Century 21 Wimco Realty, Inc. Blog

WASHINGTON – Jan. 26, 2012 – Wyoming, Florida and Texas rank among the 10 best states for taxes on business, while companies in states like New York, New Jersey and California have a far less pleasant tax climate, according to the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index, now in its 8th edition.

The Tax Foundation says it looks at dozens of state tax provisions to create the ranking –a single easy-to-use score that measures each state’s tax climate against every other state. While some similar studies focus on residents’ tax burden they pay each year, the Index focuses on how a tax system enhances or harms a state’s businesses.

“Even in our global economy, a state’s stiffest and most direct competition often comes from other states,” says Tax Foundation economist Mark Robyn. “State lawmakers need to be aware of how their states’ business climates match up to their immediate neighbors and to other states in their region.”

The 10 best states in this year’s Index
1. Wyoming
2. South Dakota
3. Nevada
4. Alaska
5. Florida
6. New Hampshire
7. Washington
8. Montana
9. Texas
10. Utah

The 10 lowest ranked states in this year’s Index
41. Iowa
42. Maryland
43. Wisconsin
44. North Carolina
45. Minnesota
46. Rhode Island
47. Vermont
48. California
49. New York
50. New Jersey

The Tax Foundation has monitored fiscal policy at the federal, state and local levels since 1937. A copy of the latest report is available on the Tax Foundation’s website.

© 2012 Florida Realtors®

ORLANDO, Fla. – Jan. 20, 2012 – At the close of 2011, Florida’s existing home and condominium markets reported higher sales compared to the previous year, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. It was the third consecutive year for statewide home and condo sales activity to end the year on a positive upswing – higher year-over-year sales also were reported at the close of 2010 and 2009, records show.

Looking back on 2011, Florida’s existing home sales rose 8 percent for the year, with a total of 185,921 homes sold compared to 172,462 homes sold in 2010. The statewide existing home median price for 2011 was $131,700; it was $135,900 in 2010 for a 3 percent decrease. In Florida’s condo market, a total of 87,581 units sold statewide in 2011, a gain of 15 percent compared to 76,209 units sold in 2010. The statewide existing condo median price in 2011 was $88,300; it was $90,000 in 2010 for a 2 percent decrease.

Sixteen of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported higher existing home sales at the close of 2011 compared to 2010; the same number of MSAs also reported higher existing condos sales.

“Florida’s economy is continuing to strengthen, which is good news,” said 2012 Florida Realtors President Summer Greene, regional manager of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida 1st in Fort Lauderdale. “Many people are hoping to take advantage of the current record low mortgage rates and affordable conditions to find their Florida dream home – but overly restrictive lending requirements continue to create barriers to homeownership for qualified homebuyers. To re-energize the housing market and the economic recovery, we need improved access to affordable financing options for qualified buyers and investors.”

In December, a total of 15,290 existing single-family homes sold statewide, a decrease of 2 percent from the 15,546 homes sold in December 2010. The statewide existing home median sales price last month was $134,300, up 1 percent from the $133,000 reported in December 2010, according to Florida Realtors’ data. The national median existing single-family home price was $165,100 in December, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

In the year-to-year comparison for statewide existing condo sales, a total of 6,836 units changed hands last month, compared to 6,985 condos sold in December 2010 for a decrease of 2 percent. The statewide existing condo median sales price in December was $91,900, up 4 percent from the $88,400 reported a year earlier. The national median existing condo price was $160,000 in December, according to NAR.

“Although sales were down slightly in December, they’re up strongly for the year, which reinforces the reality that Florida is in a slow real estate recovery,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo. “Our expectation is that recovery will continue through 2012. The major obstacle in the market is the inadequate accessibility to financing. Prices are moderating, but we don’t expect too much movement owing to the continuing significance of distressed properties.”

In December, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.96 percent, down from the 4.71 percent average during the same month a year earlier, according to Freddie Mac. The annual average rate for a 30-year mortgage in 2011 was 4.45 percent. Florida Realtors’ sales figures reflect closings, which typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.

© 2012 Florida Realtors®

Cajun Cook | Top 10 Herbs and Spices in My Cajun Kitchen | Keeping it Simple

Like me, the Cajun cooks that I personally know have their own repertoire of herbs and spices to compliment their particular style of cooking. Thus, the use of some of the more popular herbs and spices will differ slightly from one cook to the next, while the unique and distinctive flavors and tastes of Cajun and Creole cuisine steadfastly remains.

For example, the well known trinity of Cajun vegetables which have become the hallmark ingredients of many southern meals–especially throughout the Acadiana Parishes and around New Orleans–are onions, celery and bell pepper. These three top the list.

The following is a list of the 10 most used herbs and spices in my kitchen. I use them to cook anything and everything Cajun–from Alligator Stew to Zesty Cajun Onion Rings.

Top 10 Herbs and Spices in My Cajun Kitchen

1. onions 2. bell pepper 3. celery 4. garlic 5. basil 6. parsley 7. oregano 8. bay leaves 9. ground red pepper 10. ground black pepper

As mentioned earlier, the use of many of these popular herbs and spices will differ slightly from one Cajun cook to the next. And there are a few other herbs I’ve left off of my list because I either don’t like the taste, or I have found other ways to achieve like results.

To give you an example, some Cajun and Creole cooks like to sprinkle a powder called file’ in gumbo. It is made from the dried leaves of the sassafras tree and is used mainly as a thickening agent. I personally don’t care much for the taste.

I prefer to use other plants products to thicken my gumbos and stews. A couple which come to mind are okra and all-purpose wheat flour which I use to make my roux. See: Easy Microwave Gumbo Roux | No Oil. No Fuss. No Mess

File’, I’ve noticed, is used more by Creoles than by Cajuns. Word has it that this ancient culinary tip (using ground-up sassafras leaves to thicken stews) was passed down to the early settlers by indigenous natives–the Choctaw I think?

Please look around our site. You will discover tons of original Cajun recipes which use many of the above 10 herbs and spices.

Enjoy! Please come back and visit us soon.

Ingredients

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup pecan pieces or halves
1 tsp vanilla
1 9″ unbaked pie crust

Instructions

thoroughly beat the eggs
add in the sugar, salt, melted butter, and corn syrup
stir-in the pecans and vanilla
pour in the pie shell and bake for 40-50 minutes at 375 degrees F. (or until a toothpick comes out of the center clean)

Bon appetite!

Courtesy of Real Cajun Cooking