- October 13, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Local sales strong
The Sarasota residential real estate market reported a solid increase in sales last month, rising nearly 20% year over year.
There were 577 property sales in October, according to the Sarasota Association of Realtors. That's an 18.4% jump over the 487 closings in October 2010.
Meanwhile, there have been 4,292 sales in Sarasota in the first 10 months of 2011, a rise of 4.5% over 2010, according to a report from local Realtor Michael Moulton.
Moulton's report also states the market has seen gains at all price points, even properties priced at more than $1 million.
City discusses funding
The city of Sarasota and the Baltimore Orioles are debating how to use $1 million earmarked toward renovations at Ed Smith Stadium, where the team holds spring training.
Sarasota City Manager Bob Bartolotta says the discussions are aimed at preventing the disagreement from ending up in court. The city contends the $1 million is to treat contaminated water that's more than two feet underground the stadium, according to the Sarasota Observer, sister paper of the Business Review.
But the Orioles say most of the $1 million set aside for field mitigation should be used to tear up an AstroTurf practice field that doesn't drain properly. The money should also go toward a new drainage system, the team says.
College expands offerings
State College of Florida in Bradenton has been approved to offer two additional four-year bachelor's degrees, one in International Business and Trade, and one in Technology Management.
The State Board of Education approved the additional programs. The state also recently approved an SCF request to add new concentrations to its four-year degree in Health Services Administration. Those new concentrations include programs in gerontology and nutrition.
The business and technology programs will be available in fall 2012. With those majors, the school, formerly Manatee Community College, now offers 10 four-year degree programs.
Naples runway completed
The Naples Municipal Airport reopened its second runway after expanding it. The $3.6 million project will improve the city's chances of resuming commercial air service with regional passenger jets.
The airport increased the runway's takeoff distance by 800 feet, enabling regional passenger jets to safely take off with a full load of passengers.
Delta commuter jets used to connect Naples with Atlanta, but the airline pulled out in 2007.
In addition, the extra runway will allow private jets to gain more altitude over the airport, increasing safety and reducing noise over the city.
Home prices rise
The median price of an existing home in the Fort Myers area rose nearly 11% to $95,000 in October compared with the same month a year ago, according to the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach.
The association attributed the rise in the median price to an increase in conventional sales, which represented 46.5% of existing-home sales in October. Of the total sales in October, foreclosed homes represented 33.7% of sales and short sales accounted for 19.8%.
Meanwhile, the number of sales of existing homes in the Fort Myers area dropped 4.7% to 960 in October compared with October 2010. There are 4,409 homes listed for sale in the area.
JA's new CEO
Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, the nonprofit organization that teaches free enterprise to 10,000 students in Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties, has appointed Anne Frazier as president and CEO.
Frazier previously served as executive director of Drug Free Collier. She replaces Victoria Stephan, who is retiring Dec. 2 after 12 years with the organization.
Junior Achievement volunteers teach children financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness.
RNC security funds approved
Congress recently approved $50 million in funding for security at the Republican National Convention, which will be held in Tampa Aug. 27.
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has said $25 million of the funding will go toward hiring 4,000 law enforcement personnel.
The House approved the “minibus” funding bill with a vote of 298-121 and it passed in the Senate with a vote of 70-30.
It was the first spending bill passed for fiscal year 2012.
nFinanSe files suit
Tampa-headquartered pre paid debit card company nFinanSe Inc. is suing Atlanta-based InComm Inc. for price fixing and violation of a distribution agreement.
In its court filing, nFinanSe accused InComm of refusing to distribute one of its products over fear of price competition.
The complaint also alleges InComm refused to comply with nFinanSe's contractual obligations unless it joined its “Vanilla Reload Network.” Doing so would set a price of $3.95 for customers to add funds to their card.
The sealed filing was submitted Oct. 31 to an Atlanta court. If the allegations are true, InComm is in violation of U.S. anti-trust laws for illegal restraint of trade.
Norman charges dropped
Charges against State Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, were recently dropped, says a release from the U.S District Court of the Middle District of Florida.
The charges against Norman, a former Hillsborough County commissioner, came as the result of a $500,000 home purchase his wife made with the financial backing of Ralph Hughes, a deceased Tampa powerbroker.
U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill praised the work of investigators, but cited a lack of substantial evidence as the reason the investigation was abandoned.
