1. Long term economic and demographic trends continue to favor Florida. Population growth will continue to provide a foundation for other economic growth such as new jobs and growing income.

2.  People continue to move here. Based on recent trends, experts project Florida should add about 300,000 residents a year during the next two to three years.

3.  Five of the top 15 cities in the Milken Institute’s 2007 “Best Performing Cities” survey, which looks at sustainable economic growth, are in Florida.

4.  Florida’s unemployment rate is the lowest among all ten of the most populous states in the U.S.

5.  Jobs are plentiful. 7 of the hottest 15 job markets are in Florida, according to a recent study by Bizjournals.

6.  Fortune Magazine recently reported “Economists and geographers who have studied how natural disasters affect real estate values have generally found there to be no lasting impact.”  Meaning that hurricanes shouldn’t have a long term effect on Florida’s real estate market.

7.  Residents move away and home prices fall only when natural disasters start becoming regular occurrences in an area, not when they happen periodically, according to experts.

8.  State government and business leaders are committed to finding real solutions to the escalating costs and shortage of property insurance in Florida, as well as much-needed property tax reform.

9.  Interest rates are still low, on a par with interest rates in the 1960’s.  Home prices continue to stabilize, inventory is plentiful, and homebuyers have lots of options.

10. Homeownership has value.  It provides a variety of benefits, tangible and intangible, to the community as well as the individual homeowner.

11. Studies show that home equity is still the largest single source of household wealth.

12. Owning a home leads to increased personal well-being. Research shows that people who own their own homes tend to show higher levels of personal esteem and life satisfaction.

13. Studies show that children raised in homes owned by their families are more likely to stay in school and have a higher lifetime annual income.

14. People who own homes have a strong financial stake in what happens to their community and tend to become more involved in community and civic affairs.

15. Homeowners join up to 41% more civic organizations than renters, vote in local elections 15% more often, and enhance their neighborhoods with gardens 12% more often.

16. 2007 Florida Association of Realtors President Nancy Riley says, “Florida Realtors know buying a home is a very personal investment - an investment in a family’s future.  Although research shows it is the largest single investment most families make and helps to provide security for the future, owning a home isn’t just a financial investment.  Ownership is about having a place to call home:  a place where families build a future and become part of a community.

17. Over the past five years, the average Florida homeowner saw a statewide median home price increase 52.5% from November 2002 to November 2007.  Experts project that prices will rise about 2% next year.  Average home price appreciation should return to historical averages of around 6%.

18. Florida is a great place to live and work.  According to Enterprise Florida Inc., the state has one of the nation’s strongest tourism industries, is 4th in the nation in high-tech jobs, is the third largest exporter of high-tech goods and services, and is ranked as one of the best states in the nation to be an entrepreneur.

19. Several prominent economists report that housing recovery has begun, and the Florida housing market with strengthen in 2008 and will be booming again by 2010.

20. Florida’s combination of temperate climate, outstanding recreational amenities and economic opportunity has consistently put Florida at the top of Harris Poll’s “most desirable places to live” survey.