During its heyday, the Wonder House attracted curiosity seekers willing to pay a small admission to view up close a true one-of-a-kind residence considered an architectural marvel. A Bartow treasure, it featured inventive, modern conveniences such as hollow columns that collected rainwater from the roof. The water was piped through walls, feeding plants that were […]
Category Archives: Regional
Retirees Are Fleeing Florida Due to Fears of Climate Change
Florida, with its plentiful beaches, warm weather, and lack of a state-income tax, is the most popular destination for older adults in the U.S. But some who have lived in the Sunshine State for years are moving in the opposite direction.As damaging storms and other effects of climate change have hit Florida particularly hard in […]
The new boomtowns: Why more people are relocating to ‘secondary’ cities
As they began planning their future together, Ashley Brown and her fiance, Aaron Shuman, concluded that they could no longer remain in Los Angeles because it was getting much too expensive. “Our rent in L.A. was $1,500 for a tiny, 650-square-foot apartment with no amenities,” says Brown, 29, a native New Yorker, actress and New […]
Renting vs. buying a home in Tampa. Here’s the lowdown on when you break even.
Buying versus renting a home is a conundrum many of us have faced. Do you want to spend your weekends fixing stuff and sweating about whether the insurance is paid up or would you rather leave that to a landlord? On the flip side, owning means not getting booted when the lease runs out. The […]
They spent $15,000 adding a driveway to their St. Pete House. Now the city says they can’t park on it
One day in January, Dana Cremo was on her front porch hanging a vintage screen door when two city employees walked up.”You can’t park on your driveway,” they said.”Why?” she asked. “Because somebody filed a complaint,” they said.Five days later, an investigator notified Dana and her husband, Larry, that they had violated city codes by […]
Is Owning an Airbnb a Smart Investment?
It’s easy to see the rise in popularity of Airbnb and other online vacation rental sites and think it’s a good idea to buy a property dedicated to short-term housing. But that strategy may not be as simple or lucrative as it seems, experts warn. The old adage “location, location, location” is true even more […]