Affordable Housing?

Several nonprofit and for-profit groups are tackling the issue with innovative approaches. One of the newest to enter the field is Affordable Housing Solutions LLC, a partnership between Vince Whibbs Jr., Bob Chism and Tom Drysdale. The for-profit group is currently building several modular homes in the 1,120- to 1,600-square-foot range.

Chism says with construction costs soaring, it is difficult to build a conventional "stick-built" home in the $125,000-to-$150,000 range. And when new homes move significantly above that price range, people in the work force, such as law enforcement and fire personnel, and teachers find it difficult to afford a home. But Chism is convinced modular homes, which arrive complete with curtains, light fixtures, heat pumps, and plumbing, are the wave of the future, a cost-efficient way of offering affordable homes to the public.

CEI targets clients in the 80 percent, median-income range, and works through local banks to arrange conventional loans for home buyers, and assist them in applying for HHRP and SHIP grants. Horvath said CEI is not only doing small, scatter site homes, but ramping up its construction of rental units, many of which were destroyed by hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. While CEI and other nonprofits, such as Circle Inc., target the 80 percent, median-income range, Pensacola's Habitat For Humanity works with those far below 80 percent.

Reefing the USS Oriskany

Written by Greg Johnston

When you see a U.S. Naval aircraft carrier up close, you can't help but be awed by its massive size. Now picture yourself scuba diving over its flight deck – it's almost unimaginable.

For divers visiting Northwest Florida this year, the opportunity to dive on a most spectacular shipwreck is now a reality. The retired aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, a combat veteran ship, has made its final port call to her resting place in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 24 miles southeast of the Pensacola coast. Successfully sunk, or "reefed," on May 17, 2006 with the use of controlled charges in 212 feet of water, this 888-foot-long ship is now the largest artificial reef in the world.

When U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) divers completed their dive of the Oriskany after the reefing, they confirmed that the ship is sitting upright in the north-south orientation requested by the state. They reported that the flight deck was at a depth of 150 feet as the ship settled into the sand – well within recreational dive limits.Divers can now swim above the flight deck among fish such as Goliath grouper, ocean sunfish and eagle rays. Anglers can also enjoy what CNN has called the "Great Carrier Reef" – they can reel in popular game fish such as grouper, snapper and amberjack. And it's all in time for summer.

The Oriskany's last battle was a hotly contested competition between the Gulf states of Texas and Mississippi, and the Atlantic states of South Carolina and Georgia. Even Florida's own ship graveyard off the Miami and Fort Lauderdale coast competed for the grand ship.

The Navy used five main factors for determining the most suitable location for sinking the ship: improvement potential to marine habitat and recreation, management of the reef, public support, local cost-sharing and the area's naval heritage. It seemed most appropriate that the final memorial should be near the Pensacola Naval Air Station where many of its fighter pilots were trained. The most famous being Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), who flew his last mission as a fighter pilot before he was shot down and taken prisoner in North Vietnam in 1967.

The "Mighty O," as it was affectionately called by its crew, was named for the strategic Battle of Oriskany, which turned the tide of the American Revolutionary War in 1777. Nearly 134 years later, the keel of this Essex-class carrier was laid in the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard on May 1, 1944. The vessel was launched October 13, 1945. However, World War II was over and the Oriskany wasn't completed until the Korean War was in progress.

At nearly three football fields in length, the USS Oriskany, a CVA-34-class vessel, was an attack aircraft carrier. The "O-Boat" was 888 feet in length, 225 feet tall and 197 feet wide. She displaced more than 46,000 tons of water. When on active duty, she carried a crew of 3,500 men, 9,445 tons of ordnance, 20MM ammunition and 80 aircraft. The Oriskany put out to sea 16 times in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, having carried out more than 20,000 combat sorties and having delivered nearly 10,000 tons of ordnance against enemy forces.

In May 1953, the USS Oriskany put aside her guns and shouldered a battery of movie cameras when she became a floating movie set for Hollywood stars William Holden and Mickey Rooney in the film The Bridges of Toko Ri.

Prior to the reefing, a memorial service was held at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola to pay tribute to the crew and the ship for their exemplary service. The memorial was conducted with full Navy tradition. The sinking of the USS Oriskany as an artificial reef is unprecedented; outside of actual battles, no one has ever sunk a U.S. warship of this size before.

Thank-You for attending the Meet-N-Greet this past Friday

To all of my friends, clients and business associates - Thank-You - for making my Meet-N-Greet a huge success this past Friday. Plenty of food, drink and conversation were the highlights of the evening.

Please Visit my Website

www.TheParadiseHomeTeam.com

For additional information about the Pensacola Beach area.

PNJ Articles for Pensacola Beach

Beacon Regains Its Flash!

Pensacola Beach's famous sailfish sign got its neon heart back Tuesday.The multicolored flashing sign, which stands just off U.S. 98 near the Bob Sikes Bridge overpass in Gulf Breeze, has for 45 years pointed the way to Pensacola Beach for tens of thousands of visitors.Over the past 18 months, different portions of the sign have been repaired or replaced because of the toll taken by years of hurricanes and tropical storms.

Click Below For Complete article in Pensacola News Journal

http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060823/NEWS01/608230352/1052/NEWS09


The sidewalk on Fort Pickens Road, which is part of the National Scenic Trail, was covered by a temporary asphalt road to avoid making the roadway one-lane during construction. Lee said residents should be strolling on the sidewalk by the end of the year."The road work should be done by the end of September," Lee said. "By November or December, the underground power and the sidewalk should be done."

Click Below for Complete Article in Pensacola News Journal

http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060826/NEWS01/608260323/1052/NEWS09

Blues on the Beach - Aug 22

Jukehouse Regulars, a bluesy trio, will return to Blues on the Beach from 7–9 p.m. on Tuesday, August 22 at the Gulfside Pavilion. The band plays classic rock and blues. Some of their influences include Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and they will feature songs like “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye and “Just My Imagination” by the Temptations.

You're Getting Old If You Can Remember.....

· Candy cigarettes
· Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside.
· Coffee shops with tableside jukeboxes.
· Blackjack, clove and teaberry gum.
· Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
· Newsreels before the movie.
· Telephone numbers with a word prefix: Raymond 4-601).
· Party lines
· 45 RPM records
· S & H Green Stamps
· Hi-Fi’s
· Metal ice cube trays with levers
· Mimeograph paper
· Roller-skate keys
· Drive-in movies
· The Fuller Brush Man
· 35 cent a gallon gasoline
· Penny Candy
· Reel-to-Reel tape recorders
· 15 cent hamburgers
· Your mom wore nylons that came in two pieces.
· All girls had ugly gym uniforms!

Blues on the Beach - Tonight - Tues 8/15

'Blues on the Beach'7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. Saddle Rock will play. Take your lawn chairs or blankets to the pavilion area. No pets are allowed and glass is prohibited. The summer is winding down and there are only a few more weeks of FREE music and fun at the beach. Join us this evening.

MEET-N-GREET - August 25, 2006

Come and Join us Friday, August 25, from 4-6 pm for our MEET-N-GREET. Food, Drink, Friendship and more. Sonia and I look forward to introducing our new associates to our clients, business associates and friends.

After our event, please join us for cocktail hour at the Olive Drop or we may make plans for dinner. Tell your friends to drop by also. Every attendee will have a chance to find the Pelicans on our website at www.TheParadiseHomeTeam.com and may be our Summer Vacation Winner.

Spread the word. Hope to see you there.

Upcoming August Pensacola Beach Events

AUGUST 2006

Join us at the beach for the remaining summer events. Bring your chairs, coolers, food, and drink for the remaining Tues. night Blues on the Beach.

08 BLUES ON THE BEACH - Crosstown plays in the Gulfside Pavilion 7-9pm.Tune in to Cat Country 98.7 for more information.

15 BLUES ON THE BEACH - Saddle Rock plays in the Gulfside Pavilion 7-9pm.Tune in to Cat Country 98.7 for more information.

18 FIRST EVER HARRY GOWENS MEMORIAL! Seafood / Barbeque (compliments of Wally) Buffet starts at 5pm with raffle and face painting. Benefits go to Pensacola Beach Elementary School. Prices at the door will be $12 for adults and $7 for children. Advance tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for children.

22 BLUES ON THE BEACH-Juke House Regulars play in the Gulfside Pavilion 7-9pmTune in to Cat Country 98.7 for more information.

29 Beach Chamber After Hours at Bamboo Willie's. Joint After Hours with the Pensacola Beach Chamber and the Gulf Breeze Chamber. Co-sponsor is Accustaff.BLUES ON THE BEACH - Mass Konfuzion in the Gulfside Pavilion 7-9pm.Tune in to Cat Country 98.7 for more information.

Blogging Downtown Pensacola

Join us at 208 W Gadsden St in the historical area of North Hill, Pensacola, FL.

The owners have taken care of this beautiful home for the past 49 years. Would you like to learn more about the history of the downtown area, just ask Robbis or Grace. They have watched the town grow for many years, right from this home.

Contact Cindy 850-393-5134 or Sonia 850-292-1228 for a showing. Click HERE for additional information.

So You've Decided to Invest in Real Estate!

A thriving real estate investor solves other people’s problems. The more knowledge, ability, experience, contacts, and resources you have, the more solutions you can begin to offer people in solving their problems. You will be ahead of the pack if you can get people calling or coming to you with their specific problem first. That means you have to advertise the fact that you are in a position to help while being fair, trustworthy, and accurate in making quick decisions before the competition tries to persuade these people first.

Visit our website The Paradise Home Team for additional information on investing.

Mistakes New Investors Make When Getting into Real Estate Investing

Real estate investing fever" has hit like a plague. Many beginner investors are jumping on the bandwagon trying to make a profit after losing big in the stock market. So what could you do to avoid losing?

Mistake #1: Stock Market Mentality
Nine of ten new investors are interested in real estate because they saw someone else make money from the rapid appreciation of the market over the last few years. But, buying real estate solely for short-term appreciation is often a big gamble! If you buy real estate to hold for fifteen years or more, the chances are that you will come out on top. If you buy a property and flip it in within a year, you'll probably do fine, too. Investing is a lot like surfing; if you don't know how to ride the wave, you will drown!

Mistake #2: Investing Blind
Real estate is one of the few investments in which risk is directly proportional to knowledge. Money for deals is easy to find if you can find good deals. But, you won't know what a good deal is without having first invested in your education! The more knowledge of investing techniques, financing, acquisition, negotiating and, of course, your local marketplace, the less risky your investments will be.

Mistake #3: No Cash Reserves
Ask anyone in real estate long term, and they will tell you the two most important words for survival are: cash flow. In order to stay in real estate long term, you need cash reserves. Buying real estate nothing down is easy; handling negative cash flow, repairs, and other expenses in the meantime is the trick.

Mistake #4: Being Greedy
Many investors get started flipping properties to other investors, which is a good idea to generate cash reserves. However, you must be realistic about how much profit is in a deal. If there is a potential for a $20,000 profit in a rehab project, you can't expect to make $10,000 flipping that property to a rehabber. A rehabber has a huge risk embarking in such a project and wants a large enough profit to justify the risk.

Mistake #5: Treating Real Estate as Anything Other Than a Business
People are lured to real estate because of the quick buck it promises. Don't hold your breath--you won't get rich quick. An "overnight sensation" usually takes about five years. More than 90% of the people who take a real estate seminar quit after three months. Why the high fallout rate? Lack of action and unrealistic expectations. Investing should be treated with the seriousness of a career. It takes months, even years for a business to cultivate customers and have a life of its own. You need to treat real estate like any other business.