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THE newsletter for owners of Florida villas. While owning a home in Florida can be the realisation of a dream and a source of pleasure, it can also be a constant source of worry if you don't feel in touch.Subscribe to our newspaper today and become part of our increasingly huge family of members who receive our paper or email publication monthly, making owning and running your Florida villa an enjoyable task again. Find out about our unique Annual Property Management Survey, where we ask for owners views on their management companies together with a whole host of useful information about running a vacation home in Florida. Benefit from extremely competitive Florida Car Hire, together with unrivalled personal service. Make the most of our resources such as our online Tax Calculator to help with those end of month forms. Take advantage of the experience of others with our Restaurant and Tradesman recommendations (or otherwise!) To request a free sample please click here.
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Annual Property Management Survey 2010
In the latest survey published by Florida Homes and Travel subscribers have voted American Airlines to be the best airline overall, followed closely by Virgin and Eire Lingus as judged in categories of: Punctuality; Security; Food; Cabin Crew; Entertainment and Overall Service. British Airways were 5th, but Virgin was the most popular airline in terms of the number of passengers using their flights.See this and find out all about the Property management companies at the heart of our survey in your latest survey, sent free to all subscribers.
Read More | Posted on 13 07, 2010
The Law Catches Them In The End
Scamsters and crooks who between them cheated millions of pounds from citizens around the world are finally having to face justice. The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but it is satisfying to see that they do turn.Hudson Gabay was arrested in Miami, following a tip off, on April 28th. Gabay was wanted in connection with the proposed Elliot’s Landing development in Central Florida. Despite not owning the land, Gabay marketed the proposed upscale development through his company, British American Homes, to mainly UK investors who collectively paid over about $15 million. Gabay did eventually buy the 122 acres of land for Elliot’s Landing, but no homes were ever built. Gabay allegedly used the deposit money to finance a lavish lifestyle in the Miami area where he bough a luxury condo and fast cars. British American Homes went into involuntary bankruptcy in 2007 following lawsuits and complaints filed in 2006. The land was sold to a Lake Mary company in 2008 by a federal judge. Gabay was held on $15 million bail - the same amount he is reported to have taken from investors.
Previously, two former partners of Royal Development LLC were arrested on 26th April and charged with visa fraud. Richard A Murdoch and Christopher A Barrett were both indicted on charges of promising to arrange visas to British citizens if they invested in Florida-based construction companies. In some of the cases the paperwork was not submitted, in other cases documents were fraudulent or forged according to the federal indictment. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Also included in the indictment was Hugh Morgan, the former registered agent for Royal Development. His whereabouts is unknown although unsubstantiated rumours suggest he may have returned to Wales. He is currently viewed as a fugitive and prosecutors would welcome news of his location. In 2007 Michael Leggett, also British, who founded Royal Development with Murdoch was convicted and sentenced to 15 months in a Federal prison for his part in the fraud. Having served his time Leggett is now believed to be back in Norfolk. Prosecutors say that the Royal Development operated between 2003 and 2006 in Orange, Osceola and Sarasota counties and involved about 12 people who were targeted at emigration exhibitions in the UK, through adverts and via the Internet. Allegedly clients were told that they could invest in ‘sister’ companies in Florida, which would allow them to qualify for a non-immigrant US Visa. The company required an investment of between $85,000 and $165,000 to purchase 90 - 100% of a ‘sister’ company, and for associated visa services. This money was then used to fund lavish lifestyles such as cars, rent and even hang gliding lessons according to prosecutors.
All this was then followed by the arrest of an Apopka man in early May, who was charged with money laundering and conspiracy. David Merrick allegedly swindled $15 million from investors worldwide for ‘investments’ including real-estate, gold mines and commodities. Like the others above, he allegedly used the money to fund his personal life, such as a house on Lake Harris in Lake County.
Read More | Posted on 31 05, 2010
