South Florida Real Estate

Florida’s Population to Grow by 1.4M by 2030

The nonpartisan Florida Taxwatch group said Florida’s economic growth pattern should match or surpass the national economic growth pattern for the next five years. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A report released Tuesday says Florida’s population could grow by 1.4 million people by 2030 and cautions that inflation’s effects could linger into 2027. The quarterly economic performance … Read more

DeSantis Signs Bills Targeting Squatters

The laws speed up commercial squatter evictions and are a 2025 Florida Realtors’ priority. SB 322 was championed by Realtor caucus member Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez. SARASOTA, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference Monday to sign two bills aimed at limiting squatters’ rights in Florida. Held at The Westin Sarasota, DeSantis addressed … Read more

Time to Stop Worrying About Mortgage Rates

Rather than waiting for rates to drop, buyers should be looking at all monthly costs to get a picture of what they can afford, says NAR’s deputy chief economist. CHICAGO — Home buyers may need to brace for a new reality: Mortgage rates in the upper 6% or even 7% range –at least for the … Read more

New Health Insurance Planning Tool Coming Soon

Health Plan Navigator, launching fall 2025, helps Florida Realtors’ members explore and compare health insurance plans on one easy-to-use platform. Links to /membership/health-plan-navigator-venteur Introducing your new insurance solution, powered by Venteur exclusively for Florida Realtors® members. ORLANDO, Fla. — Choosing a health insurance plan is challenging under the best of circumstances. With varying levels of … Read more

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Largely Unchanged

Overall, consumers see the outlook for the economy as no worse than last month, but they remained concerned about the future, a new survey found. WASHINGTON — Consumer sentiment was unchanged from April, ending four consecutive months of plunging declines. Sentiment had ebbed at the preliminary reading for May but turned a corner in the … Read more

RE Q&A: HOA Pay for Parking During Repairs?

Associations must maintain common elements like parking decks and may raise dues or assess fees to cover costs, including reimbursing related resident expenses. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Question: We live in a 20-story condominium where every unit has one assigned spot in the garage, and we all share a large upper parking deck. Last year, … Read more

Mortgage Rates Edge Higher This Week

The average rate on 30-year mortgages rose to 6.89% from 6.86% last week, while borrowing costs on 15-year mortgages rose to 6.03% from 6.01%. WASHINGTON — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. rose this week to its highest level since early February, further pushing up borrowing costs for homebuyers. The rate … Read more

Strategies for Taking Control of Your Inbox

Tame your inbox by archiving old emails, organizing key info and regularly sorting messages to boost focus and productivity. NEW YORK — Email management can seem overwhelming but simple strategies help professionals be more productive and get their inboxes under control. The first step is to move all emails out of the inbox except for … Read more

Define Your Target Audience to Boost Success

Choosing a niche means greater focus for the public-facing brand, but real estate pros can still work in the market where they started. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Real estate professionals who are just starting out often say “yes” to every opportunity; then once a foundation of business is built, they can shift to focus on targeted … Read more

DeSantis Signs State Parks Bill

The governor signed a bill blocking golf courses, resort-style lodges and sports facilities in state parks, a Florida Realtors 2025 legislative priority. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After a public outcry last year about a Department of Environmental Protection proposal, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a bill designed to prevent construction of golf courses, resort-style lodges … Read more