Key Largo Recreation

Recreational Options

You can’t really get bored here, unless you just don’t like the water.
• Dive: If you snorkel or dive, Key Largo is a terrific place to live. Long considered the sport diving capital of the world, Key Largo is home to John Pennekamp State Park, the world’s first underwater park. I used to camp and snorkel there on weekends with my kids. And I’ve also had some great times diving wrecks and exploring the surrounding waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. There are lots of dive shops for folks at all skill and preference levels.
• Fish: If you like to fish, Key Largo is (if that’s possible) an even better place to live. Stretching down to Islamorada, the bonefishing capital of the world, there is a fabulous “backcountry” – Florida Bay – and offshore you’ve got the Gulf Stream and every kind of pelagic sports fish you can imagine. If you’ve got your own boat, great; if you don’t, you’ll find one of the largest fishing fleets per square mile in the world, between Key Largo and Islamorada.
• Boats and Toys: See above. There is every possible sea thing to rent and enjoy. In fact, Key Largo and the rest of the Upper Keys, including Islamorada, are much better this way than the Middle Keys or Lower Keys with the exception of Key West.
• Kayaking, Canoeing, Photography and Birding: These don’t all necessarily go together. My friend and I did a lot of fishing from our kayaks before it became the latest craze. But if you want to explore shallow-water backcountry to enjoy birds and wildlife, and want to consider paddleboating as opposed to motorboating as the way to do it, then this part of the Keys will likely please you more than areas farther south and west.
• If you’re a private pilot, there’s a basic airstrip for small planes on Tavernier, and you can even live next to the runway.

Building a home and lot values

Building a Home in the Florida Keys
Buying a lot and building your dream home may be the way to go. The cost of building will vary widely from $50.00 per square to $300.00 and up.
Basically lots in Florida as far as price goes will run as follows.
Most expensive
• Open-water—Atlantic or Gulf
• Open-water Inter-Coastal or other Rivers-Lakes
• Canal Homes with Open water views (Bay or Atlantic-Gulf)
• Canal homes-Boat able and quick access to open-water
• Dry Lots—price widely varies based on the community and area.

*As to canal lots and how boat ability affects prices.
If the depth of the canal and the width allows for a 50ft boat or sailboat-it will be more expensive than a lot on a canal that is shallow and usually not as wide. The bigger the boat, the more room needed to turn around.

*Access to open water is another factor that influences prices.

If you’re only minutes (half hour) to good fishing-diving, expect to pay more.
Also homes on shorter canals will generally have better water quality. In the Keys we call these swimming canals. The tides flush them out easier and the water is clear.

Monroe County exempt from new wind insurance rates

MONROE EXEMPT FROM APPROVED WIND RATES

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty on Friday did what he said he was going to do: Exclude Monroe County in approving Citizens Property Insurance Corp.'s rate filing.

The rate includes two filings: actuarial and top-of-market, the latter being higher than the average of the top 20 companies. The state's insurer of last resort must charge higher rates so it doesn't compete against private insurers.

Monroe County is in a pilot project that limits rates to an actuarial filing, since the state found it has no competition.

After experiencing eight major hurricanes during the last two years, Citizens accumulated a $1.7 billion deficit. The Legislature appropriated $715 million to cover the deficit, which Citizens usually covers with an assessment it charges private insurers, as required by state law. Private insurers pass that cost on to customers through a surcharge on premiums, which are expected to decrease 20 percent, to a 3.5 percent levy, thanks to the legislative bailout.

"I am very pleased that the Legislature allocated a portion of the sales tax revenue surplus to provide rate relief to all Florida policyholders," McCarty said. "However, we still need to take strong measures to ensure that Citizens' rates are actuarially sound to minimize future assessments."

Citizens made its top 20 filing in December and actuarial filing in January.

"Our actuarial staff has rigorously examined these rates, and I am confident the approved adjustments achieve adequate rates given the risks involved," McCarty said.

McCarty's order approved combined average rate increases for homeowner's policies of 16.1 percent on a statewide basis; 6.7 percent for mobile home policies; no increase for condominium unit policies; and 21.5 percent for dwelling fire policies.

What makes a good Vacation Rental

What makes a good Vacation Rental
• A clean, well-maintained home on a canal or open water.
• Typically one of the bedrooms should have a set of twin beds if the renters are bringing children.
• Good linens and towels and a backup set. This is especially important for monthly renters.
• The washer, dryer and refrigerator should be newer if possible.
• A good Television hooked up to cable (about $35.00 per month) and a CD or tape stereo system.
• The kitchen must be completely outfitted. A microwave is also very important for renters.
• Patio and/or Lawn-Deck furniture. If there is an upper deck, a table and chairs plus loungers.
• On the waterside, a set of loungers and chairs.