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Demand in South Florida’s commercial real estate market is producing low vacancy rates and a number of major developments in an array of sectors, according to local experts at the third annual Miami Association of REALTORS® Commercial Alliance Midyear Update that took place recently in Coral Gables. Five of South Florida’s top real estate professionals discussed Miami’s booming retail market as well as local developments in the multifamily, capital markets, industrial, and office sectors in an event presented by the MIAMI Association of REALTORS, the nation’s largest Realtor group with 36,000 members.

Three new boat slips along with a kayak/paddle board launch have opened at Water Works Park in historic Tampa Heights just in time for the Independence Day holiday this weekend.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) announced the conclusion of a sting operation that identified unlicensed contractors in the Jacksonville area. Working together with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) and the Florida Department of Financial Services – Division of Workers’ Compensation, DBPR investigators identified eight unlicensed contractors who were allegedly advertising for contracting services, such as electrical, plumbing or roofing, which require a Florida license

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners will hear the county manager’s budget summary presentation for fiscal year 2016, which includes certified property values and constitutional budgets, at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7.

Many families across Florida and the nation will spend the Fourth of July holiday away from home, soaking up sun on the state’s beautiful beaches, traveling to see relatives or visiting friends for a backyard barbecue

Mayor Bob Buckhorn released the following statement today following Governor Scott’s signing of the 2015 state budget. This year’s budget included funding critical to the relocation of the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine to downtown Tampa.

As part of the City of Tampa’s Downtown Utility Capital Improvement Projects (UCAP), the intersection of W. Fortune St. and N. Macinnes Place will be closed beginning June 23, 2015. Flagmen will be present to guide motorists through the construction work. The intersection will re-open Tuesday, June 30, 2015.

To engage residents in community life and create incentives for talented people to live and stay in Miami, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced $250,000 to support the development of a master plan for The Underline, a proposed 10-mile linear park and urban trail beneath the Miami-Dade County Metrorail. Friends of the Underline, a nonprofit group leading the initiative to transform the underutilized land, will further use the support to engage the public in the design and implementation of the project.

Orlando’s housing market is riding its traditional summertime wave of home sales — fueled in part by both low interest rates and more inventory — and posted positive numbers for the month of May. Sales of existing homes increased 10 percent while the median price also increased 10 percent when compared to May of 2014, reports the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps, announced new investments of $15.4 million to support AmeriCorps members who will increase student achievement, high school graduation rates, and career readiness in Florida.

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Housing has announced the finalists of this year’s Robert C. Larson Housing Policy Leadership Award, an annual program that recognizes exemplary state and local programs, policies, and practices that support the production, rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable and workforce housing.

Water Department employees have further reduced the affected area to an area bounded by Stillbrook Avenue on the north, Boxwood and Baycrest drives on the south, Memorial Highway on the east, and the canals on the west. There are approximately 700 customer accounts still experiencing low pressure. Water Department employees are making progress, but still working to locate a break.

First, the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency Board will meet at 9:00 a.m. to accept the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Plan from the Planning Commission and submit the plan to the City Council. Public comment will be heard. City Council will then hold a Public Hearing during a Special Call meeting at 9:30 a.m. to consider adoption of the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Plan and for the first reading of the ordinance creating the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Trust Fund.

A significant majority of Americans believes the country is still not past the housing crisis that began seven years ago, according to a new survey of housing attitudes released today by MacArthur

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations, released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 2577, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill for FY16

Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL-03) introduced an amendment -to the Transportation House and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill (HR 2577)- that would make sure no taxpayer funds could be used to circumvent existing law which prevents illegal immigrants from obtaining housing assistance. The Amendment passed the House 244-181. Congressman Yoho gave the following statement

U.S. Representative Tom Rooney (FL-17), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the FY 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill, under consideration by the House today

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement after the United States House of Representatives issued two strong rebukes of President Obama’s policy towards Cuba in both the Commerce, Justice, and Science and the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bills for FY 2016.

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, made the following statement regarding the defeat of the Lee Amendment to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which would have repealed language that prohibits any new regularly scheduled flights or cruises to Cuba if they use illegally confiscated American property. The Lee Amendment was defeated by a margin of 247 – 176

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today an agreement with a North Miami Beach condominium association settling allegations its board president harassed and made discriminatory remarks about Black and Hispanic residents and attempted to evict them.