a rotten egg smell, and health issues.

“Usually when we set out to solve a problem that’s science and complex, we can usually solve it. That’s kind of what this company is known for,” said Karen Cavanagh of Sabre Technical Services.

Sabre Technical Services covers the house with a tent and pumps it full of chlorine dioxide.

They hope the chlorine dioxide will remove the gases emitted by the Chinese drywall.

If it works, the defective drywall won’t have to be ripped out and the homeowners will only be displaced for one day.

“The testing is 8 hours. One day process and if it does what we think it does: you’re done,” said Cavanagh.

“What a great way to save money, save time and, in essence, save the dwelling,” said Christopher Spiro, representative for the developer.

But will it work?

Only time will tell………………….

For the past year and a half, we have heard about how much excess real estate  inventory there is here in Southwest Florida. We have heard that the foreclosure markets in both Lehigh Acres and Cape Coral are nearly the highest in the nation and if you look at the numbers, you would probably agree.  If this is the case, and I am not saying that the numbers lie, then why is it so hard to buy a home in this market?  Over the past few weeks I have engaged in numerous conversations with our agents here at Treeline Realty Corp as well as outside our company about the difficulties that we are going through in securing a real estate transaction for our buyers.  It reminds me of the days back in 2004-2006 when you had to get in line to purchase a vacant lot.  At this rate, does this mean that prices are going to skyrocket like the lots did, or are buyers going to be patient and wait for the right deal to come along?  I encourage my buyers to stick to the plan, be patient, and wait until the right home comes along at the right price.  Whether it be a short sale, a bank foreclosure, REO or corporate owned property, it is still a great time to purchase realestate here in Southwest Florida.  How long will it last? That is anybody’s guess.   For now, we press on and hopefully our diligence pays off in the end.