California beckons

WikiRealty is exactly the kind of technology company Florida economic development officials seek out to help diversify the state's economy.

But despite high taxes, wildfires and traffic, California still beckons technology entrepreneurs. WikiRealty's founder and CEO, Sanjay Kuttemperoor, moved the company's headquarters from its birthplace in Naples to Santa Monica, Calif., last year. WikiRealty's move shows how Florida still has a ways to go before it becomes a hub for tech companies and the venture-capital investors who fund them.

WikiRealty and technology companies like it have become an integral part residential real estate as consumers seek information online. In addition to listing 1.3 million homes for sale, WikiRealty encourages content contributions by real estate professionals and others to boost the site's popularity on search engines like Google. The company has created partnerships with major Realtor associations in big metropolitan areas like Miami and Chicago.