Presenting

S Spring is always a favored season. But this year after the arctic winter that blanketed much of North America, many northerners many be dancing in the streets when the warmer weather and colors of Spring finally arrive. According to current Florida real estate sales indicators, many of them, weary of shoveling snow, are looking for warmer shores. Freddie Mac's recently released Multi-Indicator Market Index (MiMi), a new tool that monitors and measures the stability of the nation's housing market, Florida showed the most improvement of any state with a year-to-year rise of 2.12 points. Market reports for the Naples/Estero/Bonita Springs real estate market show a tremendous increase in average sales price of 24.5% over last year and the highest number of closings on record for the first two months of the year, even exceeding the previous high of 2005.* For those looking for a warm retreat or a permanent relocation, we have some wonderful communities and properties to share with you. Anyone hoping to recapture some Old Florida charm, will surely love Anna Maria Island showcased in this issue. If a premier golf community is more to your liking, you will want to visit The Concession, an extraordinary combination of beauty and privacy. Further south between Bonita Spring and Naples, the golf lovers will also feel right at home at Pelican Marsh. And, if you are in the market for a oceanfront oasis, the beauty on our cover is the ideal setting on Bonita Beach. Florida is world renowned as a retirement haven and vacation destination, but many people are unaware of the strikingly diverse community of individuals who call Florida home. The warm climate, laid-back attitude and year-around active lifestyle draw people from all corners of the globe to plant roots in the sunshine state. In this issue, I am introducing a new feature, Fascinating Floridians, to share with you some of the impressive people who are hard at work making Florida not only one of the most coveted destinations but a hot spot for innovation and business in the 21st century. And finally, for your entertainment we have selected some of the best concerts, plays and festivals coming to the region. We hope the slice of paradise showcased within these pages will refresh and inspire you this Spring. Warm wishes, 10 | FLORIDA HOMES MAGAZINE Jules Lewis Gibson Publisher & Editor WELCOME from the Publisher FLORIDAHOMESOnline Follow the latest news in Florida and find all of the articles and events featured in our print magazines on our website FloridaHomesMag.com Translation available in 52 languages! Also enjoy reading our digital magazines enhanced with videos embedded directly into the pages- FREE from our website. FloridaHomesMag.com *Data provided by John R Wood Properties

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