NORTHWEST FLORIDA named as a "Top 12 Travel Destination" of the year!

Here's a terrific article from yesterday's New Herald. Go Panama City Beach area!

Travel guide high on Northwest Florida
DUSTY RICKETTS / Florida Freedom Newspapers
2009-12-07 21:18:19

Northwest Florida residents who want to visit one of the top tourist destinations in the world for 2010 need only step outside. Frommer’s Travel Guide, one of the best-selling travel guides in the world with more than 75 million books sold, recently named the Florida Panhandle beaches as one of its top 12 travel destinations for next year.

Other areas that made Frommer’s list are Tunisia in North Africa; Hanoi, Vietnam; and Melbourne, Australia. The only other American locale that made the list was Hawaii’s Big Island.

“It’s a big deal,” said Beth Oltman, Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce CEO and president. “We’re very proud.”
Not only are the sugar-white beaches a draw for tourists, but the whole area also is becoming a thriving community, Oltman said.

“I think it’s great. Anytime you can get national recognition is a feather in your cap,” said Tracy Louthain, director of public relations for the Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council. “It really gets people to pay attention to you. I think the timing is good with the opening of the new airport in Panama City in 2010. There are a lot of reasons to focus on this region of the state right now.”

Northwest Florida has been suggested for inclusion in the list of top destination choices in the past, but this was the first year it made the final cut, said David Lytle, editorial director of frommers.com.

“It fit our list for the year,” Lytle said. “It’s an American destination; part of it is overlooked oftentimes. It’s got some economical choices. A family can still afford to take a vacation to the Florida Panhandle.

“It’s a gorgeous part of the country,” he added. “People tend to think of Florida, and they either think of the theme parks or they think of southern Florida. We want to give another part of the state its due as well.”

Frommer’s list of the top tourist destinations for next year will be seen by people from all over the world and will help draw new visitors to the area, said Darrel Jones, executive director of the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council.

“It’s a great thing for opening this area up to the world,” Jones said. “Advertising like this, you couldn’t pay for.”

All three tourist organizations plan to use the recognition from Frommer’s in their upcoming publicity measures, including updating their Web sites to include information on the list.

“With the economy, I think that’s important that people understand you can come to this area and have a great time, great vacation and not cost you a small fortune,” Jones said.

News Herald Writer Scarlet Sims contributed to this story.

Well, this recognition is terrific for all of us, and we are hopeful news like this will continue to help our corner of the world proceed nicely towards a path of recovery for all of us.

Have an AWESOME week everyone! Karen

Karen Branham, e-Pro-SRES, SFR, Broker Associate
THE BRANHAM TEAM
"Exceptional Service"
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors
Direct: 850-832-8626
Website: http://www.karenbranham.com
Mailto: karen.branham@cbunited.com

Tax Credit For Homebuyers Extended

It was a unanimous vote in Washington - how rare is that! The very important and much needed extension of the $8,000 Tax Credit for first time home buyers will now follow into 2010. All qualified buyers will be able to continue to enjoy this $8000 tax credit through April of next year. Many of our clients were under pressure scrambling to beat the deadline so this will benefit those that did not move fast enough and those buyers that could not close by November 30 of 2009.

Interest rates are hovering around 4.5% and sales prices in the Panama City area are close to some of the lowest prices we've seen in years. This critical combination, along with the tax credit, is the perfect formula for buying property in the Panama City area. Southwest announcing last week their commitment to flying out of our new International Airport is another reason. This is one of those moments where you stop and think "maybe NOW is the right time to become a homeowner!".

In addition to the $8000 Tax Credit, our friends in Washington also authorized a tax credit up to $6,500 for repeat homebuyers. This is awesome as well. For more info and details on the tax credits, please visit http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/today.


Karen Branham, Broker Associate, E-Pro, SFR
THE BRANHAM TEAM
"We Make Dreams Happen"
karen.branham@cbunited.com
850-832-8626