Crist pitches Florida real estate to Russians

Off on a high-profile trip to Europe, Gov. Charlie Crist made a pass through Russia on Monday to ask our oil-rich, ex-Communist friends to buy Florida real estate.

Representatives from the Florida Association of Realtors have hitched along on the continental tour, fresh from making a similar pitch to potential home buyers in the United Kingdom.

"The governor has brought much needed visibility throughout Europe to Florida's commercial and residential real estate market," said John Sebree, vice president of public policy for the Florida Realtors. "Investment capital is flush and our market is clearly being seen as one of value to its Russian investors."

Slinging stucco wasn't Crist's sole purpose in the ex-Soviet Union. During a meeting with Maxim Kalinin, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia's St. Petersburg, he encouraged the country to buy more Florida products. Florida exported $70,000 worth of oranges to Russia last year, a pittance compared with the millions of dollars of the fruit shipped to the rest of Europe.

Crist is one of the first state leaders to visit St. Petersburg, Russia, since President Bush and Prime Minister Vladmir Putin announced the U.S.-Russia Business Dialogue earlier this year.

A recent story in the Wall Street Journal noted a surge in Russian real estate deals in the United States. One of the largest is fertilizer tycoon Dmitry Rybolovlev's proposed $100-million purchase of Donald Trump's Palm Beach estate.

In interviews with Europeans, Florida Realtors are publicizing how easy it is to buy Florida property, mentioning the weakened dollar and the huge inventories of unsold homes.

Comments on this article

by Ralph	Jul 24, 2008 8:54 PM
He met with who ; someone from the American Chamber , you are kidding ,right ! $250,000 wasted just to falsely build his credentials in foreign affairs in an attempt to become VP . Florida needs to be reimbursed . What is in this for Floirda ?

by tim	Jul 24, 2008 11:46 AM
The Russians will feel right at home with the dictatorial way St. Pete is forcing a new stadium on us. Welcome Comrades!

by Carl	Jul 24, 2008 11:23 AM
Crist best resolve State Farm/mortgage issues & find buyers for homes in Pasco County for those forced from their homes by his Pasco cronies & phoney mortgage scammers. Full knowledge of scammers before news broke. RECALL !

by Dave	Jul 24, 2008 11:23 AM
Are the Russians really stupid enough to buy in Florida and pay our property tax and insurance rates?

by Vic	Jul 23, 2008 5:21 PM
So , how does a Russian buying a house in Florida solve the needs of a citzen of Florida ? Did we miss something , or is this just another grandiose idea that sounds good , but accomplishes nothing ? Nothing against Russians , but we need help !

by Amber	Jul 23, 2008 4:42 PM
I am so happy that our taxes are sending Crist to Europe so he can ask foreign investors to buy up Florida for a steal due to the week dollar. I am just so pleased with the direction this country is going.

by MrMxyztplk	Jul 23, 2008 2:50 PM
another Red scare !!! I say let the Russians have all of Miami...

by Squashed	Jul 23, 2008 1:53 PM
Can anybody stake a fellow American to a hot meal and one square foot of living space?

by mike	Jul 23, 2008 1:53 PM
the Governor ought to here at HOME taking care of Florida business not pitching anything to the Russians! Get home and do the job in Florida that you were elected to do! Stop the foolish spending.

by James	Jul 23, 2008 11:51 AM
The owners of the Federal Reserve don't believe in borders. Know your enemy. We had our chance to vote for Ron Paul. Now we will pay for our ignorance through higher taxes and the continued selling off of assets and financial bailouts. As Always.

by Sal	Jul 23, 2008 10:10 AM
If your house is for sale you should be happy that Charlie is pimping for you. And the cost of FL (taxes, insurance etc) is not going to scare away overseas buyers - they have all our money now. But I understand the sentiments displayed in posts.

by John	Jul 23, 2008 10:10 AM
Looks like Charlie is going to have to go to work when he gets back. Seems McCain is going with Pawlenty for his VP. Charlie, get back to work and fix your screwups here before you take another vacation.

by darryl	Jul 23, 2008 10:10 AM
if he thinks this is going to boost the economy he is mistaken.why not sell whats already built,and developed.why destroy more animal habitat.we have bears,bobcats,coyote,and aligators roaming where there homes,and food sources were taken away.

by Disgusted	Jul 23, 2008 10:10 AM
Jason, right on target, maybe we need to rid ourselves of a few more & take their pensions & put it in a fund 4 the victims of Crist,Sink,Saxon. Let them lose their homes & see how they like it. Crist has no worries, he's marrying a spoiled rich girl

by KK	Jul 22, 2008 8:23 PM
so now, when will their officials be over here to pitch real estate in their countries, I'm sure we'll be paying for their flight too . . . oh hell, maybe we should just swap, most of the foreigners are already here if not on their way.

by Chris	Jul 22, 2008 4:30 PM
Wait until the Russians see what the taxes will be for a newcomer. They will not buy. No wait, not just Russians, but anyone. Hello Uhaul!

by Richard	Jul 22, 2008 4:30 PM
Why are the citizens of this State paying for Chuck to waste fuel and our money vacationing all over the world. Anything he needs to deal with can be handled by phone, mail or the internet. Get back in Tall. and work on solving Florida's problems

by Derek	Jul 22, 2008 3:08 PM
Encourage foreigners to buy our real estate. Prices go up, and the people that live here get priced out of the market again. Great idea Crist.

by Dr_Dug	Jul 22, 2008 3:04 PM
Interesting...Now that the average American is low on cash or in a crisis due to bad Govt.,Ole'Charlie is overseas partying on taxpayer money with his girlfriend while selling our homes and real estate to Foreigners. Selling out to the Russians..SAD.

by Holly	Jul 22, 2008 3:00 PM
Yea, Charlie...let's just ask the Russians to buy up our real estate. Now that's a well thought-out plan!

by jen	Jul 22, 2008 3:00 PM
Of course...America is for sale!

by yvonne	Jul 22, 2008 2:59 PM
Why o why do we feel the need to continue to sell off our United States ??????????

by Steve	Jul 22, 2008 2:58 PM
Great! Let the russians buy all the forclosed homes. Christ is a jerk!

by LT	Jul 22, 2008 2:57 PM
Teachers, cops, well, just about everyone can't afford to live here anymore. So why not pass the bag to Russian mobsters? Good idea!

by Dawn	Jul 22, 2008 2:56 PM
So his answer to our crisis of insurance and home foreclosure is to sell the state? Another idiotic republican solution we can't afford.

by cj	Jul 22, 2008 2:53 PM
What is the proper, legal method: Petition, Tar and Feathers, or what? What can citizens do to rid this varmint on an immediate basis?

by yvonne	Jul 22, 2008 2:53 PM
Why o why do we feel the need to continue to sell off our United States ??????????

by Dr_Dug	Jul 22, 2008 2:52 PM
Interesting...Now that the average American is low on cash or in a crisis due to bad Govt.,Ole'Charlie is overseas partying on taxpayer money with his girlfriend while selling our homes and real estate to Foreigners. Selling out to the Russians..SAD.

by Peter	Jul 22, 2008 2:51 PM
Crist needs to stop slinging stucco and start solving Florida's numerous problems. He has prepared himself for a life of travel and good times on the backs of the residents of Florida. Hey Charlie what about our insurance costs and our taxes?

by John	Jul 22, 2008 2:49 PM
Sure, let's have more foreigners buy up America.

by Jason	Jul 22, 2008 2:45 PM
We urge everyone reading this to send this to Lou Dobbs. Then write, phone, email, fax to your congressman and senator and let them know you want a voter recall election to remove him from office.