Florida, often referred to as the Sunshine State because of its warm climate, became a U.S. state on March 3, 1845.  With its beautiful sandy beaches and historic cities, Florida is one of the most popular places for tourists to visit in the United States. 

Florida is unique from other states in many ways.  St. Augustine is the oldest city in the U.S. and Orlando is the most visited amusement park destination in the country.  NASA launches its space shuttles from Cape Canaveral.  The sports drink Gatorade was invented in Gainesville.

Florida is also well-known for its professional and collegiate sports teams.  Since 2001, Florida has seen world championships for the Marlins, Heat, Buccaneers, and Lightning, as well as major college championships for the Hurricanes in football and the Gators in basketball and football.  There are also other professional sports teams in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami.

Florida, along with many other states in the U.S., has seen property values skyrocket over the past few years.  This, along with the decline of interest rates, has created many opportunities for homeowners.  For people who got their first mortgage when interest rates were much higher, there is the oppotunity to refinance.  With refinancing, a mortgage is replaced with a new home loan, often allowing for lower monthly mortgage payments.  Another choice that has been afforded to homeowners is to use the equity in their homes to apply for a home equity loan or line of credit.  By doing this, one can essentially turn the equity in a house into cash, using it for big purchases or to consolidate debt.  For more information on these mortgage options, consider contacting a mortgage company or local lender, or let Refinance Mortgage Brokers.com assist you with your mortgage needs.