Stix ‘n Brix

Sales of existing single-family homes fell by 20% in the first quarter of 2006 compared with the same period a year earlier, reports the Florida Association of Realtors

Dr. David Scott, executive director of the Dr. Phillips Institute for the Study of American Business Activity and professor of finance at the University of Central Florida (UCF) said “Sales of existing single-family homes in Florida behaved like much of the U.S. across the 2006 first quarter. The stress points on unit sales come from two key sources: One, rising inventories of dwellings for sale and two, rising mortgage rates. On the latter, conventional mortgage rates closed the 2006 initial quarter at 6.35 percent and are trending up.” (more…)

This Spring much of Florida has experienced severe drought conditions. In addition, ever-tightening irrigation restrictions and the rising cost of water are making it more difficult and expensive to keep landscaping fresh and healthy.

Drip and micro-spray irrigation are two techniques that are becoming more popular and cost-effective. Drip methods were developed in the agriculture industry more than forty years ago, and have been growing in popularity in the residential market for the past twenty years. (more…)