"Irresistible value" finally sold a Canadian ForEx specialist on Vero Beach. (Photo by greenphoto70)

An article today out of Canada highlights the enduring appeal of living in32963 for foreign buyers, the value of due diligence and the appeal of the Treasure Coast vis-à-vis other corners of the Sunshine State. David Newman, the owner of a Toronto-based finance and foreign exchange company, had been planning a Florida home purchase after a friend bought “a place” in Fort Myers for $40,000. Inspired by the thought of buying a Florida residence with his credit card, Newman began searching for homes and soon shifted his focus away from the Gulf Coast of Southwest Florida and over to the Atlantic and homes in32963. “After searching for several months,” the Toronto Star reports, “he bought a 2,700-square-foot detached house with three bedrooms in a gated community in Vero Beach for $224,000.  ’The value was irresistible,’ he says, referring to the three tennis courts, pool, clubhouse and location backing onto a lake. Most important, however, was the property’s history. Built in 2007 in a housing boom, it sold initially for $563,000.” So while we read tales of buyer’s remorse coming out of many Florida markets like Fort Myers (“The Loneliest Condo Dweller in Florida”), it’s always good to hear about well-informed, satisfied buyers—who initially had not considered our corner of Florida—but ultimately decided on the quality of life and “irresistible value” in32963.  (Article: FX Specialist Sweetens Florida Deal)

Sailboats, powerboats and yachts fill the slips of the Vero Beach Marina (Photo: Robert Scully)

As the economy goes, so goes the boat business. The recent economic downturn meant declining boat sales, more marina slip vacancies and—in some extreme cases—even boat repossessions.  So, in what can only be interpreted as a positive sign involving one of the most discretionary of luxury purchases, the local boat market is enjoying a resurgence. TCPalm’s headline sums up the good news: More private boats seem to be heading to Treasure Coast waterways than in years past. Scripps reporter Tom Ivice travels to several local marinas and encounters optimistic dockmasters including Vero Beach Municipal Marina’s Director Tim Grabenbauer. “The boaters who are coming in are telling me that they saw more boats on the waterway than they have in the last three years,” says Grabenbauer, “To me that’s a good sign.” And while other Treasure Coast marinas struggled in recent years, Grabenbauer’s parting shot proves the resiliency in32963: “We’ve pretty much stayed near capacity in the 13 years I’ve been working here. We saw a little bit of a decrease in power boating the past couple of years, probably because of fuel costs, but the power boaters are coming back now.” More encouraging local boating news comes this week courtesy of Soundings which is reporting on “stability” and positive retail activity in Florida.