10 Steps to Prevent Mold Growth in Florida

Florida is notoriously humid year round, even more so in these summer months. All that humidity makes it very easy for mold to take over your home. Indoor mold is a serious health concern for Florida residents.

Here are 10 tips to prevent mold growth in your Florida home:

1. Use adequate ventilation or your air conditioner year-round to keep the humidity levels inside your house below 60%.

2. Do not hang wet towels or clothes to dry indoors.

3. Use a digital hygrometer to test humidity levels inside each room of your house. Record these levels in a log book to diagnose problem areas.

4. Clean air conditioning ducts every three months to get rid of accumulated dust particles.

5. Install HEPA filters inside air conditioner intakes.

6. Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner and mop tile floors daily to remove mold spores and dust.

7. Test each room in your home for airborne mold spores annually.

8. Use your nose. If you smell mold, there is mold growing somewhere, whether it is visible or not.

9. Inspect hidden areas of your home routinely for water leaks, water damage and mold growth.

10. Monitor residents' health. Chronic coughing, sneezing, headaches, skin rashes and breathing disorders can all be a sign of mold in the home.

School Property Taxes Expected to Increase

School property taxes in Florida are expected to increase 1.3% by next year, signaling an increase in property values. This is one of the most promising signs of recovery in the Florida housing market.

Property appraisers and real estate agents are already seeing signs of improvement in the housing market. Appraisers for the downtown Miami area have seen property values increase over 12% this year over last year and higher income neighborhoods like Coral Gables are already seeing higher property taxes.

Shuttle Layoffs Hit Florida's Economy

Approximately 9 thousand jobs will be lost when NASA's space shuttle program ends this month.

Watch the following video for more information about how Florida's economy will be affected by the discontinuation of the space shuttle:

Florida Ranks in Top 10 Housing Markets for Investors

Three Florida cities: Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando ranked in the top 10 housing markets for investors in rental property according to HomeVestors of America and Local Market Monitor.

This is a result of home prices falling substantially, potential home price appreciation and current high rent rates, all good news for investors looking to get the best returns on rental properties.

USF Building a Solar House You Might Live in Soon

The University of South Florida (USF) is exploring the cutting-edge of Florida housing by building a solar house, competing to win in the U.S. Solar Decathlon to build the most energy efficient house.

More than 50 students and faculty members from universities across Florida will help design, engineer, plan and build the solar house which is a mixture of modern green energy technology and simple cooling techniques used in Florida homes before air conditioning became the norm.

If everything works as planned, the house will generate as much energy as it uses and will be affordable and easy to build.

Who knows, your next home might be a solar house!

Traveling By Car This Weekend? Here's What You Need to Know About Gas Prices

This Memorial Day Weekend an estimated 1.8 million people will be traveling on Florida's roads. While the roads will certainly be busy, there is finally good news for drivers: gas prices are on the decline!

Neil Gamson, forecaster for the U.S. Energy Information Administration, believes gas prices have peaked and are on their way back down. He expects prices to remain in the mid-$3/gallon range through July 4th, but it looks like the days of gas prices at $4/gallon are over for now.

Florida Loses $2.4 Billion for High-Speed Trains

The Obama Administration took back $2.4 Billion allotted to Florida for a high-speed train planned to run from Orlando to Tampa.

Florida Governor Rick Scott rejected the high-speed rail proposal because of high operating costs, despite a study done by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) which concluded the rail would have an operating surplus in its first year of operation.

There are split opinions on the rejection of the project, which would have created jobs for the high number of unemployed Floridians. What do you think of Rick Scott's decision? Let us know in the comments!

NFL Wants $200 Million in Improvements to Sun Life Stadium

When comparing this year's Super Bowl with last year's, it's easy to notice the difference in the weather. At kickoff last year, fans enjoyed 60 degree weather, compared to the freezing temperatures fans in Dallas endured this year. While Miami offers a virtually non-existent winter, the NFL won't be looking to Miami for the upcoming Super Bowls.

The NFL has cited $200 million in improvements that need to be made to Sun Life Stadium if the Dolphins are to host another Super Bowl. These improvements include a canopy to shield fans from rain, an additional 3,500 seats, changes to existing seats, as well as permanent lighting installations for HD broadcasts.

South Floridians Weather Cold Snaps

The weather is forecasted to cool down to the upper 40s this weekend. South Floridians all over are breaking out their winter wear in anticipation of the cooler temperatures.

We might blame it on our love of the endless summer that Florida offers or on our thin Floridian blood which causes us to bundle up if the temperature dips below 60 degrees.

As it turns out, the latter is a myth. No matter how long you live in Florida and are exposed to prolonged warm weather, your blood will not thin. We just have gotten used to the warm weather.

People who move from colder climates to warmer climates may benefit from fat loss because of the ability to exercise outside year-round, and shake their winter woes. Seasonal Affective Disorder is common in colder climates where it gets darker earlier in the day, but is almost non-existent in sunny South Florida!

So bundle up this weekend, stay warm and appreciate the health benefits South Florida offers.

Legoland Florida Theme Park to Open October 2011

Legoland is the newest addition to the endless list of attractions Florida has to offer tourists and residents. The new theme park, located in Winter Haven, Florida, will open in October 2011 and will feature over 50 rides.

Winter Haven is located about 40 miles from Disney World and is easily accessable from both Orlando and Tampa.

Legoland Florida will offer a much needed boost to Florida's economy with increased tourism and may help stabilize Florida's economy.

Florida Gets $800 Million for High-Speed Rail

Florida is getting another $800 million in stimulus money to build a high-speed rail from Orlando to Tampa.

The project is estimated to cost $2.6 billion, and the additional $800 million will bring Florida only $300 million away from this estimate.

It is believed that the high-speed railway will help Florida's economy by providing construction and operational jobs, as well as increasing tourism and travel throughout the Central Florida region.

Plans are also in the works of extending the high-speed railway to connect Orlando and Miami.

Value Businesses Expanding in Florida

McDonalds, Dollar Tree, discount grocery store, Aldi, and other "value" businesses are among the few businesses expanding in Florida. This is attributed to the slow economic recovery of Florida, paired with consumers trying to find the best deals. McDonalds plans to build and renovate 20 stores this year and Dollar Tree plans to open 5-10 stores in South Florida this year. With the recession in full swing, "value" is where the Florida economy is finding expansion.

Oil Spill May Have Effect on Florida Beach Tourism

Florida has had it rough the last few years, with the real estate crisis and a drop in tourism due to the recession. But it looks like Florida may take another hit with the BP oil spill. A supercomputer simulation (see video below) has projected that the gulf oil spill will make its way to the East coast of Florida and up into the jet stream. This will have a tremendous effect on Florida's Atlantic beaches and could spell trouble for summer tourism. Reports of beach vacation cancellations are already coming in as tourists try to avoid the spill.