The waters on the Suncoast need the protection of those who love them. You can help Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) do that with a new program the nonprofit launched recently by keeping your “Eyes on the Suncoast” and reporting what you see.
Whether you’re boating, biking, swimming, fishing or walking, everyone on or near the water can help SCWK remind residents and visitors why the Suncoast’s marine ecosystem is worth protecting. Suncoast Waterkeeper can’t be everywhere at once, that’s why your contributions are vital to their efforts.
You can help Suncoast Waterkeeper by report- ing conditions such as this light-colored plume in area waters. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
SCWK has designed a platform that makes it easy for you to submit and share what you see. Sharing what you see using your phone, social media and the hashtag #eyesonthesuncoast can be invaluable in efforts to preserve water quality and habitat.
Here are two ways you can report what you see:
1. Use the form on their website for bad conditions or pollution reports only. The form will let you post an image, add a description and give the location of the report.
2. Post to Facebook or Instagram. Here is the perfect place to post what you love about the Suncoast and why it’s important to help organizations like SCWK keep it sustainable. A YouTube video walks you through the process on the webpage. Follow these four easy steps to post to your social media platform:
• Upload a picture;
• Include a description of what you’re reporting;
• Provide the latitude and longitude for your location using your phone’s compass or by dropping a pin on a map app; and
• Add #eyesonthesuncoast.
Need a couple of tips on what to report?
Post the things that inspire and amaze you – wildlife sightings, clear/clean water, a special sunrise and/or sunset, healthy seagrass or marine scenery.
Post the things we need to be aware of like trash/debris, excessive mangrove trimming, including dead mangroves, fish kills, dead or sick aquatic animals, discolored, foamy
or foul-smelling water, sewage spills, algae blooms, gas, oil or grease spills, runoff from construction sites, direct pollution or chemical spills, invasive species as well as other concerns.
Don’t underestimate the impact that your contributions can make.
As Margaret Mead, the famous cultural anthropologist said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
It’s winter in Florida and it can be a little chilly in the morning, but, if you pay close attention, you may feel a slight warming breeze. However, the breeze I’m talking about is not in the air, but in the real estate market, and it’s starting to stir demand among buyers.
Mortgage rates have fallen by about a full percentage point for a 30-year fixed-rate loan, signaling that the Federal Reserve may be nearly finished lifting interest rates. As of this writing, the average 30-year fixed-rate loan is averaging about 6.79%, but there are loans out there that are as low as 6.46%, and a 15-year fixed-rate loan is averaging about 6.22%.
The last time we saw mortgage rates in the 6% range was for several years between 2003 and 2008 after which the rates started dropping. Understandably, new buyers to the market were appalled when the rates went over 7% from a low of 3% since they had never seen rates this high.
Redfin reports that the number of people contacting real estate agents to start their buying process has increased from a November low. In addition, real estate contracts rose in December and mortgage applications are up by about a quarter nationally since the end of last year.
The real estate market has always been a barometer of how the economy is doing in general because so much of a successful economy is driven by a successful housing market. Goldman Sachs Group economists said this past month “they expect the worst of the downturn has passed and housing is poised to exert less of a drag on economic growth going forward.”
And buyers are hearing the message and getting accustomed to their monthly housing costs being higher if they plan on buying a home. It’s a correction in their thinking which has finally taken hold.
Let’s see if Manatee County residents are also getting the message. These are the January sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
Single-family homes closed 31.7% fewer homes than January of last year. The median sale price was $505,710, up 5.4%, and the average sale price was $650,544, up 5.8%. Median time to contract was 32 days, compared to 7 days last year, and the month’s supply of properties is 3.2 months.
Condos closed 24.4% fewer properties than last January. The median sale price was $345,000, up 14.4%, and the average sale price was $392,332, up 3.4%. Median time to contract was 26 days, compared to 6 days last year, and the month’s supply of properties is 3.2 months.
Cash sales continue to drop 31.6% for single-family and 34.6% for condos. However, inventory is increasing and the median and average sale prices are still in positive territory compared to last year. The combination of increased inventory and values that are holding is a great thing. There are regions around the country that would love to be in our position.
In addition, historically, 6% interest rates are not unusual. What was unusual was when they got down to 3%. We as a country have always survived high-interest rates frequently much higher than 6%. Buyers continued to buy even then because owning a home is ultimately the goal of most Americans. So, enjoy the warming trend and be patient it you haven’t felt it yet, it’s coming.
Manatee County’s 5% resort tax, or tourist tax, is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists. About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also partially funds tourism-related attractions such as the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers. Manatee County totals include Anna Maria Island cities, Bradenton, the portion of Longboat Key within Manatee County, unincorporated Manatee County and Palmetto. To anonymously report a rental owner who may not be paying the tax, call 941-741-4809 or visit https://www.taxcollector.com/tdt-evader.cfm.
I clearly remember traveling to the Caribbean islands when I was still living in the cold northeast and wondering what it would be like to live and work in such a beautiful place. Do high heel shoes become a thing of the past, to be replaced by flip flops, and do you immediately discard anything that says 100% wool, not to mention pantyhose? I did all of this and never looked back except to be grateful that I found this particular Island when I did.
Don’t misunderstand; I am very pro-real estate and most of the homes on Anna Maria Island are tasteful, new and built to current hurricane building codes, making them safer than their one-level ranch ancestors. Nevertheless, these days if I visit a small island, I can’t help comparing it to Anna Maria Island and can’t even imagine what the next 10 years will bring.
For now, let’s see what the December sales statistics for Manatee County have to say, reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee:
Single-family homes closed 29.7% fewer properties from December of last year. The median selling price was $507,000, up 10.2% from last year, but the average selling price was $610,237, down 0.6% from last year. The median time to contract was 27 days this December compared to six days last December, and the month’s supply of available properties is three months this year compared to 0.6 last year.
Condos closed 24.2% fewer properties from December of last year. The median selling price was $344,475, up 13.7% from last year, but the average selling price was $364,057, down 3.6% from last year. The median time to contract was 19 days compared to six days last year, and the month’s supply of available properties was 2.7 months this December compared to 0.5 last year.
The consensus of opinion is that 2022 has been a change or shift in the market and we are seeing that as well. Dr. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, indicates that inflation has been dropping and consumers can expect mortgage rates will likely fall as well.
In addition, although there are fewer sales, we have a significant increase in listings, making more properties available. Our market is still, however, considered a seller’s market per the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
An island – really just a spit of sand in the Atlantic Ocean – that made all these feelings come roaring back was a one-day stop at a totally undeveloped island called Half Moon Cay, a private island owned by one of the major cruise companies. The actual name for this dot of paradise is Little San Salvador Island 100 miles southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas. Half Moon Cay’s size is close to Anna Maria Island’s, but you would never know it driving around. There are only a handful of homes, a beautiful lagoon, a tourist center with shops and a spectacular unspoiled beach.
That said, based on a recent profile of Anna Maria in the Wall Street Journal, Anna Maria, “a tropical oasis,” is Florida’s second-most expensive zip code (34216) as ranked by median listing price, according to realtor.com. Anna Maria city is topped by Miami’s Fisher Island, pretty good company.
As Anna Maria keeps growing and property values keep going up, I wonder what would happen to lovely Little San Salvador if civilization invaded their beach. Every time I read a profile of Anna Maria in a national publication it leaves me shaking in my flip-flops, but that’s progress and this is an island in the sun.
MANATEE COUNTY – Holmes Beach resident and former Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore is the new development administrator for Help to Home, Inc.
The non-profit organization seeks to provide low-rent housing and other assistance to parents and children threatened by homelessness.
“I am honored that Help to Home has chosen me for this worthy cause,” Whitmore said in a press release the nonprofit issued on Dec. 31.
“My goal in life is to make a positive difference in people’s lives and this position will help me do just that. I’ve been going around meeting with Goodwill and other organizations,” she said of her new part-time paid position.
The press release notes Whitmore helped low-income family members find jobs and obtain vocational assistance during her 16 years as a county commissioner.
Help to Home has purchased land on 30th Avenue, just west of 14th Street West in Bradenton, and plans to build Hope Village – a community of housing units with below-market rental rates.
“It is an unusual program because it requires each tenant to work with case managers, the local school system and community services to get vocational ‘up-skilling’ to stop the generational cycle of homelessness,” the press release states.
Help to Home board member Steve Wilson said, “As our development administrator, Carol Whitmore offers vast knowledge, great experience and many talents to help us reach our goals. Her understanding of homelessness and the impact it has on the entire family make her the best possible choice to ensure that Hope Village becomes a reality in 2023.”
Help to Home’s fundraising efforts will focus on private donations rather than government funding.
“The absence of government funds will avoid any restrictions on how it helps its tenants get better jobs and become financially independent. It also is not borrowing any money. Hope Village will be economically sustainable when fully built out and occupied, even at below-market rental rates,” Wilson said.
Whitmore said former Anna Maria resident Bob Carter had been assisting Help to Home with its fundraising efforts and he suggested they talk to her.
“I have to thank Bob Carter and I knew Steve Wilson from my time as a county commissioner. We just got approved for 53 units and we’re working hard on it,” she said.
Help To Home also recently added Jerry Marlar, Mike McCoy, Margie Genter and Matt McSwain to the board that already included Rod Urban, April Childers, Bill Hawthorne and Archie Smith.
MANATEE COUNTY – Beyond the confines of Anna Maria Island, a canal dispute, mangrove trimmings and a proposed water taxi service were among The Sun’s top news stories in 2022.
Hunters Point
In Cortez, the construction of 86 Hunters Point homes continued while a hearing was conducted and completed regarding a dock permitting dispute.
The permitting dispute involves Hunters Point developer Marshall Gobuty’s Cortez Road Investments and Finance Inc. ownership group and the Cortez Village Marina’s MHC Cortez Village LLC ownership group.
In 2021, the Southwest Florida Water Management District gave Cortez Road Investments the environmental resource permit needed to construct the docks. That permit was then challenged by MHC Cortez Village.
The multi-day hearing began in June 2022 and concluded in September. Attorneys representing Cortez Village Marina argued the proposed docks would impede navigation along the canal and negatively impact their clients who have larger boats.
The attorney representing Gobuty argued the new docks would not significantly impede navigation and she repeatedly noted the man-made canal in question is privately owned by Cortez Road Investments and MHC Cortez Village LLC has no existing usage agreements for the canal.
The parties involved in the permitting dispute are still awaiting a recommended order from administrative law judge Bruce Culpepper, to then be followed by a final order issued by the water management district’s governing board.
In separate but related actions that took place in 2022, Cortez Road Investments filed a civil lawsuit seeking a court order that would prohibit Cortez Village Marina clients from using the privately-owned canal.
Cortez Road Investments also filed lawsuits against several canal-side property owners requesting that their docks and other structures be made fully compliant with the county’s dock regulations that prohibit any docks, boat lifts and other structures from extending more than 25% into the canal which is approximately 65 feet wide in those areas.
To date, several legal filings have been made but no hearings have been held regarding the canal-related lawsuits.
Aqua mangroves
In late April and early May, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) personnel inspected the mangrove trimming activities that occurred along the shoreline of the Aqua development (formerly known as Long Bar Pointe) located between Sarasota Bay and El Conquistador Parkway in unincorporated Manatee County.
The mangroves to the left were not trimmed, the mangroves to the right were trimmed to create better views for those who will occupy Aqua’s multi-family residential units. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In mid-May, FDEP issued an inspection report that stated, “Unauthorized trimming activity was not evident at time of the inspections. However, no pre- or post-photographs, pre-trimming notification or post-trimming notification was provided to the department.”
In late August, in response to additional complaints about the mangrove trimmings not being properly removed,
FDEP Southwest District Director Kelley Boatwright issued a warning letter to Medallion Home representative Rob Bosarge and Aqua developer and Medallion Home CEO and president Carlos Beruff.
“During the inspection, department personnel noted the following: All trimmings over 3 feet long or over 3 inches in diameter were not properly removed and disposed of offsite. Remaining trimmings were not evenly distributed. A portion of mangroves appeared to be reduced more than 25% of foliage annually. Adequate pre and post photo documentation of the trimming event was not provided,” Boatwright said in the letter.
In the letter, she went on to say, “On July 12, department personnel notified you that potential violations existed at the site and you were requested to take corrective actions within 30 days. On August 25, a follow-up site visit was conducted and violations did not appear to be adequately addressed. To date, the potential violations have not been resolved.”
Water taxis
In October, Manatee County Commissioners authorized County Administrator Scott Hopes to spend up to $700,000 to design and build two pontoon boats to be used as water taxis for the downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island water taxi service the county plans to launch in early 2023.
In November, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommended the Manatee County Commission allocate $950,000 in resort tax revenues to help fund the county-initiated water taxi to be operated and managed by the Clearwater Ferry Company.
Initially operating Friday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., the water taxis are expected to travel between downtown Bradenton, the Anna Maria City Pier, the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach and the Coquina South boat ramp. An exact launch date has not yet been provided.
Commission chair
District 3 County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge served as the Manatee County Commission Chairperson in 2022 and he will serve in that role again in 2023.
Kevin Van Ostenbridge served as the Manatee County Commission chairperson in 2022. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Passing
Longtime Anna Maria Island resident Brian Haddix passed away at Tidewell Hospice in Bradenton on June 21.
Longtime Island resident Brian Haddix passed away in 2022. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
BRADENTON BEACH – Portions of the Coquina Beach parking lot remain closed to beachgoers as work on the second phase of Manatee County’s extensive drainage improvement project continues.
The project’s primary goal is to improve drainage at the county-owned beach park in Bradenton Beach. The scope of work includes the installation of new underground stormwater collection and drainage components that are then covered with pervious pavement that allows water to drain downward and into the drainage systems below. The paved and striped parking spaces also create better-delineated parking spaces than the previously unpaved, un-striped parking areas.
The first phase of the project which took place at the south end of the beach park was completed in 2020. Work on the second phase began in February 2021 and the ongoing work continues to temporarily reduce the number of available parking spaces.
On Dec. 27, Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan provided The Sun with a project update that included a project map he received from the county public works department.
This project map highlights the various sub-phases of the drainage and parking improvements taking place at Coquina Beach. – Manatee County | Submitted
According to the map, construction in the parking area just south of the main entrance and bus loop – highlighted in blue on map and referred to as sub-phase 4 – is nearly complete and those 221 parking spaces should be available in early January.
A visit to the Coquina Beach parking lot on Wednesday confirmed the pervious concrete paving has been installed atop the previously installed stormwater and drainage components, but that parking area was not yet open to the public.
As of Tuesday, Dec. 27, the Coquina Beach parking area south of the bus loop was paved and awaiting car stops and striping. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Woodruff & Sons is off until Tuesday of next week. They still need to pin the car stops and stripe the area before it can be opened,” Logan told The Sun. “They will then move north of the bus loop to work on sub-phase 3. This is the last of the second project phase.”
According to the project map, the sub-phase 3 area (highlighted in yellow) contains approximately 170 parking spaces that will be closed to the public in early 2023. Logan noted some additional tree removals will be needed as part of the work taking place in that area.
The map also shows an overflow parking area (highlighted in red) south of the soon-to-be-completed sub-phase 4 area that will contain an additional 140 parking spaces and is expected to open in late 2022/early 2023. As of Wednesday, that area remained closed, had not yet been paved and appeared to need quite a bit of work yet.
The overflow parking area remains a work in progress. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Logan noted the county’s contract with Woodruff & Sons is scheduled to end in March, but the overflow parking area and the parking area at the north end of the beach park were added to the project. He said that it’s not yet known if more time will be needed to complete the additional work.
BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County’s sewer rehabilitation project is expected to cause traffic interruptions and parking challenges in Bradenton Beach beginning in late January.
On Dec. 15, Project Manager Alex Gonzalez sent a letter to city officials and others regarding the Bradenton Beach sewer rehabilitation project and a project-related public information meeting taking place at Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Dr. N., on Thursday, Jan. 12, from 6-8 p.m.
A public information meeting will be held at Bradenton Beach City Hall on Thursday, Jan. 12. – Manatee County | Submitted
“The purpose of the meeting is to provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about the Bradenton Beach sewer rehabilitation project on Gulf Drive, from 6th Street South to 13th Street South,” Gonzalez stated in the letter.
“There will be no formal presentation and guests are invited to stop by anytime between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to view project boards and design plans. Project staff will also be available to answer questions and provide additional project-related information,” he said.
“This project will replace and relocate a portion of the gravity collection system in south Bradenton Beach to new locations within the public right of way. The replacement of aging sewer infrastructure will improve the resiliency of the Bradenton Beach sewer system by increasing capacity and reducing the risk of pipe failures and leaks,” the letter states.
When contacted via email on Dec. 22, Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan said the Woodruff & Sons construction firm is expected to begin its work during the third week of January – the week after the Jan. 12 public information meeting.
“That would be the work on Gulf Drive and they expect it to last through summertime. Then they will begin work on the side streets,” Logan told The Sun.
Project website
Additional information and project updates can be found at the project-related website. According to the website, construction is expected to be completed in September 2024.
“The project includes the installation of approximately one mile of 10-inch and 8-inch gravity main along Gulf Drive South as well as 21 manholes and approximately 100 new 6-inch laterals. Lateral service connections will extend from the gravity main on Gulf Drive South down each side street from 6th Street South to 13th Street South. The project will also require road repair and restoration,” according to the website. “This project will replace and relocate a portion of the gravity collection system in south Bradenton Beach to new locations within the public right of way. The contractor is currently developing a construction schedule and procuring project materials.”
Chief’s concerns
During recent city meetings, Police Chief John Cosby has expressed concerns about the traffic and parking impacts that will occur along Gulf Drive South.
Police Chief John Cosby expects the rehabilitation project to significantly impact traffic and parking along Gulf Drive South. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
At a Dec. 7 Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, Cosby referenced the sewer rehabilitation project and its anticipated impacts on the Cortez Beach parking lots south of Bridge Street – which in addition to providing beach parking also provide public parking for CRA’s Old Town Tram parking shuttle service.
“They are cutting holes across Gulf Drive at every street, from 6th Street down to 13th. Because it’s gravity fed, they cannot do (underground) boring, so it’s physically cutting holes about 15 feet deep and the width of the road in order to put the pipe in,” Cosby said.
He said Gulf Drive South traffic will be diverted through the unpaved Cortez Beach parking lots which will also be used to store construction equipment and materials.
“Cortez Beach parking for the next 18 months is non-existent. And as you know, the parking is still not finished at Coquina (Beach). There’s still one more section to do at Coquina once they’re done with the middle section that is not completed yet. You’re about to lose all that parking space at Cortez Beach,” Cosby said.
The county project will temporarily reduce parking at Cortez Beach, south of Bridge Street. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“We’re looking at 18 months if everything goes perfect. When’s the last time that happened?” he added.
During the Nov. 2 CRA meeting, Cosby said he and Mayor John Chappie had already met with county staff twice to discuss the pending project.
“It is going to be a nightmare,” Cosby said of the project’s anticipated impact on traffic and parking.
The tradition of a mortgage button is a little scrimshaw button mounted atop a stairway’s newel post, as a symbol the mortgage was paid off. This is something I saw for the first time on Nantucket Island where my uncle and his wife retired many years ago. Ever since then, I’ve been fascinated with the concept of a mortgage button. Now, however, paying off your mortgage may not be as impressive as in times gone by for every homeowner.
In today’s world, there are many forms of retirement, or not retiring at all. Because of Zoom, inflation and interest rates, many individuals who would have retired even 10 years ago are postponing retiring. If your choice is to retire, are you planning to pay off your home’s mortgage with other assets or will you keep your mortgage in place? Retiring with your home “free and clear” was a goal of previous generations and many homeowners still strive for this, but financial managers may want to have a further discussion about the real benefits.
Even if you decide to give up work or work part-time, many have calculated that carrying a mortgage is a better choice. This is especially true if you have a low-rate mortgage because of either owning your home only a few years or, like many people, having refinanced your existing mortgage when rates were ultra-low. According to the Federal Reserve, nearly 58% of those ages 65-74 had mortgages or home-equity lines of credit on a primary residence in 2019. This is up 22% from 1989 based on available statistics.
Even if you can afford to pay off your mortgage before retiring, does it make sense to deplete your cash or investments for this use? A financial advisor will look at all of your income and assets and make a recommendation designed specifically for you, including safe, low-risk investments.
In addition, your tax consultant needs to be in the loop since tax ramifications must be considered. Although the 2017 tax overhaul significantly raised the standard deduction, there are still homeowners who will benefit from a home mortgage interest deduction.
Finally, keeping a low-rate mortgage frees up equity that you otherwise would not have access to. After retirement or switching to part-time work, your family income is obviously reduced, which would make it difficult to qualify for a new mort-
gage or home equity loan should you need it for a health emergency or other reason. Or just having the money available for a new car, dream vacation or to help out a family member may be enough of a reason not to pay off your mortgage.
Paying off your mortgage and retiring with no debt certainly gives you peace of mind, and that’s something to be proud of and a reason to get a mortgage button. The mortgage button can also be called a brag button indicating there is no lien on the property. Part of the mortgage button’s myth or fact is also another little-known aspect that the mortgage, when paid off, is stored in the newel post at the base of the home’s stairway before the mortgage button is installed.
Historians have debated the truth about the mortgage button for over a century. As for me, it’s a great story, true or not, and a special memory from my first trip to a magical island. Happy holidays!
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Thanksgiving meals recently enjoyed and holiday meals yet to come this season wouldn’t be possible without the farmers and ranchers that provide our food.
Each year, Farm-City Week is celebrated in recognition and appreciation of the farmers, ranchers and support personnel that are the backbone of Manatee County’s agricultural industry.
Celebrated this year from Nov. 7-19, Manatee County Farm-City Week 2022 honored the Bradenton Kiwanis Club in celebration of that organization’s 100th anniversary.
The Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach city commissions each issued their annual Farm-City Week proclamations. According to those proclamations, the first Farm-
City Week celebrations were established by Kiwanis International and Manatee County Farm-City Week was first sponsored by the Bradenton Kiwanis Club in 1955.
The Bradenton Kiwanis Club began recognizing its local Outstanding Agriculturalist of the Year in 1967 and was instrumental in establishing the 4-H Education Center, the Manatee County Agricultural Museum and the Master Gardeners Horticulture Learning Center. The Bradenton Kiwanis Club also sponsors 4-H, Future Farmers of America and Farm Bureau programs for Manatee County youth.
“Farm-City Week and the agriculture community are thankful for the 100 years of service and support provided by the Bradenton Kiwanis Club and urges the public to celebrate agriculture in Manatee County while appreciating the contributions the Bradenton Kiwanis Club has made to agriculture education in our community,” the proclamations read.
The countywide Farm-City Week celebrations included approximately 1,000 third-grade students participating in the AgVenture program conducted by the University of Florida IFAS extension staff at the Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto on Nov. 17. The AgVenture program provided local students with up close and personal learning experiences that included beekeeping, growing vegetables, milking cows, making orange juice, protecting local water resources and more.
Island presentations
In recognition of Farm-City Week, Manatee County native and Suncoast Nursery owner Ralph Garrison visited the Bradenton Beach City Commission on Nov. 17.
“This is something I always look forward to because it’s important to remember that Manatee County is a big agri- cultural community,” Mayor John Chappie said before Garrison spoke.
After noting this was the 67th year that Manatee County has celebrated Farm-City Week, Garrison said, “It brings awareness between the city folk and the farmers and ranchers of Manatee County. There’s no unity in the community that doesn’t know its past.”
Garrison said past generations of Manatee County farmers used to grow their crops in west Bradenton and load them onto boats on the Manatee River that then traveled north on the Gulf of Mexico to Cedar Key to be shipped further up north.
“Why Cedar Key? That’s where the railroad stopped at the time. It hadn’t made its way down to Tampa yet,” Garrison explained.
Garrison said Manatee County’s sandy, loamy soil base is conducive to the farming that helps make agriculture one of Manatee County’s primary economic engines, along with tourism and construction.
“Manatee County still farms, even though we get pushed farther and farther to the east,” Garrison said in reference to the increased development in east Manatee County.
He said multiple generations of Manatee County farmers, ranchers and fishermen have provided local citizens with food, employment, a love of the land and the raw materials needed to make clothing, housing, medicine, fuel and other products, and they’ve been assisted by the processors, brokers, truckers, shippers, wholesalers and retailers that are also crucial to the agricultural industry.
Regarding the Thanksgiving holiday, Garrison said, “As we gather with friends and families, we want to count our blessings and give thanks for the bountiful amount of food that we have. Safe, simple food that’s available to us.”
Garrison presented each commission member with a commemorative coffee mug containing an heirloom radish plant, which he encouraged them to replant.
“They’re a purple radish and they taste wonderful,” he said.
Ralph Garrison gave commemorative coffee cups containing heirloom radish plants to the Bradenton Beach commission members. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Garrison addressed the impacts that Hurricane Ian had on Manatee County farmers, including his own plant nursery.
“It was a difficult end to a year for Manatee County farmers and ranchers. Hurricane Ian tore up crops and blew down sheds. Packing houses got blown down and ripped up. Cattle were drowning because of the flood of the Myakka River. But farmers have always found a way to work through these adversities. We’ve been through recessions, hurricanes, a pandemic and market loss. Farmers are resilient and bounce back,” he said.
In closing, Garrison said, “I’ll leave you with one statement Benjamin Franklin made: ‘Unstable is the future of a country which has lost its taste for agriculture.’ ”
He then offered this final piece of advice: “Don’t speak poorly about the farmer if your mouth is full of food.”
The Anna Maria City Commission issued its Farm-City Week proclamation on Nov. 10, joined by John Hamilton, who in 2018 was named the Kiwanis Club’s Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year.
Mayor Dan Murphy presented John Hamilton with a framed copy of Anna Maria’s Farm-City Week proclamation. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hamilton made some brief remarks and presented the mayor and commissioners with commemorative coffee cups, pencils and agricultural fact sheets.
In response, Mayor Dan Murphy said, “You’re always welcome here in the city of Anna Maria. You’re doing a great job. You contribute a lot to our community.”
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Followers of the “Where is the Market?” Facebook page are anxiously awaiting what appears to be an imminent announcement of a new venue.
“I will be thankful at Thanksgiving that our market family will be together soon. However, because of the holiday I cannot get the needed paperwork until the 29th as people are on vacation,” Nancy Ambrose wrote on the page Nov. 18. “So the Sunday market will not start on Dec. 4 as there would not be enough time to market it. I am planning on Dec. 11. Cannot wait to see everyone.”
Ambrose, who was the director of the Coquina Beach Market for the past decade, was ousted by Manatee County officials who announced in August that the county was taking over operations of the beach market.
The Aug. 2 press release from Manatee County Information Director Bill Logan stated in part, “Artisans and other vendors will be back along the Coquina Beach South promenade, once again, when the 2022-23 season opens in November as oversight for the market shifts to Manatee County.”
Logan declined to give a reason for Ambrose’s termination and said by email on Aug. 5, “I do not have any further information why the contract was terminated.”
In October, county officials announced a delay to the projected Nov. 1 opening of the county-run market due to Hurricane Ian having impacted preparations.
“As crews have been deployed around the county to clean up and repair other parks properties, the site prep and rehab work to get the new site (further south on Coquina Beach) ready have been put on hold temporarily,” according to the county website. “The official opening date has been delayed from the originally planned Nov. 1.”
The county has not estimated its beach market opening date.
Ambrose indicated that her new Sunday market will not be on Anna Maria Island and that she would not be making any further announcements until arrangements are finalized. She also wrote that she is looking in another county for a possible Wednesday market.
Her Facebook page, “Where is the Market?” has over 2,000 members, some of whom are vendors who have worked with her and who are hopeful that they will soon have a new venue to sell their products.
Vendor Venita Clark wrote, “I think Nancy needs to have her own booth set up so everyone could stop by and give her the big hug she deserves for working so hard for all of us!
“A mark, fault or other imperfection that mars a substance or object.” That, my friends, is the definition of a flaw. If you think you can find a house that doesn’t fit this description, you’re probably dreaming.
Every home built or lived in has flaws; it’s up to the buyer and seller to decide
if the flaw is serious enough to repair or serious enough to not buy the home. Here are some things to think about on both sides of the transaction.
Buyers need to be aware of many things when first viewing a home. If you have young children, or are just sensitive to noise, be aware of traffic or boat noise at various times of the day. Sometimes homes on main roads are priced better but may not work for your family.
Naturally, obvious structural issues like sloping floors or cracks in the walls should raise a red flag.
Water is a problem if leaks get out of control in a home. Question water stains, mold, peeling paint or blisters on the paint and an overall musty odor. Look under sinks for water dripping and run faucets to see if they leak.
Check to see if the floors are maintained. Scratches on hardwood, cracks on tile and worn carpeting could be an indication of an overall maintenance issue in the home.
Look carefully at the appliances and see if they’re rusty or have dents and look worn out. It’s perfectly legitimate to ask if the appliances are in working order and ask their age. Any hanging wires or broken fixtures could indicate a worse electrical problem and should be questioned.
Finally, landscaping and the entire exterior of the home will give you an im- mediate negative or positive impression the minute you step out of the car. First impressions do count.
If you’re selling, sometimes rather than take on a major renovation of a kitchen
or bathroom it’s just as productive to use a little elbow grease. Even though there is still a shortage of inventory in most markets, buyers are frequently turned off by little things. Any type of odor, whether it’s musty, pet, gym shorts or baby, needs to be corrected. When you’re putting your house up for sale, the best favor you can do it is investing in a deep cleaning. The second-best thing you can do is enhance your curb appeal. Remove the bikes, toys and half-dead plants. Paint peeling on outdoor trim and dirty windows are a no-no.
If your home needs more than a good clean-up, fresh paint may not be as dramatic as a new bathroom, but it will do that first impression a lot of good. Refinishing hardwood floors or putting down an inexpensive piece of carpeting in the kids’ rooms will more than pay for itself. Other small fixes that buyers love are new doors and custom closets, many of which you can do yourself. Think about what appeals to you when you look at Realtor pictures of homes for sale. It could be as simple as new throw pillows and bed quilts. I once bought a $300 new sofa for my family room after my dog made the old one his home. It worked perfectly. The buyers even wanted to buy it from us.
Homes aren’t the only things that have flaws. Most of us can look in the mirror and see a long list of things that need fixing. Just remember, there are no perfect homes and no perfect people. A good lesson to keep in mind.
I would like to thank The Sun for placing two articles in their paper for donations of Nylabones for the dogs at the County shelter.
We have gotten some wonderful donations from residents all over Manatee County. Their donations have made it possible to supply every dog with a bone.
I will continue to work with Chewy and some other vendors to get much-needed supplies – beds, bones and high-value training treats. We can never have enough because we keep getting new dogs.
The shelters are full and could use help walking the dogs. If anyone has time and would like to take a pup for a stroll around the facility it would be greatly appreciated. They need to get out to exercise and volunteers are in short supply.
I’ll keep updating everyone on what we are buying and show pictures of the very grateful pups.
So, after the turkey is consumed, the pies are half gone and the dishwasher is running its first load, it’s time to talk turkey. And what’s everyone’s favorite dinner conversation – real estate.
Let’s start with one of the mysteries of the ages, why mortgage rates go up and down. If you think you’re going to get an understandable answer from me, guess again. Some mysteries are never solved.
As of this writing, the average rates are 6.89% for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage and 6.26% for a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage. Adjustable-rate mortgages are 5.52%, not too much better but could put borderline buyers in the range of qualifying. These rates have actually ticked down a little from 7% a few weeks ago in spite of the Federal Reserve upping their rate by 0.75% again.
Nationally, home sales typically go down when rates go up since fewer potential homeowners qualify for a loan. Despite the sharp decline in sales, home prices are rising on a year-over-year basis, in part be- cause supply remains low. Unfortunately, a slower housing demand affects other goods and services. Furniture, appliances, lumber and plumbing sales declined in September due to less demand for those products, slowing down the overall economy.
Not surprising, the future predictions are all over the place. The Mortgage Bank-
ers Association thinks mortgage rates are expected to end 2022 at 4.8% and to decline gradually to 4.6% by 2024. Good news, if you believe it, for buyers who are trying to decide between an adjustable-rate mortgage and a conventional one.
The National Association of Realtors kind of agrees with the above, saying that all in all, the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is likely to hit 5.3% by the end of the year, and that 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages will be at 4% by the end of the year.
Finally, a senior economist at Zillow says that competing dynamics suggest that there will be little reason for mortgage rates to decline anytime soon.
As far as pricing is concerned, the National Association of Realtors expects prices to post year-over-year declines starting next year.
Let’s just see what the Manatee County market did for the month of October according to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
Single-family homes closed at 22.5% less than last October. The median price was $549,444, up 29.3% from last year and the average price was $711,358, up 25.8% from last year. Median time to contract was 24 days compared to 6 days last October and the month’s supply of properties was 2.8 months versus 0.8 last year.
Condos closed 22.5% less than last October. The median price was $368,700, up 32.6%, and the average price was $388,103, up 17.4%. Median time to contract was
22 days versus 7 days last year and the month’s supply of properties was 2.3 months compared to 0.6 last year.
The trend of fewer sales and raising inventory is continuing. Some real estate analysts feel the market is leveling off with less of a bounce to higher values. A lot of this as it relates to Florida is impacted by hurricanes, interest rates and inflation. And we’re not alone. Just coming over one of my news feeds is a report that home sales nationally fell for a ninth straight month in October, according to the National Association of Realtors.
I hope this gives you some debatable information to discuss at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Just remember that when it comes to talking turkey, you probably know as much as anyone. Happy Thanksgiving.
They call them “Zoom towns” because so many of the new residents are working remotely and have given up their city and suburban lifestyles for a more relaxed environment in smaller communities. It’s no secret that this massive lifestyle change evolved because of COVID-19, but even now, when the danger of serious infection is substantially reduced, Zoom towns are still popular.
A recent National Association of Realtors survey reported that buyers who purchased homes in the year that ended in June moved a median of 50 miles from their previous residences. This is the highest distance on record, going back to 2005 when the median was a consistent 15 miles. This may not seem like a lot of mileage difference, but 15 miles from Boston, for instance, is still part of the city, but when you go 50 miles, you’re in real country. In New York City and other large metropolitan areas, however, you would need to go a little further than 50 miles to really be getting away from it all.
In the same survey, smaller communities were more popular, with buyers purchasing 48% of the homes. Again, this is a record and is up from 32% a year earlier. By comparison, traditional suburban home purchases dropped to 39% from 51% the previous year and only 10% of home purchases were in urban areas, down from 13% the year before. Naturally, the increased cost of homes and now the increased cost of financing has certainly influenced buyers.
Home buyers who are getting close to retirement are another influence on the popularity of small communities. Many who have the ability to work remotely chose to relocate now rather than after their retirement date. This gave them an edge before mortgage rates and prices went up further and set them up for easing into retirement.
Confirming further the demand for homes in smaller communities, The Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Emerging Housing Markets Indexes came out at the end of October. It reports that the demand for homes in low-cost cities with strong local economies is, in their opinion, “robust.” This annual survey incorporates economic and lifestyle data, including real estate taxes, home appreciation, unemployment, wages and commute time in their 300 biggest metro area rankings.
This survey places the North Port, Sarasota and Bradenton region at number four in the top 10. Unfortunately, as we all know, North Port has taken a big hit from Hurricane Ian since this survey was completed, so in next year’s survey it will be interesting to see where that area is placed.
The other Emerging Housing Markets were in this order: Johnson City, Tennessee; Visalia-Porterville, California; Elkhart-Goshen, Indiana; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Lafayette-West Lafayette, Indiana; Columbia, South Carolina; Columbia, Missouri; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Yuma, Arizona.
Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, said, “These more affordable markets continue to offer some opportunity. It doesn’t mean that they’re not seeing a slowdown in their housing markets, but they’re better positioned generally.” In other words, they had faster home sales and lower unemployment rates than the market as a whole, which is attracting buyers in an otherwise difficult housing market. Further, according to an economist at Nationwide Insurance, the trend toward less expensive housing markets looks like it will continue even if home prices start trending down.
I guess all of Florida needs to be considered a Zoom town based on the number of people who have relocated to our state in the past two years. We’re still a state with a lot of smaller, cozy communities, access to waterfront amenities and a friendly business environment. I believe our new diverse residents will only enhance those attributes. Time to pack your laptops and zoom your way to the Sunshine State!
