Thinking about relocating? Forget about the rest of country, for Jacksonville Fl, things are looking up. For two years in a row, Forbes.com has named Jacksonville one of the top 10 American cities to find a job in. Based on a number of favorable economic factors including strong job and income growth, low unemployment and low cost of living; Jacksonville ranked 3rd in the country in 2007, up from 8th in 2006.
Not surprisingly, the site also picked Jacksonville as one of America's best housing markets for 2007. It's not hard to see why. With a booming economy drawing people to the area, Jacksonville is one of the few US cites where median home prices are increasing during a nationwide downturn. What's better - Jacksonville homes are still affordable and showing a strong appreciation rate.
Right now there's a huge surplus of newly built homes in Jacksonville that builders are anxious to move. In Jacksonville, where a strong market and great location are causing the city to boom, the time to buy has never been better.
So Many Houses, So Little Time...
What's a buyer to do? Negotiate!
A recent downturn in the housing market has left builders with a huge inventory of brand new single family homes in the Jacksonville area. For buyers ready to purchase a newly constructed home, this is great news. In order to offload some of these houses, builders are competing for buyers' attention with lucrative incentives. Rebates, upgrades, additions, and new appliances are all getting thrown into the bargain. The latest survey taken by the NAHB indicates that 56% of builders are offering incentives this year.
But a buyer's market only lasts as long as there are more houses than buyers. Builders are already building fewer homes. Housing starts dropped 6.1% between June and July this year and Dave Seiders, Chief Economist for the NAHB predicts that the market will balance itself out by mid 2008. If you are looking to own a new home in Jacksonville - now is the time!
Florida's First Coast
Jacksonville's great climate, location and natural beauty have drawn people to the area since the end of the ice age. Rich with history and alive with activity, Jacksonville is a great place to live, work and retire. Built on the banks of the St. Johns River and the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, residents enjoy some of the choicest recreation in the country. Beaches, fresh water and sport fishing, abundant green space, and wide open skies converge with a thriving cultural center. The city's arts and entertainment district offers world class events, restaurants, museums, and theater. Residents can enjoy major league sports events, trips to the zoo or walks along the vibrant river walk. Located in Northeast Florida, Jacksonville is the currently the largest city in the state and not showing any signs of slowing down.
Rising Star Apartments Protaras
This is the contradictory nature of Chatel - it is the Alps' best kept secret that lots of people know about.
Chatel is a small farming village-turned-ski resort nestled in the heart of the Portes du Soleil - the world's largest linked ski area. Its development has been done with a sympathetic eye on its heritage. No high-rise concrete apartment blocks or hotels, just beautiful alpine chalets. Historically, Chatel has always been overshadowed somewhat by its loud and boisterous neighbour, Morzine. However, all that is about to change.
People have started to realise that Chatel has some of the best skiing in the whole ski domain. It is right at the centre of the Portes du Soleil circuit and benefits from easy links to Avoriaz - a high altitude purpose built resort. This is coupled with recent investment over the last few years. Every winter season sees one or two new express lifts, and over the next two years the two ski areas of Super Chatel and Linga will be joined by pistes/lift.
Over recent years, keen skiers have been attracted to Chatel due to a mix of its beauty, the skiing, cheap property prices and the fact that the resort is a little less predictable than some of the more talked about British ski destinations (Mozine, Val d'Isere etc). Those in the know were also aware of the resort's excellent snow record. Being in the Northern French Alps, the Portes du Soleil never seems to be without snow even when some of the higher, more popular resorts are suffering. Indeed, Avoriaz gets the highest average snowfall (over 9 m) of anywhere in the Alps!
Now that Chatel is well and truly on the map, property investors have started looking at the resort for development, and a number of beautiful, large, luxurious chalets and apartments have been built, or are being planned.
Ahead of the game, White-Peak Holidays has been offering high quality, luxury self catered accommodation in Chatel for many years. Seeing the move in-resort towards luxury, in 2005 the company launched its luxury catered chalet arm - Inside Edge Chalets. Inside Edge has a portfolio of luxury catered chalets available, the like of which hasn't been seen before in the village!
White-Peak Property Sales also has a number of planned luxury, large, ski-in chalets due to be completed in 2008.
So, the wind of change is blowing through Chatel. Driven by companies such as White-Peak and Inside Edge, the village is quickly getting a reputation for quality and luxury. At the same time, holiday prices and property sales prices aren't over inflated like other popular resorts. Another important fact is that the village remains very French and doesn't lose site of its history and tradition. There is no danger of the village turning into another "Little Britain" type resort, because the floods of British property investors will always be drawn to the Meribels, Verbiers and Val d'Iseres, leaving Chatel to those who want to mix French culture with luxury property and excellent skiing.
You can find out more about Chatel by visiting the tourist office website.
Both Gina Labarbera & Ed Ockelton are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Gina Labarbera has sinced written about articles on various topics from Real Estate. A Florida resident for over 16 years, Gina LaBarbera specializes in the Jacksonville Florida residential market. With an outstanding reputation and warm-hearted approach, Gina helps familiesfind success in the. Gina Labarbera's top article generates over 1900 views. Bookmark Gina Labarbera to your Favourites.
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