Real Estate on the Gulf Coast of Florida by any measurement is a great investment in 2008. The equity markets are on edge. The price of similar luxury homes on the East coast of Florida run 20% to 40% higher than in the Tampa Bay area.
U.S. Census data for the Tampa Bay area showed an average annual growth of 2.47 percent, or a gain of approximately 97,000 residents per year between 2000 and 2006. The combined Greater Tampa Bay region experienced a combined growth rate of 14.8 percent, growing from 3.4 million to 3.9 million and hitting the 4 million mark on April 1, 2007 in the continuous Tampa Bay urban area.
New statistics from the National Association Of Realtors show that over 24% of the people immigrating to the United States end up in Florida. Florida remains at the top of the list for most retirees searching for sunshine and warm weather. And while retirement migration has increased in other Sun Belt states, Florida continues to lead the way in terms of sheer numbers of newly arriving retirees. Three area hospitals are ranked "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News and World Reports and many other facilities and health care professionals have received national recognition in their areas of specialty. If we consider lifestyle advantages, Tampa Bay is great for business, is the only other region in Florida, outside of Miami, to have multiple professional sports teams, it has world class museums, performing arts, and two of the top 3 beaches in the United States on "Dr. Beach's" 2008 rankings.
