ST LUCIE COUNTY HOME SALES SPEED UP JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Just in! Newly released market reports from Florida Realtors® detailing recent real estate activity in St. Lucie County. The reports compare year-over-year data for October. Here are statistics on single family homes

 

“The holiday buying season is upon us, and homes are going under contract at a rate we haven’t seen in years! In October, the median time to contract in St. Lucie County was 16 days, a 61 percent decrease from 2019. This decrease is due in part to the historically low levels of inventory. Our supply of inventory has decreased 51.4 percent to 1.8 months,” said Jarrod Lowe, President of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors®.

Time to Contract measures the number of days between the initial listing of a property and the signing of the contract which eventually led to the closing of the sale. Meanwhile, months’ supply of inventory is an estimate of the number of months it will take to deplete the current inventory given recent sales rates.

“Along with the 2020 trend of low inventory and low interest rates, St. Lucie County saw increases in median sale price and closed sales. Closed Sales rose by 24.6 percent to 638 while the median sale price increased 9.7 percent to $260,000. If you have any questions on buying or selling this holiday season, be sure to contact a local Realtor® for their expertise,” continues Lowe.

Median sale price is our preferred summary statistic for price activity because, unlike average sale price, median sale price is not sensitive to high sale prices for small numbers of homes that may not be characteristic of the market area.

 

Market Reports: St. Lucie Single FamilyOpens as PDF. | St. Lucie Townhouses/Condos

The National Zoo Has a New Panda Cub – And They’re Asking for Votes to Name It

The National Zoo in D.C. needs a name for its newest panda cub, and everyone’s invited to help name the little guy.

Born on August 21, 2020 in the US capital, this wee one is known to excel at napping, nursing, and cuddling with his mother Mei Xiang—there’s even a Giant Panda Cam so you can see him and his parents in action.

The possible names—chosen by the zoo and Chinese partners who strive to conserve this beloved and endangered bear—reflect the happiness people share for the young panda.

Here are your four naming options to choose from:

1. Fu Zai (fu-tzai) | 福仔: Mandarin Chinese for “prosperous boy”

2. Xiao Qi ji (shiau-chi-ji) | 小奇迹: Mandarin Chinese for “little miracle”

3. Xing Fu (shing-fu) | 幸福: Mandarin Chinese for “happy and prosperous”

4. Zai Zai (tzai-tzai) | 仔仔: Mandarin

Chinese nickname for a boy

Head here and select your favorite name once per day from November 16 to November 20.

The name that receives the most votes? It will be bestowed on the cub Nov. 23, so keep an eye for that.

SpaceX Launches Historic Flight For NASA

Shuttling Astronauts via First Class to International Space Station

 

At 7:30 in the evening, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), reopening the pathway to regular crewed missions into space for NASA for the first time in nine years.

It took just twelve minutes for the powerful rocket, developed by the commercial space-faring company started by Tesla founder Elon Musk, to reach the point at which the Dragon capsule detached from its rocket and soared into space, where 27 hours later it docked autonomously at the ISS.

“That was one heck of a ride,” mission commander Mike Hopkins said when the Dragon capsule made it into orbit.

As part of the first-ever commercial Crew-1 Program, NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, along with the JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, joined commander Hopkins aboard Dragon on what will be a six-month mission.

It was eight years ago that GNN reported the first Falcon 9 rocket had left Earth’s surface as part of a resupply mission to the ISS. Having used the Falcon 9 in May to launch a Dragon capsule to the ISS as part of a test run, and again just last month to launch a satellite, NASA and SpaceX are getting humans back into space in what will be the first mission as part of the next chapter of research and exploration.

Indeed, according to SpaceX, Crew-1 is the first of three commercial voyages to take place through 2020 and 2021, paving the way for trips to the moon, Mars, and more.

A series of firsts

According to National Geographic, the team of Hopkins, Glover, Walker, and Noguchi will log a number of “firsts” in their six-month trip. They’ll return on May 2021, when the capsule will parachute into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida at around the same time when the Crew-2 Mission will be setting off the other way.

Having had to rely on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft for almost a decade, it will be the first American-made spacecraft to carry astronauts into space in nine years. Pilot Victor Glover is the first Black astronaut to go on an extended stay aboard the ISS, and engineer Shannon Walker is the first woman to orbit in a commercial spacecraft.

“I expect to be the first of many,” Walker told Nat Geo of her flight. “And I look forward to the day that we don’t have to note such events.”

“It is something to be celebrated once we accomplish it,” Glover apparently added. “I am honored to be in this position.”

Noguchi is the most experienced astronaut of them all, having already logged 177 days in space aboard both NASA ships and the Soyuz vessels.

Now that NASA has a reliable and state-of-the-art rocket and capsule, it may very well be that they want to make up for lost time, and the hodgepodge of research being conducted during the half-year stay reflects that.

According to Nat Geo, the research will include “looking at how astronauts’ brains and hearts respond to the space environment, growing radishes in orbit, testing a space suit with new insulating technologies, and studying how different diets affect astronaut health.”

SpaceX is hoping to rapidly expand capabilities in order to reach the Moon again soon, and Mars in the not-too-distant future. Knowing the answers to such research questions will be imperative for the years-long voyages that such future expeditions will involve.

(WATCH the NASA video of the historic launch below.)

 

8 REAL ESTATE TRENDS EMERGING FROM THE PANDEMIC

Due to COVID-19, the migration from cities to suburbs has accelerated; multifamily developers no longer have amenity wars to attract new residents; and health and wellness movements are emerging in hotels, offices and more.

 

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some housing trends will accelerate, some will come to a halt, and some will spawn entirely new areas of growth, experts said Wednesday during the Urban Land Institute’s virtual fall conference.

For example, the migration from cities to suburbs, which millennials led prior to the pandemic, has only sped up; multifamily developers are no longer engaging in amenity wars to attract new residents; and housing trends reflecting health and wellness movements are emerging.

“Times of great change always present significant opportunities,” said ULI Global CEO W. Ed Walter. “In the near term, our suburbs will benefit from new growth spurred by shifting demographics and changes to living and working patterns resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. Our cities will have the opportunity to respond by reimagining their public realm, building more resiliency, and reinventing assets, such as retail, that were already struggling before the pandemic. As an industry, we have the opportunity to strengthen by truly embracing diversity and tackling the challenges faced by our communities.”

ULI released its Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2021Opens in new tab. report Wednesday, culling insights from more than 1,600 leaders in the real estate industry. Some of the following trends, according to the report, are accelerating during the COVID-19 pandemic:

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  Smaller offices. Ninety-four percent of real estate professionals say they expect companies to adopt a policy of at least part-time remote work, which will have implications for office space, according to the ULI survey. But more than 60% of respondents say they also believe that many office tenants will expand their footprints to support new ways of collaboration and interaction. For example, companies could increase their use of satellite offices, having multiple smaller spaces in suburban areas. Companies are recognizing that in-person workplaces are still critical to maintaining company culture, innovation, onboarding new employees, and training.

  
  

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  Exodus to the South. The single-family housing market has been booming during what has become the “Great American Move.” The pandemic has fueled the desire for lower-density areas, propelling suburban growth, a trend that was already happening in the last five years as millennials start families. The South, which offers greater housing affordability, is benefiting the most from relocation trends during the pandemic.

  
  

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  Urban comeback. Gateway markets, such as Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., may struggle for the next three to five years to return to their pre-pandemic highs. But they’ll likely reemerge as major hubs because of their dominance in entertainment, finance, technology, and education. Some cities may add more green space as they look to add greater outdoor activities to attract residents.

  
  

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  Retail vacancies. As discount and online stores grow in favor, demand for large retail chains likely will lessen. More than 80% of respondents to ULI’s survey say COVID-19 has accelerated a shift in retail that was already occurring due to online competition. Industry analysts predict smaller physical retail footprints moving forward, likely leaving large commercial vacancies, which will lower rents. “Top brands will take advantage of lower prices to upgrade their locations, while malls will leverage empty space to improve their tenant roster or convert to distribution centers for online retailers,” ULI’s report notes.

  
  

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  State and local fiscal issues. Cities large and small could face major fiscal challenges over the next few years. Real estate taxes, which usually comprise the largest source of local government revenue, will likely fall as hotels and shopping centers lose value. The loss in revenue could have a lasting impact on government services and infrastructure investments. Sixty-five percent of cities could delay or cancel infrastructure projects due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis by the National League of Cities. The real estate industry has worked with local officials in cities across the country to develop road construction projects through public-private partnerships, which could play a vital role in funding future projects.

  
  

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  Safety and health concerns in buildings. Eighty-two percent of survey respondents say health and well-being will become an important factor across all real estate sectors, particularly hotels, office buildings, and restaurants. Companies will place a focus on advanced technology and new services that can offer cleaner buildings, such as greater HVAC infrastructure, sensors, touchless entry, and contract tracing apps. In the residential market, demand likely will increase for smart-home technology, touchless controls on sinks, motion sensor lights, and oversized windows to allow for more natural light and fresh air.

  
  

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  New solutions for affordable housing. The pandemic has been blamed for accelerating housing disparities. Many low-income workers have experienced unemployment and could face possible eviction after a national moratorium expires at the end of the year. Combined with the steep revenue declines likely coming for state and local governments, programs and resources to help curtail housing affordability issues could be at stake. Industry officials point to several possible solutions, such as the expansion of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and the Section 8 voucher program, expanding zoning, and possible conversion of surplus hospitality, office, and retail space into residential uses.

  
  

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  Focus on diversity, inclusion. Seventy percent of survey respondents say the real estate industry can address and help end racial inequality, such as by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as by looking for ways to develop underserved communities. Over the last few months, real estate pros report evaluating efforts and investing in programs to support diversity and inclusion, such as expanding job training and recruiting programs geared toward minorities and underserved communities.

  
  

 

Source: Florida Realtors®, National Association of Realtors®, & Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Man dressed as giant rat takes subway mask requirement to new heights

So this giant rat walks into a Midtown subway car — and nobody blinks an eye.

“Buddy the Rat” — AKA performance artist Jonothon Lyons — has been boring seen-it-all subway riders a lot these days as he perches on seats in all his rodent regalia, including a full-face mask and a long pink tail.

But Tiktok loves him.

“Oh NYC is dead? Explain this,” self-described comedy writer Alison Williams posted on Twitter over a Tiktok video of the human rodent boarding a No. 1 at 42nd Street that’s going viral.

Lyons, who wears a suit and nice shoes, plus gloves on his hands as he crawls, has posted about 30 other Tiktok videos, and appeared in a few filmed by passersby, including one where he scampered across a city street.

Lyons works in physical theater and puppetry, including a stint with the Blue Man Group.

He said he created Buddy the Rat about 11 years ago, and posted a video on YouTube of a visit to Times Square that got about 70,000 views.

Lyons brought Buddy out of retirement last month to tape a short film with director Todd Strauss-Schulson, known for “Isn’t It Romantic” and “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.”

Their short — which Lyons described as, “Lonely rat finds love and dances the night away” — will debut on Lyons’ Vimeo and YouTube channels on Thanksgiving Day.

While they were filming in Washington Square Park, Buddy started getting attention, and some spectators took videos.

A post of them filming has now made Buddy social media famous, and Lyons has started taking the character out on the town just for fun.

Lyons, a native of Arizona who moved to New York in 2005, enjoys the fact that the sight of a man in a rat costume doesn’t phase most people.

“Most New Yorkers are totally indifferent,” he said, though he added that some people do get excited and occasionally scared when Buddy appears.

e joked that the costume makes it easy to practice social distancing.

“I don’t have to worry about people staying 6 feet away from me,” he said, adding that he’s wearing a regular mask underneath Buddy’s face.

The MTA gave an apparent OK to the faux rodent’s face wear, retweeting the video with the comment, “Thank you for wearing a mask.”

 

New York Post – By Eileen AJ Connelly and Susan Edelman

November 14, 2020 | 6:29pm | Updated

Cooking Skills Have Improved in 2020

40% Think They’re Ready to Compete on MasterChef…

 

More than 40% of Americans think their cooking skills have improved so much during the pandemic that they could now compete on TV’s “MasterChef,” according to a new survey.

More than six in 10 Americans said their cooking skills have improved since the beginning of the pandemic, and a new survey of 2,000 Americans revealed insights on how cooking has become a bigger part of people’s lives since the pandemic began.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Certified Piedmontese, the poll examined how the pandemic has proven a kitchen confidence booster for many Americans, and how they plan to continue this culinary momentum in the new year and beyond.

If your New Year’s resolutions involve eating better, you’re far from alone. Six in 10 respondents reported that improving their culinary skills is at the top of their resolution list this year.

On average, respondents have learned to cook eight new dishes in 2020. And that trend shows no sign of stopping, as 77% of respondents reported a desire to attempt to tackle at least one worldly dish in the New Year.

Top sophisticated dishes respondents are aiming to perfect in 2021 included filet mignon (26%), croissants (25%), and beef Wellington (25%).

But that doesn’t mean these fancy favorites will come easily to would-be MasterChefs.

The average respondent reported that they’ll try cooking a new dish six times before they can perfect it.

The secret to perfection? Quality ingredients, according to eight in 10 respondents, who said these are the differentiator between a great dish and a mediocre one.

The study also found that 66% of people would love to cook with higher-end ingredients, but wouldn’t go out of their way to buy them for themselves.

However, the same amount of respondents admit when they find something on sale or at a discount, they don’t hesitate to purchase it, with two-thirds of respondents saying they check to verify that the claims about their food are verified and that the food came from a reputable source.

“Whether you’re whipping up prime rib to celebrate New Year’s Day, crafting that perfect roulade to impress your significant other on Valentine’s Day, or marking any other special occasion with a new culinary endeavor in 2021,” an Executive Chef from Certified Piedmontese said, “starting with quality-sourced ingredients is key to success.”

The dishes people are interested in mastering in 2021

1. Filet mignon 26%

2. Croissants 25%

3. Beef Wellington 25%

4. Macarons 24%

5. Souffle 23%

6. Baked Alaska 23%

7. Salt-crusted fish 20%

8. Pad thai 19%

9. Bearnaise sauce 19%

10. Boeuf Bourguignon 19%

 

Link

AMENDMENT 5 AND TAX BENEFITS

WHAT IT MEANS FOR FLORIDA SELLERS

Floridians passed Realtor®-supported Amendment 5, giving sellers up to three years – an increase from two – to transfer accrued property tax benefits to a new home.

 

After passage of a Florida constitutional amendment this year on property taxes, Floridians now have three years – an increase from two years – to transfer (port) any accrued property tax benefits to a new home.

But it’s not usually a full three years, just as it wasn’t a full two years under the previous version of the law.

Sellers who plan to port tax assessment savings to a new home think that if they sold their first home in November, they now have three full years to buy a home and port the savings. But since “years” in the law refers to Florida tax years, the first “year” ends the following Jan. 1 – two months later. In this case, that November seller would have two years and two months to port tax savings.

In general, early-in-the-year sellers will have close to (but not quite) three years to transfer their SOH benefit – end-of-the-year sellers will have something closer to two years.

In any case, though, the passage of Amendment 5 gives every Florida seller a minimum of two years to port their SOH property tax assessment savings to a newly purchased home.

Save Our Homes

A home declared as a primary residence with a local tax office qualifies for the Save Our Homes assessment limitation. In each year after that, its property tax assessment can’t increase more than 3% or the percentage change of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less.

If a home’s value rises one year by 6%, for example, their assessment goes up 3% at most, and that portion not subject to tax is backed out of their assessment and called the SOH benefit.

The recently passed Amendment 5 impacts the transferability of this SOH benefit, extending it one year longer.

To transfer an SOH benefit, buyers must establish a homestead exemption for their new home and file a Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference form (Form DR-501TOpens in new tab.Opens as PDF.). The deadline to file is March 1.

For more info on SOH property tax savings, visit floridarevenue.comOpens in new tab.Opens as PDF..

Sources: Florida Realtors®