Florida RealEstateRama

“Today, Florida state legislators responded to the growing movement of Florida voters who are standing up against fracking and the oil and gas industry. By killing two pro-fracking bills that would have allowed new dirty forms of fracking in Florida, and would have also barred local communities from enacting their own local fracking bans, legislators have protected Florida from the public health and environmental risks associated with drilling and fracking

Ameriprise Financial (NYSE: AMP) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the retail assets of JHS Capital Advisors (“JHS”), an independent broker-dealer and investment advisor based in Tampa, Fla.

The Lake County Solid Waste Division is encouraging Lake County residents to dispose of toxic materials in a safe and environmentally sensitive way at an upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection event.

Congratulations to CLSMF Pro Bono Attorney Jimmy Allen Davis, the recipient of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties and Brighthouse Networks Adult Volunteer of the Year award. Jimmy was presented with his award at the annual volunteers’ luncheon at the Shores Resort in Daytona Beach Shores on April 23.

The Median Sale Price of single-family homes has continued to climb compared to March of this last year. It has increased 18.9% year over year for the month of March to $219,938

Representative Gwen Graham spoke at the North Florida Homeless Veterans Stand Down event today, and announced the Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program, effective immediately.

The Miami real estate market, one of the most popular in the nation with international and domestic buyers, continued to gain momentum in March, as single-family home transactions registered double-digit growth year-over-year and existing condominium sales rose despite an increase in new condo construction

Tech talent clustering is a growing driver of demand for office space in both large and small markets across the U.S., according to a new CBRE Research report, “Scoring Tech Talent” which ranks 50 U.S. markets according to their ability to attract and grow tech talent. Tampa ranks No. 36 on the overall tech talent list, making it the top-ranked Florida city, followed by Orlando (No. 47), Fort Lauderdale (No. 48) and Miami (No. 50).

Tech talent clustering is a growing driver of demand for office space in both large and small markets across the U.S., according to a new CBRE Research report, “Scoring Tech Talent” which ranks 50 U.S. markets according to their ability to attract and grow tech talent. Tampa ranks No. 36 on the overall tech talent list, and among the top fifteen small markets – those with a tech labor pool of less than 50,000

The Miami real estate market remains a top destination for foreign buyers despite economic slowdowns in Latin America and Western Europe, according to the 2014 Miami International Buyer Survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) for the 35,000-member MIAMI Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI), the nation’s largest local Realtor association. The survey ranks buyers by countries and highlights key characteristics of foreign buyers. A preview of the survey was featured recently at the R.E.A.L Awards and Real Estate Summit hosted by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce

The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud on Thursday arrested three subjects on charges related to personal injury protection (PIP) fraud. Shortly after being taken into custody, one subject suffered a medical emergency unrelated to the arrest.

“On any given night, nearly 50,000 veterans sleep in homeless shelters or on the streets. Furthermore, approximately 260,000 veterans use homeless shelters or other services during the course of a year. These courageous men and women have stood up in defense of our freedom, and we owe them more than our gratitude – we owe them our firm commitment to ensure that they receive the care and benefits they earned through their service.

“Transportation programs are too critical to our economy to be delayed any longer. Indisputably, getting a Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill done on time and with a substantive funding source will boost our economy, and contribute to fixing our aging bridges, roads, highways, and the operation of our transit systems.

April is Fair Housing Month, and to commemorate the 1968 passage of the federal Fair Housing Act—which prohibits discrimination in housing—civil rights, nonprofit and government agencies, will come together to sponsor the Florida Fair Housing Summit in Orlando on Friday, April 24, 2015. The event is open to the public and will be held at the Orlando World Center Marriott, 8701 World Center Drive, Orlando 32821

Participants are required to attend all three classes, which will address frequently asked questions and problems in the home landscape. The series is being offered to give participants both classroom and hands-on training on how to calibrate a fertilizer spreader, install a micro-irrigation system, and select plant materials. Participants will receive micro-irrigation supplies and a Plant Selection and Landscape Design Guide.

The Lake County Solid Waste Division, in partnership with the Leesburg Police Department, is encouraging Lake County residents to dispose of unwanted household hazardous materials and medications in a safe and environmentally conscious way at an upcoming collection event

Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate Advisors Brent Miller, CCIM, CPM, Henry Hanna, CCIM, SIOR, John McClellan, CCIM, Wesley Cox, CCIM, Bradley Gillis, CCIM, Rick Tilghman, CCIM, Chris Peek, CCIM, Chris Davis, Bill Moore, Ben Alder, Nick Campanaro, Will Moore, David Wilk, CRE, MAI, Stephen Weick, Bob Rich, Tonney Insley, Managing Director Amy Miller, CPM, and Marketing Director Nicole Abresch recently attended the SVN “Right Here. Right Now.” National Conference in Orlando, FL at the Hilton Orlando

The MIAMI Association of REALTORS is pleased to announce Miami native Christina Pappas as the 2015 chairman of the MIAMI’s Young Professionals Network Leadership Board. The YPN board was recently installed at MIAMI’s Annual Inaugural and Awards Luncheon.

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension in Lake County is providing three free webinars to help residents improve their finances. The live online sessions will provide information on steps to boost overall finances, understand the financial aspects of home ownership and manage credit.

Knight Foundation, Direct Energy and The Miami Foundation support will allow consumers, businesses and local government to experience the future of cities. Smart City Startups, the two-day urban tech conference, highlighting the startups, people, and ideas that are transforming cities, will return to Miami for its second year, with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Miami Foundation.