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Castles in the Sand
Business, Castles in the Sand

High-end properties show blow-out numbers

Aug 23, 2023 – Louise Bolger
July 24, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Florida insurance nightmare grows

It’s like waking up from a bad dream and realizing it was only a dream and everything is just fine. However, the Florida insurance nightmare isn’t just a bad dream, it’s the new reality, and we keep…
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July 17, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Mortgage rates on the move

Residential mortgage rates barely budged in June, leveling off at the 6.5% mark the last week of May. Just when buyers were starting to exhale, thinking this may be as high as we go, the national 30-…
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July 11, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

The value of a renovated home

Most homebuyers today want to buy a home, but very few want to buy a project. Nice work if you can get it, but even in our slightly leveling-off market, it may not be so easy. Unfortunately for bu…
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July 3, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Is having two homes too much?

This column is all about being careful what you wish for. Some people love their childhood home and long for the day they will inherit it from their parents. Others know if they just had that beach h…
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June 26, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

100 years of paradise

Anna Maria is celebrating 100 years of providing exquisite beaches and aqua water to beachgoers and visitors. The celebration started on Memorial Day and will probably go on for several months and ri…
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June 21, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

Timing is everything

In life, sometimes it’s just luck that makes the life-changing decisions we make look genius. In real estate, the importance of the old adage, “location, location, location” is only surpassed by timi…
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June 12, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Condo inspection bill signed into law

Condo inspection bill signed into law

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law new state legislation that will impact condominium associations and owners. On June 9, DeSantis signed the legislation recently ad…
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June 12, 2023
By Joe Hendricks
Bortell’s Lounge for sale

Bortell’s Lounge for sale

ANNA MARIA – Bortell’s Lounge is on the market with a $7.2 million asking price. Pat Bucko is serving as the broker for Bortell’s Lounge owner Steve Rose. According to Bucko’s online listing, t…
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June 12, 2023
By Jason Schaffer
AMI tourism numbers remain strong

AMI tourism numbers remain strong

ANNA MARIA – Research Data Services’ (RDS) Ann Wittine presented her state of tourism update to members of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) on June 5 at a meeting held at The Cent…
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June 12, 2023
By Louise Bolger
Castles in the Sand

It can’t hurt to ask

In certain parts of the world, the marketplace is designed for negotiation. Don’t ever offer full price and don’t ever accept the first negotiation are two commonly employed strategies. It’s a cultur…
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April 9, 2025
11:45 am

The Off-Stage Ladies of the Island Players, April luncheon meeting