Karen Lee Bertiger, Lic. Real Estate Broker

09/03/2026

Ranked: Housing Costs in Every U.S. State in 2026 🏠

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-housing-costs-in-every-u-s-state-in-2026/

09/01/2026

Fireflies used to be a summer given in Florida yards. Here's what actually brings them back after they've been gone for years.

09/01/2026

https://floridadaily.com/proposals-to-bring-back-the-florida-housing-market/

The housing market has been stuck in a prolonged downturn, and seemingly every politician and economist has proposed ways to revive home sales and make homeownership more affordable. One of the most well-known resolutions proposed is cutting the capital gains tax. Other widely discussed ideas includ...

08/18/2026

A little global recognition for our little slice of paradise 🌊☀️ South Beach Park in Vero Beach just landed on Beach.com’s list of the Top 25 Beaches in the World! 🌎🏖️

Curious what put our beach on the list? Click the link below to discover why. 👀
🔗https://bit.ly/4wBvyyq

08/18/2026

A vinyl fence in Florida is basically on a countdown from the day it's installed. This native hedge is the opposite, it improves every year.

08/17/2026

Marigolds start strong in a Florida garden, then fade fast once real summer heat sets in. These keep going long after.

08/17/2026

The differences go beyond extreme heat or humidity 😎🌵🌴

Arizona and Florida rank among the most-watched real estate markets in the country, and for all the good reasons.

08/16/2026

Mapped: The Cost of College in Every U.S. State 🎓

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-the-cost-of-college-in-every-u-s-state/

08/11/2026

That first deep breath the morning after monsoon rain hits the desert? Your nervous system actually reacts to that. 🌧️✨

Petrichor, the scent released when rain hits dry earth, has been associated with that unmistakable fresh, calming feeling after a storm. And the McDowell Sonoran Preserve the morning after a storm is one of the best places in the Valley to experience the desert transformed.

A slow, mindful morning walk after a storm offers:
🌿 Cooler temps + lower-intensity movement, ideal for a recovery or active rest day
🫁 Fresh, rain-washed desert air
👁️ A grounding sensory reset as the desert wakes up greener, quieter, and alive in ways only monsoon season can deliver

But before you hit the trail, check the conditions. If trails are still wet, please refrain from hiking, biking, or horseback riding. Traveling on wet trails can cause lasting damage, so giving them time to dry helps protect the Preserve we all love. 🌵💚

Pair your next dry-trail morning with a good hydration plan (see our earlier posts!), get an early start, and let the desert do what it does best.

Your wellness routine just got a little more Sonoran. 💪🌵

Photo by Lynne Janney Russell

08/08/2026

August is when Florida bougainvillea either holds its blooms or loses them all at once. One thing done now is usually what decides which happens.