Space Coast Association of REATLORS® Blogs

Florida Tourism Continues to Grow

By Kymberly Franklin posted 7 hours ago
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Florida welcomed 36 million total visitors between January and March 2022 according to VISIT FLORIDA estimates. This is a 14 percent increase from Q4 2021, and the third consecutive quarter that overall visitation has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Approximately 34.1 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in Q1 2022.  Additional highlights from  VISIT FLORIDA’s latest visitation estimates  include: Florida welcomed 1.3 million overseas travelers in Q1 2022, an increase of nearly 169 percent from Q1 2021. Overseas visitation to Florida in Q1 2022 was 14 percentage points closer to full recovery than the rest of the United States. Canadian visitation ...
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Public Policy Status Report - 5/20/22

By Kymberly Franklin posted 12 hours ago
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Public Policy Update Good afternoon everyone. The Legislative Special Session to address Florida’s property insurance crisis begins on Monday, and we stand poised to engage with lawmakers as they attempt to bring relief to policyholders around the state. In preparation for next week, your public policy team has spent the past couple of months meeting with our members, government officials, lawmakers, insurance experts and other key stakeholders to discuss potential solutions to the ongoing crisis. All indications are that lawmakers are planning to consider a package of reforms that will attack the problem from several different directions. Here is a short ...
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2022 FLORIDA REALTORS Convention and Trade Expo

By Kymberly Franklin posted 4 days ago
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Our Annual Convention is the Premier Event for Serious Realtors Every August, network with top producers to close more deals, master skills that lead to more listings, and learn about trends that will change how you do business. Success strategies from top industry leaders, the latest in high-tech devices and a chance to network with other real estate professionals: That’s what the Florida Realtors®  Convention & Trade Expo offers – opportunities to boost business and the bottom line. The 2022 Convention & Trade Expo will take place August 24 and 25, with the popular   REBarCamp   slated to kick off the event on August 23.  Then Realtor members ...
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Highlights from 2022 Legislative Meetings

By Kymberly Franklin posted 5 days ago
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Protecting Rights. Expanding Access. Building Prosperity For the first time in three years, thousands of REALTORS ®   descended on the nation’s capital last week to discuss the pressing issues impacting real estate and to take our message directly to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The 2022 REALTORS ®   Legislative Meetings drew 9,000 members and industry experts to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., for six days of in-depth discussions on the political climate and top issues facing our association and profession. Thousands of REALTORS ®   also met with Members of Congress and their staff, raising three main ...
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Special Report from the May 6, 2022 Board of Directors Meeting

By Kymberly Franklin posted 5 days ago
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Special Report from the May 6, 2022 Board of Directors Meeting Directors Elect Officers, Extend Consumer Ad Campaign May 6, 2022 The National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors met Friday, capping off the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings. The meetings took place just outside of Washington, D.C., in National Harbor, Md. Directors elected Kevin Sears of Springfield, Mass., as first vice president for 2023, and Greg Hrabcak, of Westerville, Ohio, as treasurer for 2023 and 2024.   (Read more on   Sears   and   Hrabcak .) In other actions, directors: Consumer Advertising Approved the ...
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Florida Realtors Public Policy Status Report - 5/13/22

By Kymberly Franklin posted 6 days ago
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Public Policy Update Hi everyone. What a whirlwind of a week it's been. After coming back from a fantastic week-long visit in D.C. for NAR's Legislative Meetings, I hit the road to participate in the Florida Chamber of Commerce's candidate screenings down in Miami. It's a lot of travel, but I can't stress enough how invaluable it is to meet candidates as early in the process as possible. Doing so gets us in on the ground level with them and allows us to develop strong relationships that will help us in our advocacy efforts down the road.  I also wanted to mention that your public policy team is fully engaged in preparation for the upcoming special session ...
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Landlords would give at least 60 days notice on regular lease, 30 days notice on month-to-month lease

By Kymberly Franklin posted 7 days ago
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Cocoa moves forward with proposal to require notice on rent increases As rents and housing costs continue to outpace incomes in Brevard County, Cocoa pushed forward with a proposal Tuesday night that could help tenants prepare for future rent increases.  The ordinance—proposed by councilman LaVander Hearn—would   require landlords to give at least 60 days notice on rent increases   above 5% on annual leases, and at least 30 days of notice on month-to-month leases. The motion to put the proposal to city staff for further review passed unanimously Tuesday evening at Cocoa City Hall.  Councilman Alex Goins said he also wants the city to consider a 90-day ...
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Internet Scammer Faked Real Estate Sales, Rentals

By Kymberly Franklin posted 10 days ago
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Internet Scammer Faked Real Estate Sales, Rentals By David J. Neal Faked online sales and rentals netted a criminal $300K from 45 Fla. families. The scam included fake title companies, websites, title agents and email addresses. LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. – Real estate fraud is as old as Florida, but the $300,000 scam that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) credits to a Loxahatchee woman possesses a thoroughly modern thoroughness. FDLE says Tabria Josey created an online world of real estate listings, websites, email addresses and fake companies to sell properties she didn’t own. Investigators say the 20-year-old worked in Palm Beach, ...
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RPAC Spring Fling Dueling Pianos 2022 Event Wrap-Up

By Kymberly Franklin posted 12 days ago
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What a remarkable night we had at our 2022 RPAC Spring Fling Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos! On Thursday, April 28th the Space Coast Association of Realtors® RPAC Committee hosted Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos for a night full of excitement and entertainment. There wasn't an empty seat in the house and there was an absolute abundance of laughter and fun. We are so thankful for all of our amazing sponsors, Association members and friends that joined us. As well as for the Rockstar pianists from Howl at the Moon who truly made the night unforgettable. With your support the Space Coast Association of Realtors® RPAC Committee made approximately $23,000! ...
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Fla. Unlikely to Feel Impact from Slowing Market

By Kymberly Franklin posted 13 days ago
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Fla. Unlikely to Feel Impact from Slowing Market Wary buyers and rising interest rates may affect some U.S. markets, but Fla.’s rising demand and lack of construction will probably offset a potential cooldown. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Six of the nation’s top 25 most overvalued housing markets are in the Sunshine State, which can expect to see a “prolonged period of unaffordability” even as prices in other regions of the country cool. Recent studies by three South Florida universities and the University of Alabama point to the same high demand and low inventory as reasons for the homebuyer and rental angst experienced since the start of the pandemic, ...
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Our condolences to the loved ones of Rick Wittig

By Kymberly Franklin posted 13 days ago
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Richard (Rick) Wittig, 81, of Palm Bay, Florida, died peacefully on May 3, 2022 surrounded by his family; following complications of surgery. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Doreen; his (step) daughters, Monika Wilkinson of Dedham, Massachusetts and Danielle Kharman of Charlotte, North Carolina and grandsons John, Luke and Paul. He is also survived by his brothers Jack and Jerry and his sister Joan. He predeceased by his brother James. He served proudly in the U.S. Navy. Rick and Doreen were long-term partners in Real Estate. He liked to say that he taught her all she knew and then retired so she could continue in her successful career. ...
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NAR Housing Forecast: Expect Market Uncertainty

By Kymberly Franklin posted 17 days ago
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NAR Housing Forecast: Expect Market Uncertainty Chief Economist Yun told Realtors at Legislative Meetings this week that 2022 has thrown curveballs like “record-low inventory and unyielding inflation.” NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – Two years after enduring the devastating financial impacts of COVID-19, the U.S. economy has made an impressive comeback, in large part due to a booming housing market. However, as National Association of Realtors® Chief Economist Lawrence Yun explained today, there are significant questions regarding the sector’s direction over the coming months. “Housing kept the economy afloat as home prices rose and buyer demand intensified,” ...
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How to Use Video Marketing to Advertise Your Listings

By Kymberly Franklin posted 19 days ago
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How to Use Video Marketing to Advertise Your Listings Video marketing is an effective way to advertise your real estate listing. Videos are an effective marketing tool as clients often prefer visual content over written text. In today's article, we will list the reasons why video marketing is beneficial and how you can advertise your listings through videos. Why Real Estate Video Marketing? Video marketing has become very popular in today's real estate industry. Many real estate agents use video marketing as a tool to grow their business and expand their audience. Videos offer various creative options for advertising your products and services. Realtors ...
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Prepare for the 2022 Hurricane Season

By Kymberly Franklin posted 20 days ago
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Prepare for the 2022 Hurricane Season June 1 marks the start of hurricane season. Make a disaster plan now and stock up on supplies like batteries, flashlights, water and more. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In recognition of Hurricane Preparedness Week, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis offers hurricane preparedness tips and resources to aid Floridians with their disaster plans. This year’s hurricane season begins June 1. “The 2022 hurricane season is only one month away and I am urging Floridians to take advantage of the calm before the storm to prepare now,” Patronis said. “There is nothing more important than ...
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Back-up Contracts: Short Rider, Lots of Questions

By Kymberly Franklin posted 21 days ago
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Back-up Contracts: Short Rider, Lots of Questions By Joel Maxson As a seller’s market persists throughout Florida, more buyers enter into back-up contracts. Although the back-up contract rider is short, a few questions regularly drive members to call Florida Realtors Legal Hotline. ORLANDO, Fla. – As our inventory remains thin in Florida, buyers are using back-up contracts to reserve a back-up position in case an existing contract for sale and purchase falls through. The most common rider parties use to create a back-up contract is the Florida Realtors/Florida Bar Rider W, Back-up Contract. That’s the form we’ll analyze for this article, along ...
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Managing Fla.’s Massive Growth: What's Next

By Kymberly Franklin posted 24 days ago
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Managing Fla.’s Massive Growth: What's Next Fla.’s population may grow by 3.5M residents to reach 26M by 2030. A chamber report predicts 1.6M jobs more will be needed and 3M more cars will be on roads. ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida’s population is predicted to reach 26 million by 2030, an increase of more than 3.5 million residents, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Florida 2030 Blueprint. The initiative calls on local governments, businesses and private organizations to address 39 targets ranging from job training to environmental protection. The blueprint estimates that Florida will need an additional 1.6 million jobs by 2030, ...
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NEW Member Benefit: Photofy = Content Creation Made EASY!

By Kymberly Franklin posted 25 days ago
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Take your social media presence to the next level with the help of Florida Realtors® and NARs new member benefit, Photofy—the world's most powerful mobile content creation tool for businesses and consumers. CONTENT CREATION MADE EASY; A MOBILE CONTENT CREATION PLATFORM scroll through the library, choose, personalize and share your REALTOR® pride. WHAT: The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and Florida REALTORS® have partnered with Photofy to create  NAR and FR branded versions of a content creations app that comes pre-loaded with social media videos and graphics. The app allows members to easily personalize the  social media graphics with ...
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Pending Home Sales Sag 1.2% in March

By Kymberly Franklin posted 25 days ago
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Pending Home Sales Sag 1.2% in March Key Highlights Pending sales fell for the fifth consecutive month, down 1.2% in March from February. Pending sales rose in the Northeast and fell in the other three regions.  Compared to the prior year, pending sales fell for the tenth consecutive month, by 8.2%, with pending sales down across all regions. WASHINGTON (April 27, 2022) – Pending home sales dropped in March, signifying five straight months that contract activity has declined, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Month-over-month, only the Northeast saw an increase in contract signings, while the three other major U.S. regions ...
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Realtors® See Sharp Increase in Homes with Green Features

By Kymberly Franklin posted 27 days ago
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Realtors® See Sharp Increase in Homes with Green Features April 26, 2022 Media Contact:  Spencer High 202-383-1051 Sustainability Key Highlights Half of Realtors® surveyed have recently helped clients buy or sell a home with green features, up from 32% from the previous year. Roughly two out of three agents and brokers see value in promoting energy efficiency in listings. A third of respondents are concerned about the impact of extreme weather events on the housing market. WASHINGTON (April 26, 2022) – The number of Realtors® involved with buying or ...
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RECAP: EDC Update: The Next Giant Leap 4.22.22

By Kymberly Franklin posted 04-21-2022
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We had a great morning at the Association as we hosted Guest Speaker, Brian Baluta, Vice President Communications and Partner Relations for the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast . The future of the #spacecoast is BRIGHT and so very exciting. Thank you to all who participated virtually and in house. It was great seeing so many smiling faces. There are a TON of great things happening, in planning processes and expected to begin here on the Space Coast. We're always so grateful to have the experts come in for our Members and provide them with first hand knowledge as to what is going on within our county. We are looking ...
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