Ft Lauderdale Lifestyle Blog

Official Visitors Guide for the 2010
Super Bowl XLIV (44)

Fort Lauderdale and Miami
Click On Guide Below

ROYAL CARIBBEAN OASIS OF THE SEAS ARRIVES IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.
World's Largest and Most Revolutionary Cruise Ship Sails into her
Home Port of Port Everglades

            MIAMI, November 13, 2009 - Royal Caribbean International's newest cruise ship - the highly anticipated Oasis of the Seas - made her global debut today, arriving into her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. following a 14-day transatlantic crossing from Turku, Finland.  Hundreds of eager onlookers - ranging from Royal Caribbean top executives to local government officials, residents and media - came out to welcome Oasis of the Seas to the United States for the first time and to be among the first to catch a glimpse of the world's most revolutionary cruise ship.
In the course of the next six days, the ship will undergo the final touches in preparation for pre-inaugural festivities kicking off with an exclusive private performance by pop music artist Rihanna, the first performer ever to take the stage on Oasis of the Seas', Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009.  Oasis of the Seas will then make her national television premiere on ABC's "Good Morning America," Friday, Nov. 20, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. (EST).  Until that time, eager consumers can track her progress during the pre-inaugural activities via webisodes and updates, which are available at www.oasisoftheseas.com as well as join the conversation on Twitter by following @OasisandAllure and including #Oasisishere in Tweets.
The official naming ceremony for Oasis of the Seas will take place on Monday, Nov. 30 during a one night inaugural celebration fundraiser to benefit the non-profit Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.  Tickets for the once-in-a-lifetime event begin at $750 per person.  Guests who wish to continue their adventure onboard will receive an exclusive discount price, beginning at $650 per person, on a four-night cruise package sailing to the cruise line's private beach destination, Labadee, departing the morning following the event on Tuesday, Dec. 1 (rates based on double-occupancy and stateroom package).  For reservations to this exclusive event combined with the four-night sailing, contact Cynthia Paez, Royal Caribbean International, at (877) 202-1520, ext. 12751, or cpaez@rccl.com.
The ultimate expression of Royal Caribbean's legacy of imagination and innovation, Oasis of the Seas introduces unique industry "firsts" including a neighborhood concept - seven main themed areas providing guests with the opportunity to seek out relevant experiences based on their personal style, preference or mood.  Within these seven neighborhoods - Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, Pool & Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone - are extraordinary elements such as the first living park at sea; a thrilling zip line that races diagonally nine-decks above an open-air atrium; an original handcrafted carousel; 28 multilevel urban-style loft suites boasting floor-to-ceiling windows; an amphitheater-style theater that serves as a pool by day and a dazzling ocean front theater by night; and an array of epicurean innovations that allow for new culinary experiences each day of a guest's cruise vacation.
 

Oasis of the Seas is the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world.  An architectural marvel at sea, she spans 16 decks, encompasses 225,282 gross registered tons, carries 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and features 2,700 staterooms.  Oasis of the Seas is the first ship to tout the cruise line's new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.  The ship will sail from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Additional information is available at www.oasisoftheseas.com.
Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and one under construction.  The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.  For additional information or to make reservations visit www.royalcaribbean.com

Senate negotiators have reached a tentative deal extending a tax credit for first-time home buyers; however passage remains uncertain.

The agreement would extend the existing credit for first-time home buyers, up to $8,000, while offering a new credit of up to $6,500 for some existing homeowners, Senate aides said. The reduced credit would be available to all home buyers who have been in their current residence for a consecutive five-year period in the past eight years.

The new provisions are aimed at extending the credit beyond first-time buyers and supporting the weakened real-estate market a bigger boost while preventing real-estate investors from benefiting.

Many property experts have cited the credit as a reason for signs of recovery in the housing market in recent months. But that recovery was somewhat undercut by the September drop in new-home sales reported Wednesday.

The credit would be extended from its current expiration date of Dec. 1 to all contracts entered into by April 30, and closed before July 1. It is expected that income limits on people claiming the credit would be increased to $125,000 for singles and $250,000 for couples, from the current $75,000 and $150,000, aides said. The credit phases out for people making more than those amounts.

While Senate lawmakers appear to have reached a deal on the substance of the tax credit, they are still at odds over how it would be brought to the Senate floor. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) hopes to add it to a bill currently on the Senate floor to extend federal unemployment insurance benefits. But agreement on that hasn't been finalized.

National Association of Realtors calls for tax credit extension South Florida Business Journal - by Jeff Clabaugh Washington Business Journal

The tax credit that has helped lift home sales expires in just over two months, and the National Association of Realtors wants it extended.

The $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit will expire Nov. 30, giving any buyers hoping to take advantage of it a very short window to qualify, when factoring in the time it takes to find a property and to close on its sale.

“Now is the time for Congress to keep this recovery going by extending the tax credit through 2010 and making it available to more homebuyers," NAR President Charles McMillan said. “The credit needs to be available for an additional period of time in order to sustain the progress that’s been made so we can continue to see our markets fully recover.”

The first-time homebuyer credit, which was implemented earlier this year, has brought 1.2 million new buyers into the market, the NAR estimates. It says 350,000 of those buyers would not have purchased a home without the credit

Electric Cars a Boon for Lot Owners

Advancing green automotive technology offers a bankable opportunity for those operating recharging stations.

Click link below for full story

http://go-to.realtor.org/r/D4TC79/FK18Z/TR6SY/EN7Y9/L3FDM/CM/t/

Mortgage Applications Rise as Rates Fall

Application volume rose 17 percent last week compared to the prior week, with refinancings accounting for the lion's share, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Full Story

Pending home sales rise to two-year high

Housing affordability, the first-time buyer tax credit and lower interest rates have combined to increase the number of Americans purchasing homes for the six straight month.

The National Association of Realtors said pending home sales for July increased 3.2 percent to 97.6, the highest level since June 2007, up from 94.6 in June and 12 percent higher than a year ago, when it was 87.1.

Click Here for Full Article

Or Copy and paste into your browser

http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2009/08/31/daily27.html?ed=2009-09-01&ana=e_du_pap

No Bones About It: This Is a Dog House

Paris Hilton purchases a luxurious Hollywood home for her Chihuahuas.

Click Here for Full Story

http://go-to.realtor.org/r/UUW9NO/FKPIY/Z1APJ/07DNX/BDZXP/YT/t/

First-time Buyers Get State Incentive

New York State offers new home owners a tax credit for 20 percent of their annual mortgage interest and good for the life of the laon.

Click Here Fr Full Story

Why the Foreclosure Plan Isn't Working

From outdated materials to archaic systems, CNN Money lays out the major roadblocks for borrowers in refinancing their government loans.

Click Here for full Story

http://go-to.realtor.org/r/UUW9NO/FKPIY/Z1APJ/07DNX/HSXQ1/YT/t/