The retirement dream of days of yore has somewhat lost its muster in recent years. Perpetual talk of the devaluation of pension pots, ever-increasing working age limits and much-talked about annuity changes are continually moving the goalposts for those on the brink of retirement. Yet one question remains the same: how do you make the most of your retirement?

Recently revealed by retirement specialist LV that British retirees need approximately £225,756 in their pension pot to enjoy a typical 17 year retirement to the full, it is no surprise that more and more people are looking outside the box for a solution.

Gordon Turner from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbriathinks he might just have the answer to this age-old question. Reaching retirement in March 2017, Gordon already has a plan mapped out to make the very best of this next phase of his life. Having purchased three properties at The Fountains at ChampionsGate in the top tourist destination of Florida through property investment company Brookes & Co, he plans to live in there for 6 months of the year once he retires (on a tourist visa) and to use the properties for rental outside of his own personal usage too.

Gordon explains more about the financial reasons behind his decision,

“I would like to maintain my current lifestyle once I retire and the properties will allow me to do this as they will bring in a monthly rental. There are financial  benefits to living in the US like the cost of living being approximately 25% less than the UK, fuel being significantly cheaper and cars better value, there is no VAT, you are not taxed on your gas and electricity, you pay less capital gains tax too, and the list goes on.”

And Gordon’s purchases make good financial sense in another respect too. Zillow, the largest property website in the US, recently released data that showed an increase of 14.8% in the value of homes in Orlando in 2014, compared to the previous year, with a projected rise of 7.2% predicted for the Orlando Metro area in the coming 12 months.

However, it is not just the financial gains from a retirement in Florida that appeal to Gordon, he is also attracted to the change in lifestyle that a move to the Sunshine State would bring,

“The benefits to health and a more laid back lifestyle are immense.  Just picture listening to the palm trees swaying in the wind and wearing a shirt, shorts and flip flops as you read the morning paper in the garden instead of hearing the rain and wind belting down on your windows before you put on your heavy coat, scarf, gloves and brolly to face the British elements!

“Just imagine being able to sit on your balcony and have breakfast in 22 degrees of sunshine every day and pop in the pool for an early morning swim – that’s a huge benefit, in fact I would say ‘that’s the start of paradise’.”

And Gordon is not alone in looking to US shores for a happy retirement. Specialist annuity provider MGM Advantage recently revealed that the USA was the third most popular country for UK retirees (behind European destinations of Spain and France), with 16% of those surveyed having a preference for a move to the US when they reach their ‘golden years’.

The family man who currently works as an Engineering Product Safety Manager in the UK did not, however, merely purchase the properties for investment and retirement purposes, although the properties are still in the development stage, he is also looking to utilise the finished homes prior to retirement for holidays with his extensive family. And with two children and four grandchildren of his own and his partner having six children, it suddenly becomes clear why he needed three properties!

Purchasing one three-bed and two four-bed villas, Gordon’s family are big fans of Florida already and have visited a staggering 35 times over the past 24 years, making the very most of all that the state has to offer. From beautiful year-round weather, the enduring entertainment options available at the resort parks of Disney World and Universal Studios and the beautiful beaches, it is clear to see why Florida – and Orlando specifically – has become an increasingly popular holiday choice, with an increase of 2% in tourist numbers in the first quarter of 2014, compared to the same period in 2013.

Philip Button, Managing Director of Brookes & Co, which has been sourcing property in Florida for UK clients for the past decade, comments,

“Florida has long-since been a hugely popular destination for holidays – I have visited with my family more times than I can remember – as well as for the purchase of holiday homes. It is because of this that it also makes an excellent investment choice, with prices on the increase and a growing property market.

“And what a fantastic place to retire! The US, and Florida specifically, has much to offer, both from a lifestyle perspective and financially and I just know that Gordon will be very happy there. I am proud that Brookes & Co have been able to help him with this important decision and that our practice of due diligence has supported him step by step with his purchase.”

Giving him the best of both worlds, Gordon is optimistic that his Floridian purchases will give him the best of both worlds – the ideal base for the perfect family vacation and a retirement option that offers personal fulfilment whilst making sound financial sense. It is clear to see why he exclaims “I can’t wait until I am out in the sunshine state enjoying my new life!”

For more information about buying in the US as well as about the other investments Brookes & Co offer, contact 01621 875 925 or info@brookesandco.co.uk or visit www.brookesandco.co.uk

• Virgin Atlantic launch new flight route connecting Belfast with Orlando
• Florida tourism on the up: 3.5% increase in tourist figures in 2013, compared to previous year (Visit Florida)
• Part of positive US story: real GDP in the US is to rise from 2.1% growth in 2013 to 3.0% in 2014 and then by an average of 2.8% annually from 2015 to 2017 (Timetric ‘Travel and Tourism in the US to 2017’ report)

Florida is unquestionably one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, with tourists flocking to its shores for a signature blend of theme parks, championship golf courses, water parks and beaches. And now it is not only this wealth of attributes that are encouraging Northern Ireland holidaymakers to visit the Sunshine State, increased accessibility is today high on the list too.

Major player in the airline industry, Virgin Atlantic, have recently announced a new route that will see flights scheduled between Belfast International Airport and Orlando over June and July, linking Northern Ireland’s largest city with Florida’s top tourist hotspot. A spokesperson for the company also suggested positive ramifications for the establishment of the new route, commenting,

“We keep our flying programme under continuous review and if the new services are a success we could look to continue them in the future.”

And with the seemingly hot tourism market in Florida at the moment, these new routes certainly seem to be on track for recording a great success. Recent figures have shown that Florida’s unending popularity is actually on the increase, with last year a record year for the state’s tourism: Visit Florida reported an increase of 3.5% in tourist numbers in 2013 compared with 2012, bringing the total to 94.7 million visitors. The aim for 2014 is to hit the magical 100 million tourists figure, through the increased access and a whole host of exciting new attractions.

Walt Disney World last month opened its newest attraction, the ‘Seven Dwarfs Mine Train’ in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom, a ride that will feature animated figures and music from the popular Disney film in a family-roller coaster, and also has big plans in the pipeline for ‘Pandora: The Land of Avatar’, set to open in 2017 amid much furore.

Universal Orlando Resort has followed suit this month with an expansion of the exceptionally popular ‘Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ from its current home at Islands of Adventure to its sister park of Universal Studios Florida, next door. The second site allows visitors to experience a virtual journey on the Hogwarts Express and an ‘Escape from Gringotts’ ride through darkened bank vaults. The new attraction also offers the chance to visit Diagon Alley and its popular shops that include the iconic Ollivanders Wand Shop, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and Borgin & Burkes, selling objects of dark magic. There is even be the opportunity to sup on a butter beer or two at the famous Leaky Cauldron!

Sure to be met with overwhelming popularity, the new theme park attractions are set to contribute, not only to Florida’s increasing tourist figures, but also, in turn, to the US’ financial recovery in more general terms. And this is something that is looking increasingly healthy. The Timetric ‘Travel and Tourism in the US to 2017’ report forecasts that real GDP in the country is to rise from 2.1% growth in 2013 to 3.0% in 2014 and thereafter by an average of 2.8% annually from 2015 to 2017.

Florida’s increasing popularity is not only excellent news for flight operators and the country’s coffers, it is also ideal for investors in the state’s property sector. Both holiday accommodation and long-term rental accommodation are much in demand. As well as boasting impressive overnight visitor numbers, Florida is also the fourth most populous state in the US (after California, Texas and New York) according to data from the World Atlas.

Philip Button, Managing Director of specialist property investment firm Brookes & Co, which has been sourcing investment property in Florida for UK clients for the past decade, comments,

“Florida’s huge population means that demand for rental accommodation is consistently strong. The changes to the property market over the past six to eight years have also meant that many people have moved from owner occupied accommodation to private rented sector properties. Clearly this creates plentiful opportunities for overseas investors looking to profit from the US market.”

As with any foreign property investment, knowing what, where and when to buy is essential. Brookes & Co’s knack for obtaining this knowledge and turning it into income for its clients has garnered the company an excellent reputation for its Florida opportunities.

The latest – a boutique offering of just 17 exclusive, fully tenanted condos, available from as little as $69,500 – comes at the optimum time for UK investors looking to put their money to work in property. Managed and maintained, with excellent long-term yields, the condos also benefit from the sterling’s current strength against the dollar, which is at a five year high.

To find out more about the US property market, the tenanted condos and the other investments Brookes & Co can source, contact them on 01621 875 925 or info@brookesandco.co.uk or visit www.brookesandco.co.uk

• Sales of US existing homes up 4.9% and pending homes up 6% in May 2014, compared to April figures (National Association of Realtors (NAR))
• Forecasts of 5-6% property price growth for 2014 and 3-5% for 2015 (NAR)
• Foreclosures offer excellent opportunity to invest at far lower rates, which Brookes & Co are currently offering to market

With strains of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ infusing the air and the traditional fireworks lighting up the night skies, the Fourth of July may be a national holiday for people in the United States to pause and reflect upon their independence, but one arena where there has certainly been no pausing in recent months is in the country’s real estate industry.

In their ‘Housing Market Forecast’, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed that sales of existing homes were up, marking a real rise of 4.9% in May 2014 in the number of homes sold when compared to April. Alongside this there was also an increase of 6% in the number of pending homes sold in the same period.

This positive growth is a big step forward for a market that triggered the property crash that spread its effect globally from 2008, forcing people to drastically tighten their belts and the market to shrink dramatically. Yet with sparks being shown in property sales figures for recent months, upcoming forecasts are also looking healthy, marking important upward movement.

The NAR are forecasting Median Price Growth of between 5-6% for 2014, with an increase of 3-5% for 2015, steady figures that prove growing confidence in the market, at more manageable levels than the booming figures of the 11.5% growth recorded in 2013, fuelled by a lack of housing stock.

As the report explains, there is a great deal of potential remaining in the US,

“The housing market is beginning to roar back… there is sizable pent-up housing demand looking to emerge. The timing is uncertain. But the pent-up demand implies home sales have much room to rise over the next few years.”

Although RealtyTrac have shown in their ‘May 2014 Residential & Foreclosure Sales Report’ that it is the sale of higher end properties that are currently registering the highest percentage change in terms of their share of total property sales, year-on-year, at the other end of the market there is a different kind of potential.

Since the market crash of six years ago, one arena which has witnessed great potential for investors is the sale of foreclosures, or distressed assets. Asking prices for these properties, sometimes in a state of neglect and in need of much work, is far below that of standard properties – RealtyTrac recently revealed that the average price of a US foreclosed property was 37% lower than a standard property, at $120,000 compared to $190,000. These properties make up just over 14% of the US housing stock (as of May 2014) and offer an excellent opportunity for those looking to make a profit.

Philip Button, Managing Director of property investment company, Brookes & Co, explains,

“With the US market showing signs of improvement, now might just be the ideal time to invest and one option looking attractive is that of foreclosed properties. According to RealtyTrac, the popular Sunshine State of Florida holds a third of the US’ inventory of empty foreclosures, four-times more than New York, and within an improving market, not to mention the 5 and a half year high of Sterling against the US Dollar, now is a fantastic time to buy.”

Today it is not just Independence Day that the US should be celebrating; it is the positive signs of growth in the property industry and the potential being offered to overseas investors that should be helping the American flag to fly proudly at full mast.

For more information on investing in the US, contact Brookes & Co on 01621 875 925 or info@brookesandco.co.uk, or visit the website www.brookesandco.co.uk

• 76% of parents believe holidays are important for children (HomeAway.co.uk)
• 92% of holidaymakers plan to travel with family in 2014 (TripAdvisor)
• Orlando is most visited US city in 2013, with 59 million visitors (Visit Orlando)

When it comes to summer holidays, it seems that family-friendly fun in the sun is at the top of the list of requirements for UK holidaymakers. A recently published survey from HomeAway.co.uk in association with UKMums.tv found that 76% of parents believe holidays are an important time for children.

With such emphasis on the younger family members’ needs, summer holidays are often planned to suit their whims and wishes. In fact, the survey goes on to reveal that 65% of holiday trips and activities are decided upon by children, along with 50% of meals and 60% of decisions as to whether to head for the beach or stay by the pool.

With the children so firmly in charge, it is perhaps unsurprising that Florida – and in particular Orlando – is such a perennially popular choice of summer holiday destination. The family-friendly nature of theme parks and water parks can keep youngsters of all ages thoroughly entertained, from tiny tots to awkward teenagers.

Only 6% of those surveyed were not prepared to sacrifice any aspect of their holiday plans for their children. The findings are backed by data from the latest TripAdvisor family travel survey, which found that family holidays have increased in popularity this year. While in 2013 only 85% of respondents planned to travel with family, the figure rose to 92% for 2014.

While 55% planned to travel with their spouse and children, a significant number (20%) intended to travel with extended family – and again, the climate and myriad attractions of Florida can be understood in terms of their appeal for such groups. Indeed, of the TripAdvisor top ten Travelers’ Choice Hotels for Families in the US, the Orlando/Kissimmee area claimed two of the top three spots.

Philip Button, Managing Director of specialist property investment firm Brookes & Co, travels regularly to Florida with his two sons. He comments,

“I’m lucky that my work takes me to Florida every 6-8 weeks, but I also travel there for pleasure trips with my family as well. Orlando is an outstanding city, with something to offer everyone. I saw from the Visit Orlando figures released recently that Orlando has now been confirmed as attracting more visitors in 2013 than New York – a record-breaking 59 million, in fact – and I can completely understand why.”

Button’s work sees him regularly inspecting the progress of the development underway at The Fountains at ChampionsGate, where Brookes & Co are working in partnership with Floridian developer Feltrim to offer high end three and four bedroom villas as investment properties to the UK market. Button himself is buying there – with villas available from £212,512 and US mortgages available, he sees it as the perfect family investment, explaining,

“Buying at The Fountains makes sense to me as a parent. I can use the villa for six weeks completely free without compromising my rental income. For the rest of the year, it will generate an income at the same time as allowing my capital to grow.”

The popularity of The Fountains with Brookes & Co’s UK clients has shown the resort’s family appeal. The majority of buyers have been family groups, with two or three generations of family attracted to the lifestyle element of the investment, as well as the healthy financial returns.

Of course, family holidays aren’t always perfect. 85% of the TripAdvisor survey respondents admitted to wanting to escape from their family at some point during their trip. Thankfully The Fountains has access to 36 holes of Greg Norman-designed championship-level golf course on its doorstep, offering the perfect solution for when the family holiday involves just a little too much time with the family!

For more information, contact Brookes & Co on 01621 875 925 or info@brookesandco.co.uk, visit www.brookesandco.co.uk or meet the team online.

• Ethics and integrity shine through
• Localised services see charitable and community activities brought to the fore
• Property investments focus on stable, well-established markets

The face of international property investment is changing. While some more archaic companies might still be trying to meet with clients in hired hotel rooms and convincing them to invest in countries they have never heard of, a new breed of global real estate experts are revolutionising the sector.

Their focus is on ethical, secure investments that provide clients with a stable and balanced international property portfolio, containing investment properties in some of the world’s most well-established markets.

Essex-based Brookes & Co perfectly epitomises this new breed. The company is presenting leading investments in both Florida – The Fountains at ChampionsGate – and the Bahamas – the Royal Ocean Club – to the UK market, but Managing Director Philip Button was determined to take a new approach to global property investment. He explains,

“I’ve always been passionate about high quality, financially sound property investment. My background as a Certified Chartered Accountant means that I look at each investment from all angles, seeking the best returns for Brookes & Co’s clients by sourcing leading deals in well-known markets.

“I believe the key to Brookes & Co’s success is the way it approaches the delivery of its business. We might be global property investment specialists, but we also like to keep a local, personalised perspective when it comes to working with our clients.”

The approach sees Brookes & Co holding regular events at its Maldon head office, with investors and potential investors welcome to drop in at any time. The emphasis at the events is on a relaxed and fun presentation of investment opportunities – the exact antithesis of the old, hard-sell approach. The most recent event, a Florida experience day that involved a virtual ‘flight’ to the Sunshine State, all-American breakfast and casino-style entertainment, was so over-subscribed that another one has been planned for Saturday 26th April.

With their resounding emphasis on an ethical approach to investment, Brookes & Co also run regular inspection trips. The next Florida inspection trip is planned for 15-18 May and will see staff accompanying potential investors to The Fountains in order that they can meet with local property and financial experts, including the developer, Feltrim. The company’s enjoyable approach is reflected in the inspection trips as well as their local events – the last Florida trip included both a trip to Disney World and a helicopter flight over the development.

Back on this side of the Atlantic, Brookes & Co is actively involved in the local community, following Managing Director Philip’s belief in giving something back. The company has just agreed a sponsorship deal for theSamStock 2014 charity music, comedy and arts festival in Maldon on 21 June. Brookes & Co will be the official headline sponsor of leading act Toploader and Philip has generously paid for his team to attend the event.

This engaging approach is carried through into every aspect of the company’s property investment activities. For example, Brookes & Co only ever offers investment opportunities that the company has put its own money into. Philip’s belief is that if the company is not prepared to invest, why should the clients be?

He also believes in providing a full, 360 degree service to every client, meaning that Brookes & Co has built up partnerships with a range of experts from developers to mortgage specialists, so that each client can receive a personalised package of advice and guidance.

The company has further demonstrated its credentials by joining the Association of International Property Professionals (AIPP), thus signalling its commitment to the highest standards of professional conduct within the industry.

Such is the new breed of property investment companies that are taking the sector by storm. Open, clear and personalised in their approach, they invite investors to get to know their team members, visit them in their office and explore their developments first-hand, all while giving something back to the local community. With such integrity and attention to detail in place it seems that so far as global property investment is concerned, the future’s bright – the future’s Brookes & Co.

For more information, contact Brookes & Co on 01621 875 925 or info@brookesandco.co.uk, visitwww.brookesandco.co.uk or meet the team online.

• US house prices rise by 11.5% in a year (National Association of Realtors)
• High end property sales in Florida increase 24% in 2013 (Florida Realtors)
• US dollar exchange rates best they have been for British buyers since 2009 (Brookes & Co)

The outlook is bright for the US housing market, according to the latest figures. The median sales price for homes across the nation increased 11.5% in 2013 compared with the previous year, to $197,100 according to the National Association of Realtors.

The luxury end of the market has recovered particularly well. In fact, the Demand Institute’s ‘A Tale of 2000 Cities’ report has revealed that the value of stock at the top end of the market has risen by an impressive 73% since 2000. The report belies the belief that snapping up bargains at the bottom end of the market is the best way to profit from real estate: over the same period, the stock at the lower end of the market rose by a comparatively low 59%.

The favourable exchange rate at the moment is making the US property market particularly attractive to British buyers, who effectively have an additional £6,500 per £100,000, compared to February 2013, thanks to the strength of the pound against the dollar.

Regarding the US’s recovering economy, Jeff Korzenik, chief investment strategist for Fifth Third Bank in Chicago, states,

“We believe the U.S. is going to see accelerated growth in this year, the best growth since 2005.”

Korzenik’s analysis includes confidence in the US’s resurgent housing market and, as ever with an improving market, certain areas of the country are emerging as investment hotspots, attracting investors from around the globe due to their potential for high returns. He observes,

“The way Florida has worked historically is if the U.S. is doing well, Florida tends to do very well. It’s widely perceived as a business-friendly state. Because Florida has run its fiscal affairs very prudently, Florida should be able to increase its investments better than many other states, and we think that’s a competitive advantage for Florida.”

The figures certainly seem to back up the investment expert’s predictions. At the start of 2014, Florida’s housing market marked the 26^thconsecutive month of year-on-year increases in median property sale prices. The number of single-family home sale closures in 2013 was up 11.8% compared with the previous year according to Florida Realtors and the median sale price reached $168,000 – an increase of nearly 16% on 2012. Sherri Meadows, the company’s president, comments,

“The positive fundamentals of Florida´s housing sector continue into 2014.”

Philip Button, Managing Director of Florida property investment specialists Brookes & Co, agrees. He has seen interest in leading development The Fountains at ChampionsGate – which Brookes & Co is presenting to the UK market in partnership with established developer Feltrim – increase massively so far in 2014. Only 12 of the original 50 units at the stunning resort remain available for investment. Button explains,

“The market has been so buoyant in Florida recently that UK buyers are eager to invest in the Sunshine State. The strength of the pound against the dollar at the moment means that they get more for their money than they would have done a few years ago, while the resurgence of the US housing market creates scope for huge NET annual returns on cash invested – such as 14.61% at The Fountains. In fact, US dollar exchange rates are currently the best they have been since 2009 for British buyers.”

Of course the improving market means that prices of investment properties are increasing and The Fountains is no exception. Investment in the luxurious three and four bedroom villas now begins at £53,128 deposit, with full villas available from £212,512 and US mortgages available. Located in a secluded development scattered with oak and pine trees, along with a state of the art clubhouse and fitness centre, plus a resort-style pool, The Fountains offers peace and tranquillity at the same time as being just minutes from the buzzing attractions of Walt Disney World Resort and Orlando’s numerous other attractions.

As has proven the case nationally, upscale properties such as these are showing strong returns in Florida, with Florida Realtors reporting a year-on-year jump of 24% in 2013 on the number of sales of properties at the top end of the market.

With prices set to increase further over the course of 2014 and beyond, those keen to benefit from Florida’s real estate investment hotspot status will need to move fast. Thankfully, Brookes & Co organise regular inspection trips to the Sunshine State, so no potential investor need miss out on the fantastic opportunity that Florida currently affords.

For more information, contact Brookes & Co on 01621 875 925 or info@brookesandco.co.uk, visitwww.brookesandco.co.uk or meet the team online.

• Pending sales in Florida up 17.6% in 2013 (Florida Realtors)
• Orlando house prices up 24% in one year (Orlando Regional Realtor Association)
• Florida’s GDP set to increase by 3% in 2014 (BMO Economics)

The news for Florida’s housing market just keeps getting better. Not only has data from Florida Realtors confirmed that the state ended 2013 with more closed sales, more pending sales and higher median prices than in 2012, but it has also attracted the largest share of foreign buyers of any state in the US.

Florida’s closed sales of single-family homes were up 11.8% in 2013 over the 2012 figure, with pending sales (where contracts have been signed but not completed) up by an even more impressive 17.6%, according to the latest figures from the Florida Realtors Industry Data and Analysis department. The state-wide median sale price jumped 15.9% for the same period, to $168,000.

Florida’s success is set against an improving picture across the US, with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) recording a national increase in the median sale price for single-family homes in 2013 of 11.5% compared to 2012. The median price reached $197,100 for the year.

The figures show that not only are prices in Florida increasing faster than the US average, making it an attractive location for those looking for capital gains from real estate investment, but that they still have some way to go before they reach the national median figure of $197,100. These two factors have been responsible for a recent surge in foreign investment in Florida’s real estate, which data from the NAR Profile of International Home Buyers has shown accounted for 23% of the US total.

The figure confirms Florida’s position as capturing the largest share of foreign real estate investment in 2013 of any state in the US, with non-resident foreigners accounting for $6.4 billion of investment in the state in 2013. Interestingly, the NAR data has also shown that foreign investors’ desire for ‘above-average properties’ means that they purchase more luxurious (and expensive) homes than the state’s median price.

The high end three and four bedroom villas at The Fountains at ChampionsGate in Orlando are just the type of property that foreign investors are looking for. With gourmet kitchens, outdoor terraces, a resort-style pool and a clubhouse within walking distance, the villas provide the luxurious standards that overseas buyers demand. Surrounded by pine and oak trees, they offer peace and seclusion in which to enjoy Florida’s year-round sunshine, yet Walt Disney World and Florida’s myriad other attractions are just minutes away.

Orlando is one of Florida’s most popular areas when it comes to foreign real estate investment. Philip Button, Managing Director of Brookes & Co, the property investment specialists who are presenting The Fountains to the market in partnership with leading developer Feltrim, explains,

“Orlando has everything – a fantastic climate, world-class theme and water parks and some of the best golf courses in Florida. We’ve seen prices here increase by 24%

during 2013, according to the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, and the picture continues to improve. It’s an extremely exciting time for those looking to invest in Florida’s real estate market.”

Despite the increase, prices in the Orlando area remain well below their median peak of $264,000 in 2007, leaving investors excited about how much further prices may be expected to rise. Their confidence has strong foundations. According to a recent report from BMO Economics, Florida’s GDP is expected to increase by 3% during 2014, the state’s job growth rate was up 2.6% year on year in December 2013 (against a national rate of 1.7%) and housing starts rose by 35% for the year.

By 2020, Florida’s population is expected to increase by some 1.9 million people, according to the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research. The increase will push the state’s population past 21.1 million, making it the third most populous state in the US. The increased population is expected to mean that Florida surpasses the population of New York in the near future.

With so many new residents needing housing, along with Florida’s record-breaking year for tourism in 2013, it’s no wonder that investors across the globe are so excited about the possibilities of the Sunshine State’s dynamic real estate sector.

For more information, contact Brookes & Co on 01621 875 925 or info@brookesandco.co.uk, or visit www.brookesandco.co.uk.