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DON’T BELIEVE THESE 9 FOOD MYTHS

1. Fast food isn’t good for you. Nutritionists believe variety and moderation are the keys to healthful eating. If you feel like a cheeseburger, have one, just not every day.
2. Fat free is better for losing weight. To lose weight, you need to watch calories, not fat. Eat fewer calories than you burn, and you’ll lose. So look at the calories, not the fat in foods.
3. To build muscle, eat lots of protein. Two independent sports medicine journals did studies with a variety of people, including bodybuilders. They found it’s important that athletes get adequate protein, but consuming additional amounts did not appear to promote muscle growth.
4. Fresh fruit is better than dried. Fresh fruit contains more Vitamin C, but other than that, dried fruit has just as many nutrients and sugar for energy as fresh fruit.
5. Six small meals are better than three large ones. If the three large meals have as many calories as the six small ones, there’s no difference. And with six meals, you have to be very good at controlling portion sizes–and put twice as much time aside for eating!
6. Salads are the “healthy” fast food option. Many fast food salads are high in calories and salt. One chain sells a hamburger with 540 calories and 1,040 mg of salt and a salad with 530 calories and 1260 mg of salt. The hamburger may be the better option in that case.
7. It takes more calories to eat a stick of celery than the celery contains. One celery stick contains about 6 calories. A female that is age 35, 65″ tall and 150 pounds, burns 30 calories per hour eating. If it takes her 3 minutes to eat a celery stick, she’ll burn just 1.5 calories in the process.
8. Craving is your body saying it needs something.Scientists found that it’s the taste of a food, not its ingredients that satisfy a craving. That suggests cravings are simply emotional.
9. Decaf has no caffeine. International standards say decaf only needs to be 97% caffeine free. The European Union requires 99.9%, but that’s still not completely caffeine free.

Warmer Weather Only One Reason People Move to Florida – But It’s a Good One!

Florida recently surpassed New York as the third most populous state. Those of us in Florida know exactly what’s great about the Sunshine State. For anyone thinking of moving here, especially the beautiful Emerald Coast, let’s look at the facts.

Average Florida Temperatures

Florida has nearly every type of weather imaginable from cooler winters here in Northwest Florida to subtropical temperatures in south Florida and the Keys. If you’re tired of snow drifts, salted roads, and freezing temperatures, the average temperatures in the winter will warm you right up.

November – 66 degrees
December – 60 degrees
January – 58 degrees
February – 60 degrees
March – 65 degrees

That sounds infinitely better than anything in the teens or single digits, doesn’t it?

Average Destin Temperatures

The Emerald Coast is unlike any place in Florida. Sugar sand beaches, emerald green waters, plus a small town feel automatically make it a great place to live. For those who need a bit more convincing, check out our high and low average temperatures each winter.

November – 69, high; 48, low
December – 63, high; 44, low
January – 61, high; 42, low
February – 63, high; 44, low
March – 68, high; 50, low

Our coldest months are often December through January, but a 70 degree day in the middle of winter isn’t uncommon, either.

The best part about the Emerald Coast is that you can enjoy the beach life most of the year. Even when it’s chilly outside, you’ll find people walking up and down the water, taking in the gorgeous view. Regardless of the temperature outside, the sunsets along the coast can’t be missed.

Whether people are flocking to Florida to escape the cold (and who could blame you?) or other reasons, no one can deny the Sunshine State is a place many want to call home.

Night Owl or Nightmare Victim?

While you may relish the extra time you gain by staying up late, you may pay a steep price when your head finally hits the pillow. According to sleep experts, night owls are more likely than their early-bird counterparts to experience nightmares. While researchers are unsure of the reason why, confused cortisol levels could be the culprit. Your cortisol levels rise at a certain time every morning, and if you’re still asleep at that time, vivid dreams can occur.

Another interesting fact about dreams is that some people can control them to create out of body experiences. All jokes aside, these people are often avid video game players.

“If you’re spending hours a day in a virtual reality, if nothing else it’s practice,” said Jayne Gackenbach, a psychologist at Grant MacEwan University in Canada.”Gamers are used to controlling their game environments, so that can translate into dreams.”

The level of control can even turn a horrible nightmare into a care-free dream. Studies have suggested this type of control can help war veterans get over post traumatic stress disorders.

Real Estate Predictions for 2015

Image via Flickr courtesy of Gabe Austin

Welcome to 2015! It’s new year filled with new possibilities and beginnings. If you’ve thought about buying or selling a home this year, the real estate predictions for the year ahead are something to keep in mind.

Take a look at these predictions to help you in the decision-making process for your real estate needs in the year ahead.

Real estate sales will reach 2007 levels. According to a recent report released by Freddie Mac, the number of home sales across the country will reach 2007 levels, around 5.6 million homes sold. This is a four percent increase from 2014. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) predicts 5.92 million, while the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) predicts 5.66 million. Either way, the thought is that more buyers will purchase in 2015.

Technology will influence home buying decisions. Zillow had their own predictions about the future of real estate in 2015. As real estate agents learn how to harness all the data available, we may be able to share much more detailed information about homes for sale such as Wi-Fi connectivity and signal strength. Manufacturers of home products are also getting on board with consumer’s tech needs and integrating technology between products, phones, and owners so you’ll have even more control at your fingertips.

Mortgage rates will rise. Realtor.com shared predictions for 2015. Number one on the list – rising mortgage rates. Rising rates are an indication of a healthier economy that can bear the increase. That sounds wonderful, however, it can hurt affordability for some buyers. Anyone thinking of buying should watch the rates closely, as well as home prices. Shop around for the best rates as each mortgage lender offers different products and different rates, and make sure to get pre-approved so you have real numbers to compare between lenders.

Regardless of what predictions the industry experts make, there’s one thing that’s true for any real estate market. All real estate is local. If you want to know what’s happening along the Emerald Coast, talk to a local agent.

November Single Family Home Sales Remain Strong

Image via Flickr courtesy of Martin Cathrae

November was an excellent month for single family home sales along the Emerald Coast and in Okaloosa County. Townhouse and condo sales in both areas floundered slightly, but Walton County townhouse and condo sales fared much better. A new report shows that winter may be the best time for real estate – the data from November may help make that case.

Single Family Home Sales

Emerald Coast

Closed sales increased 10.1%
Pending sales rose 32%
Median prices decreased 2.1%
Inventory increased 14.1%
Months supply increased 2.9% to 7.7 months of inventory (down from the previous month)

Okaloosa County

Closed sales increased 22%
Pending sales increased 20.5%
Median prices decreased 3.7%
Inventory increased 14.5%
Months supply increased 3.4% to 6.3 months of inventory (down from the previous month)

Walton County

Closed sales
Pending sales
Median prices
Inventory
Months supply

Townhouse and Condo Sales

Emerald Coast

Closed sales decreased 17%
Pending sales decreased 8.8%
Median prices increased 20%
Inventory dropped 14.6%
Months supply increased 7.8% to 10 months of inventory (down from the previous month)

Okaloosa County

Closed sales dropped 31.6%
Pending sales decreased 9.9%
Median prices rose 64% to $237,750
Inventory decreased 19.7%
Months supply increased 9.5% to 10.7 months of inventory (down from the previous month)

Walton County

Closed sales increased 13.1%
Pending sales increased 36.7%
Median prices rose 4.6%
Inventory decreased 4.6%
Months supply decreased 0.5% to 9.6 months of inventory (down from the previous month)

A few things to remember..

The months’ supply of inventory looks like it’s increasing, when compared to the previous year, but over the last several months, the levels have remained steady. And, in this case, have decreased slightly from October. A healthy inventory level for any real estate market is around 6 months supply of inventory. Anything over 8 is considered a high level of inventory and could begin to bring down prices as buyers are given more options and competition increases among sellers.

Townhouse and condo sales often decline directly after the summer months as so many condos are purchased as vacation homes. Single family home sales remain strong. Median prices are strong in some areas and holding steady in others.

Pending sales are only an indication of the month ahead. In months with an increase in pending sales, you can expect sales to increase for the following month. A decline in pending sales may be an indication of lower sales the next month. It is not an automatic as sales often take more than 30 days to close.

All sales data is from the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors® (ECAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and is compiled by Florida Realtors®, the state association for Florida. The Emerald Coast statistics cover both Okaloosa and Walton counties as well as surrounding areas based on the listings entered into the MLS by ECAR MLS participants.

How Much Would You Pay for the White House?

Ever wonder what the listing price would actually be for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? Well, it would be around $110 million.

So what do you get for that asking price? At 55,000 square feet, you get 132 rooms, 35 baths, and 6 levels. That’s not all though. Some of the amenities include a basketball court, a tennis court, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a swimming pool, and a jogging track.

In total there are 415 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators throughout the house.

If the White House were ever to actually be for sale, it would definitely sell for a lot more than $110 million though considering the historical value. What would you be willing to pay for the White House?