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Ian Hollander asked:


Ok – so you have decided to buy a piece of “Paradise” but aren’t sure where on the Island to call home?Well – I’ve got three words for you – Location, Location, Location!

Everyone knows the old Real Estate Axiom….

And the beautiful part of buying in Key West is regardless of where you buy – you are in a great spot!

For all intents and Purposes – Key West real estate can be broken down into three *distinct* areas:

1. Old Town

2. New Town

3. Casa Marina

Now you have to remember that the entire island is only 4 miles long and 2 miles wide – so really – there isn’t a big difference geographically between the three…;-)

But – there is a different feel and character to each area – and it is definitely worth exploring each before buying your piece of Key West real estate.

My favorite part of the island is Old Town for many different reasons, both pratical as well as simply personal preference. Lots of my friends prefer the peace and quiet of New Town, or the more water friendly and exclusivity of Casa Marina. And while getting around the island is easy no matter where you live, I just love the feeling of being in the middle of all the action while living in the heart of Old Town.

Key West has much more of an “East-West” layout rather than a “North – South” orientation – with White Street serving as an unofficial dividing line between what is considered Old Town to the West – and New Town to the East.

(The only way in from the Mainland is down U.S. Route 1 – which enters the Island on her Northeast Corner)

“Old Town” as the Historic District is Internationally known – is not only Key West’s major tourist destination – it is also home to many historically registered structures full of charm, grace and an incredible sense of history and purpose. You will find shotgun style homes – classic Bungalows, Mini – Mansions and all kinds of interesting structures bearing the beauty of Old Florida, and more specifically the unique and eclectic style of many of the original settlers here many years ago.

Old Town Key West Homes have zoning and modification restrictions in keeping the character and charm of the neighborhood and the streets – so obviously if looking to buy in Old Town, it would be best to “inquire” before planning any major renovations to your dream house…;-)

Old Town is home to Truman Annex – President Harry Truman’s “Home Away from Home” – Internationally famous Mallory Square known for it’s fantastic and Phenomenal Sunsets and equally as interesting nightly performance artists – it is home to Fort Zachary, Duval Street (the Key West version of Bourbon street in New Orleans) and too many other interesting tourist friendly and local points of interest to mention here!

The architecture in Old Town Key West date from approximately the latter part of the 19th Century to roughly 1910. Homes are distinguished through their predominately wood frame construction and are graced with beautiful porches and balconies and often are painted in ecclectic, pastel colors – highlighting the unique and unusual style of the neighborhood.

Old Town Key West is a wonderfully interesting and captivating place to call home – probably one of the most visually engaging and lively places to live anywhere in the entire United States..:-) You are living in “Paradise” – yet – still in an urban and active community of neighbors, business owners, wonderful restaurants, fantastic nightlife and the amazing scenery that only those who have been here can attest to experiencing on a daily basis.

The downside to all of this magnificence is -It is Expensive!

Generally speaking – Buying in Old Town is the most expensive area to purchase in Key West.

All of “Paradise” is pricey – but Old Town tends to be – as you would expect – the most expensive piece to purchase!

Homes generally begin in the high six figures – with many, if not most of the prime properties running over a Million Dollars – some even much more.

Good bargains can be found though – you have to look, but if you keep your eyes peeled you can always find special properties selling for far under market value. And remember – for those who really have a taste for the real “rich” rewards life has to offer will tell you – if you aren’t living in Key West,You ain’t living at all!



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Davinos Greeno asked:


China has 1.3 billion people living within its borders and an economy growing at over 10% per year. For energy consumption to keep pace with economic growth China will have to harness every fuel source available including renewable energy and nuclear power. There is not enough gas and oil in the world to satisfy China, not with it’s neighbour India with 1 billion people also having a huge demand for the same resources. An increase in the rise in personal car ownership alone could mean an extra billion cars on the road worldwide within the next 10 years. The majority of these will be in China and India.

While the West is considered developed and is growing slowly, the Chinese economy is still growing fast and is expanding the range of products and services that it offers to the West. Some of these products that are manufactured such as plastics and chemicals will require even more oil. As the Chinese economy expands then so will the demand. As people move from urban to rural areas, the use and availability of electricity and gas in the home will also increase causing further strain on its reserves.

This growing economy needs the energy to drive this growth, there is only a limited amount of fossil fuels in the world and the oil and gas will not last for ever. This is leading to increasing competing demands for a countires resources, be that in Latin America or Africa. It also means that everybody buys oil from countries that have appaliing human rights issues. If America stops buying oil from Sudan because it is persecuting its citizens….China steps in to buy the oil and vice versa in countless countries around the world. Until recently, Chinese companies seemed most comfortable operating in locations not dominated by the major oil companies often owned by UK or USA companies. This means that countries like Angola and Iran have partnerships and joint ventures with the Chinese.

For example, over half of Chinese overseas oil production currently comes from Sudan. In 2005 the Chinese wanted to buy a USA oil company but congress blocked this on the basis that national energy security was at stake. There is a little irony in that USA companies expect to buy energy companies all over the word, but if a key competitor wants to buy one of theirs and is even offering a higher price then the deal is blocked.

Nobody can argue that China now plays a key role in the supply and demand of many global commodity markets including steel, cement, and oil. This need for resources combined with the bags of cash from its economic growth means that China can afford to buy any oil field and rights anywhere in the world. A position that only the USA held in the past.

Some argue that the allied forces only went to war in Iraq to get their hands on the oil, time will tell if this true as oil production is currently lower than when Saddam was in power due to sabotage and security problems. Will the next war have oil as its stated aim and not Weapons of Mass Destruction?



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Kamyar Shah asked:


The Florida Keys is an archipelago in the southeast United States with about 1700 islands beginning at the tip of the Florida peninsula and extending to the south southwest and then to Key West. The islands divide the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Mexico and define one edge of Florida Bay. The southern tip of Key West is just 98 miles from Cuba and the climate is defined as tropical.

The area is divided into 4 major areas, the Upper Keys, the Middle Keys, the Lower Keys and the Outlaying islands. Big Coppitt is a census designated place and an unincorporated community on an island of the same name in the Lower Keys. The name is said to de derived from “coppice” meaning thicket. Us route 1 (or the Overseas Highway) crosses the key between East Rockland and Saddlebunch Keys. In the 2000 census there were 1,108 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.5% were non families in the Lower Keys regions. All areas are considered to be suburbs of Key West.

The Keys are the exposed portions of an ancient coral reef and there is very little sand. The northernmost island arising form the formation is Elliott Key. The Keys have taken their present form as the result of drastic changes in sea level during the ice age some 130,000 years ago. There were several lines of reefs and the reef formed Key Largo limestone that is on the surface between Key Biscayne and Elliott Keys.

Starting about 100.000 years ago the glaciers began lowering sea levels an exposed the coral reef and surrounding marine sediments. By 15,000 years ago the sea level had dropped to 300 to 350 feet and the exposed reefs and sediments were heavily eroded. The acidic water dissolved some of the limestone and it was redeposited as a denser cap rock. This formed the foundation for the lower Keys.

The main chain of islands can be reached by automobile on the Overseas Highway which is a 127 mile section of US Highway 1. It runs from Key West to Maine. ??The highway was built parallel to the original route of the Overseas Railway which was not rebuilt following the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. Before the hurricane road sections and highway bridges allowed automobile traffic to travel from Miami to Lower Matecumbe Key where a car ferry connected with another roadway section through the Lower Keys. After the hurricane some of the railway bridges were converted to carry highway roadbeds. In the 1980′s new highway bridges were built alongside but many of the original railroad and highway bridges remain and are used as pedestrian fishing piers.

The overseas Railroad was opened in 1910. Until that time the Keys were accessible only by water. When the Labor Day hurricane made landfall near Islamorada in the Upper Keys on Labor Day Sept 2, 1935 a reported 600 people were killed. The new bridges under construction to connect a highway though the entire Keys were turned into death camps for the World War I veterans working at the construction camp. The evacuation train failed and more than 200 veterans perished. The Overseas Railway was damaged so badly that the tracks were never rebuilt.

The Lower Keys and Big Coppitt were connected to the Middle Keys by the Seven Mile Bridge, one of the longest bridges constructed in the area. After the destruction of the Keys railway by the Labor Day Hurricane the railroad, bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge were converted to automobile roadway.

With the takeover of Cuba by Fidel Castro many refugees fled to South Florida. Key West had traditionally had strong likes with Cuba and large number Cubans settled there. The Lower Keys also attract Cubans fleeing repression and poverty in cub and stories of the “boat people’ coming ashore in the Lower Keys in not uncommon.

The climate in the Keys is closer to that of the Caribbean than the rest of Florida. The Upper Keys islands are remnants of large coral reefs but the Lower Keys are composed of sandy type accumulations of limestone grains produced by plants and marine organisms.

The natural habitats of the Keys are upland forests, inland wetlands and shoreline zones. Soil ranges from sand to rich decomposed leaf litter. Rain falling through leaf debris becomes acidic and dissolves holes in the cap rock where soil accumulates and tree roots find purchase. The Keys has distinctive plant and animal species some are found nowhere else in American. The climate also allows many imported plant to thrive. Some exotic species which arrived as landscape plants now invade and threaten natural area.

The well known a very sour Key Limes was apparently introduced from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The tree grows vigorously and has thorns and produces small yellow fruit.

The Lower Keys around Big Coppitt and Big Pine are home to unique animal species including the Key deer. They are protected by the national Key Deer Refuge, and the American crocodile. Dry Tortugas national park is one of the most isolated and therefore well preserved in the world. When the Spanish explorers arrived there was no fresh water to be found and the small humpbacked shaped islands looked like tortoise shell from a distance

Tropical cyclones present special dangers and challenges to the entire Keys. Because no area of the islands is more than 20 feet above sea level and water surrounds them nearly every neighborhood is subject to devastating flooding as well and hurricane winds.

Because of the treat from storm surge evacuations are routinely ordered. Evacuations depend on causeways and the two lane highway to the mainland. It is estimated that is takes 12 to 24 hours to evacuate the entire population of all of the islands

Life in the Keys is laid back and the hurricane bravado is a part of that atmosphere… The major industries are tourism and fishing. Ecotourism is also part of this with many visitors scuba diving in the area’s protected waters. Anew ferry now takes riders between Key West and Fort Myers due north on the mainland.

The Big Coppitt Key and No Name Keya areas are home to the Key Deer. This endangered species lives only in the Lower Florida Keys and is a subspecies of the White tiled Deer.

This deer can be recognized by the characteristic smaller size. Adult makes usually weigh for 55 to 75 pounds. The adult females or does usually weigh between 45 to 65 pounds, in contrast to the up to 300 pound Deer of the upper Midwest. The deer is a reddish brown to grey brown and the males grow antlers and shed between February and March. The antlers regrow in June. Key Deer can easily swim between islands. Living in close proximity to humans the Key Deer has little of the natural fear of man shown by most of their mainland cousins. The deer are found in resident’s yards and along roadsides where they much tasty pants and flowers. There are many car deer collisions and the deer are more active at night. It is not unusual to see them a dusk and dawn, on lightly inhabited No Name Key, Big Pine Key and big Coppitt. Some are so tame that they will accept food directly from humans but feeding the deer is prohibited by law.

Mating may occur at any time of the year but usually peaks during September to November. Key deer have a relatively low reproductive rate.

The range of the key Deer originally encompassed all of the lower Florida Keys where standing water pool exist but is now limited to a stretch of the Lower Keys keys. The Deer only reside permanently reside in island s Of big Pine, Cudjoe, West Summerland, big Torch, Howe, Little Pine, Little torch, Middle Torch, No Name and sugarloaf. They also can be found on the other islands but are only there in the dry season where there is a lack of fresh water. The Deer use all islands during the wet season when drinking water is more generally available. Key Deer inhabit nearly all habitats within their range, including pine rock lands, hardwood hammocks, mangroves and freshwater wetland’s They feed on over 150 types of plants but mangroves and thatch palm berries make up the most important part of their diet.

Key Deer were hunted as a food supply by native tribes, passing sailors, and early settlers. The hunting of Key Deer was banned in 1939 but widespread poaching and habitat destruction caused the subspecies to plummet to near extinction by the 1950′s. The National Key Deer Refuge, a federally administered national Wildlife Refuge operated by the Wildlife Service was established in 1957.



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N Spin asked:


Stretching off the southern coast of Florida, the 120-mile long chain of islands known as the Florida Keys make the perfect vacation getaway. Home to North America’s largest living coral reef, the crystal clear waters make it the premier location for snorkeling, diving, game fishing and eco-tourism. If you’re seeking solitude, relaxation, entertainment, nature and adventure, let the Florida Keys provide the ultimate retreat.

As the northernmost island, Key Largo makes the obvious starting ground when discovering the island chain. Known as the diving capital of the world, Key Largo is home to one of North America’s largest living coral reefs, making it an underwater paradise for diving, snorkeling and photography. The famous shipwreck of Siegel Grove offers an excellent diving opportunity and is now part of the reef ecosystem. With close location to the Everglades, kayakers can enjoy discovering the wetlands and wilderness area that is home to several species of birds.

As the sport fishing capital of the world, visitors to Islamorada can indulge themselves in the finest game fishing around. The areas knowledgeable charter boat captains and backcountry guides are sure to take you on an exciting excursion discovering nature’s beauty and the multitude of sailfish, bonefish, redfish, tarpon and more. Also home to various state parks, enjoy hiking the trails of Windley Key Quarry Fossil Reef State Geologic Site or Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Site. For a good change of pace, culturally rich Islamorada provides great shopping opportunities as the home to several community artists and galleries.

Marathon marks the midpoint and the most modernized island having an airport, hospital and numerous restaurants. Like all the other islands, the tropical paradise of Marathon presents paramount fishing, diving and water sports to its visitors. Unwind while relaxing on the sandy beaches of Sombrero Beach or the palm tree lined Bahia Honda State Park. While perfecting your tan, enjoy swimming in the clear sparkling waters and strolling along the endless shores. Vacationers are sure to enjoy discovering the history and beauty of “the heart of the keys.”

If searching for the ultimate in relaxation and beauty, the Lower Keys and Big Pine make an excellent vacation choice. Leave the hectic world behind and enjoy the quiet region filled with quaint restaurants, undisturbed wilderness and history. Hike or bicycle through the trails of the National Key Deer Refuge, taking unbelievable photographs of the deer and abundance of nature. Explore the clear waters of Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, snorkeling and diving to come across over 150 species of marine wildlife.

Key West is a lively city that lets everyone kick back and have a thrilling time while engaging in a variety of activities. Whether it is enjoying the street artists, jugglers, musicians at Mallory Dock, taking part in the revelry of the open-air bars, enjoying cool beverages on Duval Street or enjoying the finest cuisine at world-class restaurants, you are sure to feel embraced by the diverse and electric community. Home to Ernest Hemingway, discover the rich history and architectural gems of Old Town Key West.

When venturing to the Florida Keys, why not consider making your getaway complete by staying in a vacation rental. Big Pine Keys and Key West offer several inviting Florida Key vacation home rentals. Providing close proximity to major attractions and entertainment, vacation rentals allow for the perfect escape of privacy, relaxation and space. Be amazed by the luxuries and conveniences of a fully furnished home or condo, allowing your vacation to be a memorable experience.

A Florida Keys Vacation Rental is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to escape bland hotels and stay in a relaxing environment close to their family and friends. With all the amenities of home at your fingertips, you can have a memorable vacation both inside and outside of your vacation rental accommodations.



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Andy West asked:


If one were to ask five different couples to list the keys to a happy relationship, there would likely be an amazing variety of different answers. Even if a couple shares the same values, how those values are listed can vary depending on perception, gender, experience and many other factors. In the long run, individuals mostly tend to gravitate towards those whose values closely mirror their own.

It is only natural that ideas for maintaining a happy union would be different from one person to another. While some would feel that spending time together is the most important key to a contented relationship, others may believe that spending time apart is just as vital. It is a good idea for each person in a couple to know what their partner considers essential in a happy and successful relationship.

Without this understanding, miscommunications on the importance of these elements will likely lead to disagreements. One aspect that consistently triggers arguments for many is the issue of intimacy. In fact, it is hard not to notice the entire line of books dedicated to this common issue.

When there is a sizeable disagreement over the importance of one value over another, many end up learning one of the biggest keys is actually compromise. Many couples know, consciously or subconsciously, that it is highly unlikely they will agree with each other every single time. It is during this time that couples must learn to compromise and agree to disagree to maintain happiness.

The anxiety filled days of making sure everyone in a relationship agrees on everything are long gone. Just because a couple may have differences over what they consider important, it does not have to mean a battle of wills or the end of a union. Many have come to find identifying what a person considers important is a good way to get an overall picture of who they are.

Research studies have come up with a number of key elements as well. These studies often use a variety of test subjects of every age and in every stage of a relationship. Many times, the conclusions of these studies show that being happy depends on anything from holding hands to daily conversation to instilling a strong foundation of trust.

In truth, all of these things can be essential to maintaining a strong connection. Of the most commonly listed values, trust, good communication, the ability to compromise and intimacy often rise to the top. Even if they are not listed as such, the aspects that people do consider important are often linked to these basic concepts.

Most people get their values of commitment from watching their own parents. Interestingly, it has been shown that elements that were considerably absent in a parent’s relationship can become of great value for an individual in theirs. Likewise, a value that was considered very necessary may not make the list at all.

Those who are not quite sure what keys they consider valuable can work to define what they deem valuable by making a list of what comes to mind and then prioritizing them. Since what a person considers important can change over time, it important to carry out this exercise periodically. Doing so will help keep the union on the up and up and in good standing.

While there are many resources that name five, ten or even fifteen essential keys to a happy relationship, these aspects are actually defined by the individual in the long run. Many times these values are based on a foundation of trust, communication and the ability to give and take.



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