Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics and tips involving the travel industry and vacation deals, often discussing specific subjects such as travel websites and working with a travel agent.
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Winter Vacations: 10 Most Popular Destinations
Posted by james in Real Estate on January 20th, 2010
With the holidays in full swing, many families find themselves with a little bit of extra vacation time during the winter. While some may spend that time planning large family gatherings or trying to relax after the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, a number of families use this time as a way to enjoy a vacation away from home before the kids have to be back in school and everyone has to go back to work. If you are thinking of a winter getaway, here are 10 of the most popular vacation destinations during the winter months.
Mont tremblant, quebec
Located in the Laurentian Mountains, Mont Tremblant is a popular venue for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. With over 600 acres of useable snow, Mont Tremblant is renowned as one of the best destinations for wintertime fun. Skiers from all over the world travel to Quebec in order to take advantage of Tremblant’s pristine slopes.
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Home to Hershey’s candy, this Pennsylvania town can be a wonderful place to visit if you are travelling just before Christmas. Each year, Hershey Park is completely transformed into a Christmas candy land that absolutely must be seen in order to be believed. This can be an especially rewarding trip if travelling with children, as it can give them amazing stories to tell when they get back to school.
Sundance Ski Resort
Sundance, Utah, is home not only to the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival but also to a ski resort beyond compare. In addition to being able to enjoy well-manicured slopes for skiing and snowboarding, the resort is located within an hour of three major Utah cities so that you can enjoy some shopping and fine dining after a fun time in the snow.
Yellowstone National Park
Mostly known as a summertime destination, Yellowstone features a number of winter programs as well as those, which encourage visitors to learn more about the natural world around them. While not everyone thinks that a learning vacation sounds like fun, few sights can compare to being able to see and learn about Yellowstone in wintertime.
New England
A number of destinations in the New England area are transformed into a portrait of years gone by when winter comes. The New England that was captured in the beloved paintings of Norman Rockwell comes to life as the historical towns and cities put on their best winter decorations, while the Sugarloaf ski resort opens for business to accommodate those interested in winter sports.
Lake Tahoe
A popular winter destination for years, Lake Tahoe provides visitors with access to ski resorts as well as the nearby excitement of Carson City, Nevada. Those looking for a beautiful vacation destination should not be disappointed by the amazing view of the Rocky Mountains that can be seen from the slopes of Lake Tahoe.
Caribbean
For a completely different type of vacation, consider taking a cruise of the Caribbean. Not only can this help you to get away from the cold weather, but it can also give you a taste of what the holidays are like for those who do not live in an area that traditionally receives a lot of snow. Once you experience a Caribbean Christmas, you may never be able to look at a traditional Christmas the same way again.
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen is one of the most famous ski destinations in the world and a winter spent in Aspen is a winter that can always be remembered. In addition to having some of the most beautiful ski slopes that can be found anywhere, the town surrounding the ski areas has a rich culture and history that simply is not to be missed. From a day on the slopes to a night enjoying the amazing artistic community that exists in and around Aspen, you should never regret your choice to spend a vacation in Aspen.
Rockefeller Center, New York
Nothing says Christmas quite like the image of Rockefeller Center decked out in all of its holiday glory. Used as an icon of the holidays in films, stories, and photographs, a winter vacation to New York simply is not complete without taking the time to visit Rockefeller Center and see exactly how much effort is put in to transforming it into a symbol of peace and Christmas joy.
Orlando, Florida
If you just want to get away from the cold of the holidays but are not interested in travelling too far from home, Orlando can be the perfect winter destination. With a multitude of theme parks (and the holiday programs offered by each), there is plenty for the whole family to do. You can also set aside some time to simply enjoy the Florida weather, ignoring the fact that it is much colder at home.
Los Angeles Real Estate Update – Most Expensive Mega Mansion
Posted by james in Real Estate on December 31st, 2009
Los Angeles real estate Agent to the Stars, Russ Filice, discusses some of the most expensive mega mansions in Los Angeles.
Most Comprehensive Real Estate Program Available In America
Posted by james in Real Estate on November 25th, 2009
real estate is a business and a profession. It is not a bag of tricks nor smoke and mirrors. This video is Part 2 of Dr.Phil Speer’s TV Show – see the entire 28 min. program under www.youtube.com’…
Home Finder Gps, The Most Powerful Real Estate Search Tool Available. Best Viewed In Hd
Posted by james in Real Estate on November 9th, 2009
Powerful real estate search tool using the Garmin GPS system. Allows agents and buyers to see every listing available while driving. HomeFinder GPS software can convert and load more than 30,000 re…
Most Expensive Real Estate Rental Markets In The U.S.
Posted by james in Real Estate on October 1st, 2009
According to “Out of Reach”, the annual report of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), prices of many rental markets have increased sharply over the past few years making affordable housing difficult for low and medium wage workers.
The report reveals a marked disparity between people’s earning and rental housing costs. This difference is sizeable and has increased every year. In fact, the cost of rental housing has gone up by 28% in the past 7 years, much beyond the wages earned by the people who need affordable housing the most.
NLIHC calculated the hourly wage needed to afford the rent and utilities of a market rate rental home in each state. Affordable housing was defined as the cost of a two-bedroom rental home without having to spend more than 30% of one’s gross income on housing costs. The report terms this rate of affordability as the ‘national housing wage’, which has increased to $16.31 from last year’s $15.78.
Housing prices in many rental markets far exceed the wages of the renters, making them the least affordable rental markets. Based on the Out of Reach 2006 report, Hawaii stands at the top of the ten most pricy rental markets for a two-bedroom rental home. Listed below are top 10 most expensive states for rental housing:
1. Hawaii – hourly wage of $23.53 needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
2. California – hourly wage of $22.86 needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
3. Massachusetts – hourly wage of $22.65 needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
4. New Jersey – hourly wage of $21.21 needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
5. New York – hourly wage of $20.70 needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
6. Connecticut – hourly wage of $20.42 needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
7. Maryland – hourly wage of $20.07 needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
8. Rhode Island – hourly wage of $19.36 needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
9. New Hampshire – hourly wage of $18.10 needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
10. Alaska – hourly wage of $17.90 needed to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
The report concluded that a minimum-wage earner making $10,712 a year cannot afford even a one-bedroom home anywhere in the country. The reality is that a wage earner needs to make $28,475 per year to afford a two-bedroom rental home. Families with two minimum-wage earners need to make at least $33,925 to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
How Do Most Real Estate Developers Finance There First Building?
Posted by james in Real Estate on September 14th, 2009
There are many real estate development companies that skipped that growing phase and just went straight for the big things (Especially in South Florida). How did they finance it and succeeded?
What Confuses Consumers Most About The Current Real Estate Market? What Scares You Most?
Posted by james in Real Estate on September 6th, 2009
Are you fearful of buying/selling? What information do you need to make real estate decisions? What are your biggest questions about today’s market?
How Do Most People Get Rich In Real Estate?
Posted by james in Real Estate on August 21st, 2009
Who are some well known people who have became wealthy as real estate agents or real estate owners and how did they do it. Also does anyone know any good real estate books or videos that teach you what you need to know to become wealthy in real estate.
What Is The Most Efficient Way To Become A Real Estate Developer?
Posted by james in Real Estate on August 20th, 2009
I am a recent graduate of a top ten law school. I withdrew myself from being considered at BIGLAW firm, and have been trying to get into real estate development. I am studying for the bar now, but was wondering if an MS in Real Estate Development would be worth the money. I will have close to 500k to start investing; however, this is all of the money that I have, so I don’t want to blow it.
2006: Most Active Real Estate Foreclosure Markets
Posted by james in Real Estate on August 1st, 2009
The foreclosure market is an attractive option for buyers wanting to invest in real estate. A foreclosed property is a mortgaged property that has been taken over by the lender due to non-payment of the mortgage. The lender then sells the property in order to recover the money, often at below market prices. Foreclosed homes, condos and other properties can for make excellent investments and is a popular choice for those entering the real estate market.
The October 2006 issue of Business 2.0 Magazine ranks the top 10 foreclosure markets in the United States. Greeley in Colorado tops the list followed by Detroit in Michigan, Miami in Florida, Indianapolis in Indiana, Ft. Lauderdale in Florida, Denver in Colorado, Dayton in Ohio, Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas, and Atlanta in Georgia.
Greeley, CO, has the largest number of foreclosure households in the country, with 0.59% of homes falling in the category, an increase by 14.7% since January 2006. The report holds aggressive residential development, risky underwriting practices and stagnant wages as the main causes.
Detroit, MI, stands next with 0.51% of the households in foreclosure. The badly performing auto industry and the resulting impact to autoworkers’ incomes has contributed to number of homes in foreclosure in this city.
Third on the list is Miami, FL, where 0.37% of the households are in foreclosure, a staggering 91% increase since January 2006. The report states a weakening economy, higher property insurance premiums, and rising energy and interest rates, as the reasons for this rapid increase.
The fourth among the top ten foreclosure markets is Indianapolis, IN. Although the foreclosure rates are slightly lower from last year, still the portion of households in foreclosure stands at 0.35%. Setbacks and layoffs in the city’s auto industry together with falling home prices have contributed to foreclosure rates in this city.
Fort Lauderdale, FL, stands fifth with 0.34% of households entering foreclosure, which is up by a whopping 118.5% since January 2006.
Denver (with 0.33% of households in foreclosure), Dayton (with 0.33% of households in foreclosure), Dallas (with 0.31% of households in foreclosures), Fort Worth (with 0.31% of households in foreclosure) and Atlanta (with 0.31% of households in foreclosures) round out the top 10 foreclosure markets.
If you are looking to invest in the foreclosure market, consult a real estate agent who can help you clinch the best deal on the foreclosure property of your choice.
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