I had this dream last week…. I dreamt I was on a beach, the water was crystal clear and the sugar sand was the color of cream laced iced coffee.  There were ocean birds galore, gulls and egrets were trolling the waters while pelicans occasionally drifted over my head.  I could hear the palm trees rustling in the breeze and subtropical flowers looked like photographs rather than reality.

Then I woke up.  It was no dream.  I was at the beach at Bahia Honda near Big Pine Key.  

My travel magazine told me that Bahia Honda was one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida and I had to find out for myself.  I’d been to Destin Beach in the Florida Panhandle, Daytona Beach on the east coast –  could Bahia Honda be even better? 

You’ll find that unlike Destin Beach or Daytona Beach, the water is quite deep and great for snorkeling!  There are numerous picnic spots, clean rest rooms ,and outside showers to wash off that gorgeous sand.

A State park, this park is big – 524 gorgeous acres of flowers and palms – found no where else but the West Indies.  Hurricanes, ocean waves, sea birds all “planted” the species.  They not only grew but thrived.

I’m a history buff and the Old Bahia Honda Bridge, constructed by Henry Flagler in 1917 was a destination place for me.  In 1903, Flagler began work on his most challenging engineering feat – a railroad from Miami to Key West.  The project spanned 50 miles through the Everglades and 106 miles over and between islands.  Workers encountered mosquitoes, quicksand lakes and hurricanes during construction and sadly the bridge was destroyed in 1936 by a hurricane.  Bring your camera because what was once the railway for the rich and famous has become one of the most photogenic structures in the Keys.  Hint:  My black and white photographs were spectacular!

If you want more structure, there are also planned activities available.  Dive and snorkel trips leave for the Loee Key Reef three times a day in the summer, weather permitting.  Charter boats and guides are booked in advance and when the fish are running, you better hustle if you want to use their services!  Be sure and read the regulations regarding spear fishing or the collecting of tropical fish – both are prohibited.

So if you’re ready to kick back and enjoy the island life in Key West or any of the Lower Keys, call Margarita Villoch! She is the only local real estate resource you’ll need.

Living “green” is catching on across the United States, including in No Name Key.  For many, the debate pits the need to preserve the environment with the need to modernize – a debate currently being waged in No Name Key as well.

Because of the abundance of rainfall, savvy residents currently store water in cisterns and have no pressing need for water to be piped from Key West.  A growing body of residents want city services, but a vocal minority wants to remain “off the grid” for environmental reasons.  

As noted in our previous blog, No Name Key, residents have counted the costs.  They appreciate that a piped in supply of water, power, and phone services will mean higher property values and development – but the fragile ecosystem will also bear a heavy burden for what are termed as modern “conveniences.” Those in favor of city water believe the water supply will be more consistent and will permit residents other amenities like swimming pools.  The potential environmental damage could be irreparable, according to the environmentalists. 

The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) is trying to determine if they have the authority to pipe water to No Name Key.  This is a sensitive question and the utility has been collecting public opinions in preparation for making that decision. The decision was originally scheduled to be made on July 22, but it has been delayed.  The delay was due to an FKAA rule that requires transcripts and recordings be made available for public review for seven days prior to making a decision

The issue of piping water to No Name Key stems back to 1980.  At that time the FKAA received a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Home Administration. One of the conditions of the loan was that the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) could not pipe water to No Name Key, Crocodile Lake, and portions of Big Pine Key.  This was done to limit development in areas with certain types of wildlife.

The FKAA is now trying to verify the terms of the loan agreement by finding the original documentation.  The issue is whether or not the piping restrictions were for the term of the loan, which has been paid off, or if the restrictions exist in perpetuity.

The issue of having water piped to the Key has become quite controversial because not all the residents are in agreement.  The No Name Key Property Owner’s Association is for having water piped to the island and they represent about 70% of the No Name Key’s residents. However, there is a small group that is fighting against having commercial water and power. Key environmental groups like Last Stand and the Florida Keys Green Living & Education also support keeping the ban on piping water to No Name Key.

Blimey, mate!  The Florida Keys Wreck Trek Passport Program is fit for a pirate’s treasure!  From now through January, 2012, you will be able to see up to nine vessels that have shipwrecked near the Keys and formed artificial reefs.

With water as clear as glass and no apparent current, it is perfect scuba diving for novice and experienced alike. The only passport you will need is the one you will be issued as a logbook by area dive shops for a series of nine wrecks. (Preview the logbook here.)

The Vandenberg artificial reef off Key West is the crown jewel of the trek, but our personal favorite is the Bibb, located off Key Largo. Also included are Spiegel Grove, Duane, Eagle, Thunderbolt, Adolphus Busch Sr., Cayman Salvager, and Joe’s Tug. All the scuba adventures are here, from shallow wrecks that have formed beautiful reefs to deeper, mysterious wrecks. We think you will agree that the Florida Keys offer some of the most diverse dive locations in the world!

Viewing each of the wrecks requires differing levels of diving expertise.  Area dive shops are offering refresher courses, plus advanced and specialty training.

What will you see?

Wreck Trek offers the chance to explore the cargo holds and to examine the soft and hard coral growth on the ships.  Many of the wreck sites are relatively shallow, making participation a great dive experience for beginners.  You will also see goliath grouper and an occasional sea turtle or shark, as well as an abundance of Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, snapper, barracuda, and lobsters!

Captain Hook never brought his camera. Do not forget to bring yours because you will want to film an incredible array of coral and other sea life!

But wait – there is more… 

Each Wreck Trek diver who logs a wreck in each of the five regions of the Keys will receive a free print collage of the shipwrecks. In addition, anyone who dives to all nine wrecks will be entered into a drawing for prizes including merchandise, dive equipment, and accommodations packages in the Florida Keys.

So weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! Let’s go to the Florida Keys!  The Florida Keys Wreck Trek Passport Program continues through January 1, 2012.  For more information visit: www.fla-keys.com/diving/wrecktrek

If you are the type of person that enjoys these unique opportunities, you should consider relocating to the Florida Keys.  Of course, when you do you will need the expertise of a local realtor,  Margarita Villoch can assist you in finding your ideal property!

Many people go to the Florida Keys because of the beauty and quiet.  But there is another reason to vacation in the Florida Keys; it is a great place to go if you want to keep your vacation green.  There are opportunities for green transportation, green accommodations and even eco-attractions.

First, you have to get to Key West, FL, which is closer to Havana, Cuba, than to Miami.  Since Key West is one of a group of islands off the Florida coast, you have a beautiful adventure ahead after you pass Miami.  You can take a “puddle jumper” airplane or drive across bridges on US-1.  Once you’re there, you might be able to do without a car, so consider alternative methods of travel such as a bike or scooter.  There are also hybrid taxi cabs and public transportation that make getting around Key West  very easy.  The Florida Green Lodging Program provides environmental guidelines for water usage, energy saving techniques, reduction of solid waste and preventing pollution.  Some lodgings provide additional energy saving measures such as energy efficient light bulbs, towel and sheet changing options, guest room recycling baskets and food related waste control.  There is also a new Water Conservation Hotel and Motel program in which enrolled establishments commit to reduce water usage.  These hotels and motels use high efficiency aerators in all the faucets and encourage customers to use linens more than once prior to replacing them.

There are multiple eco-attractions that can be found in the Florida Keys.  Conservation museums and preservation museums are popular ways to appreciate the Keys and learn about the history as well as current environmental efforts.  The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was established to protect a portion of the Florida Key’s barrier reef.  It is America’s first underwater preserve and was established in 1963.  The Marathon Wild Bird Center is another interesting eco-attraction it is one of the leading wild bird rescue centers in the Keys.  Other unique and interesting eco-attractions in the Florida Keys are the Dolphin Research Center, the Turtle Hospital and the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center.

Another important part of vacation is eating!  And Florida’s restaurants are also becoming more green.  Restaurants in the Keys have programs for recycling, use of biodegradable take-out containers, use of eco-friendly cleaning products and the installation of low-flow bathroom fixtures.  You can make you dinner a little greener by choosing local sustainable seafood like spiny lobster, Key West Pink shrimp or stone crabs.

If you enjoy your green vacation so much that you decide to make the Florida Keys your new home,  the person to contact is Margarita Villoch.  She is an excellent local resource on Florida Keys real estate.  Call Margarita and start packing!

If you are going to be in or near Key West on the 4^th of July, there are a variety of different activities that you could participate in.  All you have to do is decide which ones sound like the most fun!  Of course, there is a fireworks display courtesy of the Key West Rotary Club, but there are also other activities scheduled to take place during the day.

At 7:30 AM, there is an annual race sponsored by Crime Stoppers.  The race, which includes both a run and a walk, starts at Smathers Beach on South Roosevelt Blvd.  Following the race, Sheraton Suites Resort is sponsoring a post-race party.  It will take place at 2001 S. Roosevelt Blvd.  Then later in the day the Hospice/Visiting Nurse Association will be hosting its annual picnic at the Casa Marina.  The picnic is scheduled from 5pm – 9pm and will have a barbecue, a silent auction and raffles.  Additionally, the marina provides a great spot to watch the fireworks.

In Marathon, there is a Fourth of July parade that  starts on U.S. 1 and continues along Sombrero Beach Road to Sombrero Beach.  Once it reaches Sombrero Beach, there is a picnic with food, drink and entertainment.  Once the picnic is over, this is another great spot to watch fireworks!

Of course, the Fourth of July isn’t the only time there are activities in Key West.  July 20 – 25 are the 30^th Annual Hemingway Days.  This interesting festival includes a running of the bulls, a Hemingway look-a-like contest,  a short story contest, and a billfish tournament.  Other unique festivals throughout the year include  the 38^th Annual Poker Run where 10,000 motorcycles ride to Key West while collecting poker cards and the Fantasy Fest, Key West’s biggest Festival. 

Key West is a great place to live year round!  So contact your local real estate expert, Margarita Villoch and get ready to move!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to listen to music underwater?  There is a unique event in the Florida Keys in which a whole concert is held underwater.  The Submerged Symphony will be performing at the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival on July 10.  The event takes place at Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary located about 6 miles south of Big Pine Key.  The festival is attended by both snorkelers and scuba divers alike and promotes the preservation of the coral reef.  Make reservations to attend at www.underseasinc.com or at local dive shops in the area.

The music contains messages of diver awareness that are written and recorded by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Officials.  They also offer ideas on ways for people to minimize the impact they have on the coral reef ecosystem while enjoying and appreciating the ocean.  The majority of the music is broadcast under the water using Lubell Laboratory speakers that are suspended from boats.  If you want to attend the festival and don’t own your own boat there are several dive shops and private charters that provide transport to the reef.

This years festival theme is a salute to Alice in Wonderland and will include diver’s dressed as take-offs for some of the classic characters, for example – the Mad Haddock.  Previous years’ playlists have contained songs like The Beatles “Yellow Submarine” and the theme to “The Little Mermaid” as well as quirky things like recordings from a humpback whale.  Even Elvis made an appearance, a band of Elvis look-alikes playing underwater guitar.

The Florida Keys have many amazing opportunities to appreciate the ocean and coral reef environments.  The Florida Keys Underwater Music Festival is among the more unique of these opportunities.  If you are the type of person that enjoys these unique opportunities, you should consider relocating to the Florida Keys.  Of course, when you do you will need the expertise of a local realtor.  Margarita Villoch can assist you in finding your ideal property!

Great news for members of the Armed Forces trying to buy a home in Key West! Congress has granted a one-year extension for service members who may have been serving overseas when the Home Buyer Tax Credit was originally offered.

The extension was provided with good reason. Many members of the military were serving overseas and could not take advantage of the program within the original deadlines. If you are a qualified service member, you can take advantage of an extension of the program. The new program deadline is April 30, 2011.

In the original tax credit, if the home buyer moved out of the home within the first three years of ownership, they had to repay the Tax Credit. This contingency has been waived for service members if the move is related to an official extended duty.

If you’d like to see if you qualify for the Armed Forces extension, check out Home Buyer Tax Credit site.  The main requirement is that you must have been on “official extended duty” between the dates of December 31, 2008 and May 1, 2010, with duration of duty being at least 90 days. Also, service members who returned to the US for medical care may still qualify for the extension.

Some guidelines remain the same. The income limits of $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for couples filing jointly still apply. The extension applies to both first time home buyers and repeat buyers, and is available to members of the military, Foreign Service, and intelligence communities.

So if you’re ready to kick back and enjoy the island life in Key West or any of the Lower Keys, call Margarita Villoch! She is the only local real estate resource you’ll need.

Ready to do some angling in the Lower Keys? Join the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce for the 17th Annual Big Pine and Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament June 11^th – 13^th! Over $40,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded for anglers reeling in dolphins. The first 300 anglers to register are eligible to win the $20,000 grand prize for the heaviest dolphin over 50 pounds.

The headquarters for the tournament is the Boondocks Grill and Draft House at mile marker 27 on Ramrod Key. There will be prizes awarded in the youth division (15 years and younger) and a Top Lady Angler cash prize! If you need a boat or if you have a boat and can take anglers, call Dan Iarrobino at 305-745-3667 or reach him via email at dan@cudjoesales.com.

Dolphin is the only catch that qualifies you for the cash prizes. The Chamber will also be awarding other prizes for the heaviest wahoo and tuna caught! There are angler and vendor applications available for the event on the Chamber website.

The big kickoff for the event will be June 11^th at 5pm. This will be final registration, with a Captain’s meeting to follow at 7pm. Anglers can start the frenzy at 8 am both Saturday and Sunday, with weigh-ins 4:30-6:30 pm on Saturday and 3-5 pm on Sunday.

 All kinds of fishing are available in Key West and the Lower Keys!  It’s a great place to live the life of a fisherman! When you are ready to relocate to the area, call Margarita Villoch! Come live the island life!

Living in Key West is a one of a kind experience. People from all walks of life call the area home and diversity is one of the things which makes this such a great place to live. Even our cuisine is a melting pot of ethnic flavors. While Key West may not have Farmer’s Markets showing off local wares, you can still find some great organic foods!

Help Yourself is one such local establishment. Here you can get food that is good and good for you! All ingredients are organic. They can also accommodate almost any culinary lifestyle: vegan, gluten free, raw food diets and carnivores too! The philosophy, “green inside and out”, covers everything from how a food is grown to how they treat food waste. If you want a tasty treat that is good for you and helps the environment, stop on in for a smoothie or a bowl!

Another location that receives great reviews from locals is The Café located at 509 Southard St. Not only do they have great food and daily specials, occasionally you can enjoy live music with your meal! One of the newer places in Key West is Green Republic on Fleming.

If you are exclusively vegan and looking for a great place to eat check out Sugar Apple Natural Foods. Sugar Apple is a health food store with a café and take-out menu.  There are also smoothies that can quench your thirst and give you a boost of energy or protein at the same time! You will also find they have an Herbal Apothecary available too.

Of course the best way to be healthy is to live stress free. The best way to do that is buy your own Key West bungalow and live the laid back island life! Ready to make Key West or one of the Lower Keys your home, call Margarita Villoch! She is your local real estate resource.

There is a reason why people dream of living in a home on the open water! Looking out the door of your Lower Florida Keys home and seeing the beauty of the ocean stretched out before you is an experience like no other.   What some may not realize is there is even a better reason to buy that oceanfront home: it is a good investment.

Beachfront properties are some of the most sought after real estate in the world. They can be a big investment but the payoffs are big too. Very few other types of properties will hold their value as well. While they may not be immune to an economic downturn, oceanfront homes are normally some of the first to recover their value. This adds to the investment value of the property.

Another value to these homes comes in the form of vacation homes. First and foremost, you can build equity and return on investment with a vacation home for your family. Staying for just a few weeks in a pricey oceanfront hotel will convince you of the benefits of owning a family vacation home!

When your family is not in residence at the home, you can also increase your investment by renting the property out for others to enjoy. You can charge much higher rates for being right on the ocean than a property that may be only a few blocks from the shore. This is just another way your oceanfront home can help pay for itself.

If you are ready to experience island living right here in the USA, call Margarita Villoch! She is your local real estate resource for Key West and the Lower Keys. If you have questions about area beachfront properties, her team can help!