Florida real estate industry boosts state to the top of national list

People often joke that the only industry in South Florida is real estate development. And a recent report from the National Association of Realtors seems to confirm that punchline, at least in part. In Florida, the real estate industry accounted for a larger share of the state’s economy than it did anywhere else in the country last year, the report says. More than a quarter of Florida’s gross domestic product came from the real estate industry in 2025 More from the Miami Herald and Florida Realtors.

Opinion: Developers are using Florida housing law to threaten communities. A fix is needed

The growing challenge surrounding Florida’s Live Local Act is becoming clear in communities where local governments are increasingly struggling to withstand developer litigation pressure and apply the tools they still have. The law was passed in 2023 in response to a housing affordability crisis and an increasingly inconsistent local approval system that, across Florida, had become unpredictable, politicized and difficult to navigate. [Source: Miami Herald]

Gen Z workforce shift may reshape Florida housing market

Gen Z is increasingly choosing trades over four-year degrees, new Florida Realtors® research suggests that shift could reshape Florida’s entry-level housing market. Without heavy student loan debt, some of these buyers may enter the workforce sooner, save earlier and arrive at the closing table with different priorities than previous generations. [Source: Florida Realtors]

A new Florida law will drop permits for low-cost home projects

Legislation waiving building permits on single-family residential projects valued under $7,500 was one of five bills Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Wednesday night. The measure (HB 803) also limits local government officials from inspecting the work, allows certain out-of-state licensed building officials to work for one year after a declared state of emergency, and provides an exemption from building permits for certain temporary residential hurricane or flood protection walls. [Source: WLRN]

Sparks flare over Florida law to target idle golf courses for housing

A bill overriding local zoning authority to allow housing on idle Southeast Florida golf courses drew little public attention during Florida’s legislative session. When the Infill Redevelopment Act passed, warnings over problems it could cause bubbled up, but only in limited circles. It passed in March without a single “nay” vote in the Senate and overwhelmingly cleared the House. The bill landed on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk this week, and now what were isolated warnings have flared up into threats of lawsuits as homeowners fear their million-dollar views of golf course greens and fairways will disappear. [Source: Housing Wire]

STAT OF THE WEEK
$13.4 million
Jacksonville has not spent millions in state funds designated for affordable housing. The city has about $13.4 million in unallocated funds from the state's SHIP program. [Source: Florida Times-Union]

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› Tampa man jailed for not demolishing his guest house is ‘not done fighting’ [Tampa Bay Times]
Michael Martin came home from the Hillsborough County jail on Friday exhausted and 12 pounds lighter, but his words sounded strong. “I’m not done fighting,” he said from the couch of his South Tampa home. A nurse had just hooked him up to an IV. “I’m really dehydrated. The water isn’t very good at the jail.” Martin, 62, spent nearly three weeks inside, charged with contempt of court for failing to follow a judge’s order that he demolish the two-story gym and guest house, his pool and a pickleball court he’d constructed in the back yard of his Beach Park home.

› WeWork founder’s Miami real estate firm Flow announces Wynwood venture [Miami Herald]
The billionaire former CEO of WeWork is growing his real estate footprint in South Florida. Adam Neumann’s real estate firm Flow announced it is expanding into Wynwood with the purchase of an existing apartment building that the company is rebranding Flow Wynwood. Flow is partnering with Greybrook Realty Partners, a Toronto-based firm that was involved in developing the existing apartment building, Society Wynwood.

› Jacksonville homeowners see equity cushion shrink as underwater properties climb [Jacksonville Business Journal]
Jacksonville homeowners are still holding meaningful home equity, but the local market’s cushion is getting thinner. About 35.4% of mortgaged homes in the Jacksonville metro area were equity-rich in the first quarter, meaning the estimated loan balance on the property was no more than half of its market value, according to ATTOM’s Q1 2026 U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report. That amounted to 145,893 equity-rich homes out of 412,048 mortgaged residential properties in the metro area.

› 358 affordable housing units under construction in Fort Myers [Business Observer]
Construction of a 358-unit affordable housing community is underway in Fort Myers. The $112 million project is being built by Naples’ Onda Housing Group and developed along with Lee County, Citi Community Capital, Florida Housing Finance Corp., the city of Fort Myers and U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance. The property will remain affordable for 99 years and serve households earning up to 60% of the area median income.

Sandra Cires: One of Florida’s top YouTube stars