Florida Trivia
In March of this year Florida turned 177 years old—having joined the United States of America in 1845 as the 27th state.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau, the state had a population of 21,538,187 in that year, which is a 14.6% increase compared to the 2010 Census.

Official State Titles

Nickname: “The Sunshine State”
State Animal: Florida panther
State Bird: Mockingbird
State Freshwater Fish: Florida largemouth bass
State Marine Mammal: Manatee
State Reptile: Alligator
State Saltwater Fish: Atlantic sailfish
State Saltwater Mammal: Porpoise
State Saltwater Reptile: Loggerhead sea turtle
State Flower: Orange blossom
State Tree: Sabal palm
State Beverage: Orange juice
State Fruit: Orange
State Pie: Key lime pie

The U.S. acquired Florida from Spain in 1819, though it wasn’t formally transferred until 1821. On March 30, 1822, it became the “Florida Territory” with the same general boundaries that it has now. It became an official part of the U.S. Census in 1830.

Florida has a land area of 53,633.7 square miles and a water area of 12,106.1 square miles, making it 22% water. By area, it’s the 22nd largest state.

Source: Florida Association of Realtors
Stunning beach home along 30A!

This beach house at Highland Parks on 30A is stunning! Located on the corner and with plentiful windows, the home gets washed in sunlight all day making it feel light and airy. The first floor features open main living areas, a gorgeous kitchen, as well as a spacious master suite. Upstairs you'll find a guest suite, two additional bedrooms, and a large hall bath. The stylish decor, furniture, shiplap walls, and wood floors give this home a chic coastal feel. Entertain your guests out on the screened patio or soak in the sea breeze on the large front porch. Take the nearby trail to the expansive pool area that features beautiful stone accents, fountains, a fire pit, outdoor kitchen, and more! Beach days are easy since you're about a mile from the Blue Mountain Beach Access. Paradise!
Cozy first-floor condo minutes from the beach!

This first-floor end unit at Pointe of View is fantastic! Features of the unit include stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, wood plank flooring, and more. The open dining and living area is a great place to gather with family or guests. The master suite is just off the living room, and the guest suite is by the front door. The private balcony overlooks serene greenery, offering you a great place to start your morning or end your day. Pointe of View community has a pool, fitness room, and is located just next to popular Grand Boulevard where you can grocery shop, grab a bite to eat, or head to the movies. You're also just minutes from 30A and multiple beach accesses. This unit would make a great primary residence, vacation getaway, or investment property!
Find Your Happy!
Happiness is not the result of bouncing from one joy to the next; researchers find that achieving happiness typically involves times of considerable discomfort. Genetic makeup, life circumstances, achievements, marital status, social relationships, even your neighbors—all influence how happy you are. Or can be. So do individual ways of thinking and expressing feelings. Research shows that much of happiness is under personal control.

Regularly indulging in small pleasures, getting absorbed in challenging activities, setting and meeting goals, maintaining close social ties, and finding purpose beyond oneself all increase life satisfaction. It isn't happiness per se that promotes well-being, it’s the actual pursuit that’s key. Here are some tips from varying sources to help you find your happy!

·  Put boundaries on your social media. Mounting evidence shows a strong correlation between depression and too much screen time. See Healthline's study about this here!

·  Stop comparing yourself to others. The only comparison in life should be self. Are you doing better today than yesterday? Farnam Street gives us their take here!

·  Exercise daily. Especially when you don’t want to. This should be non-negotiable. See what the Mayo Clinic says about this here!

·  Learn breathing mediations: Reduce stress and anxiety. Calm yourself. Sharpen your concentration skills. Mindful.org offers tips on how to do this here!

·  Find things that make you smile and laugh. Turn the news off. Be mindful of what you watch and read. Monq Aromatherapy gives a brief guide about it here!

·  Begin your day in gratitude. Seek it like you seek coffee. Write your gratitudes in a journal. Happify.com gives us some insight about gratitude here!

·  Have mentors in your life. People that will be 100% honest with you. Tell them to make you accountable for your behavior. Listen to their advice and be willing to change. Inc.com tells about the four types of mentors we need in our life here!
Stay Updated!

For those of you who closely follow the local real estate market, we just wanted to keep you up to date on the real estate market for Gulf Front, Gulf View, and other foreclosures in our area that you can always find on our website. Click the links below to view our updated list of foreclosures. Not looking for a foreclosure? Feel free to create a customized search!