The rise of the ‘halfbacks’: Retirees who moved to Florida are now fleeing it

The classic retirement pipeline has been established for years: Grow up in the Northeast, make your money in a place like New York, and then retire to Florida for the low cost of living and easy beach access. But a new migration pattern is emerging. A confluence of factors have soured things a bit for those who moved to Florida, and now thousands of them are becoming “halfbacks”: They’ve moved halfway back north and settled in a state like South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, or Tennessee. More from Realtor.com and Florida Politics.

Property appraisers: 'Bedroom' towns face serious funding challenges under property tax relief plan

A proposed Florida constitutional amendment aimed at slashing property taxes could offer immediate relief to homeowners, but county property appraisers are warning it will spark a major financial challenge for local governments and alter how public services are funded. Appraisers from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties appeared Friday on WLRN's South Florida Roundup — hosted by Tim Padgett — to discuss the fiscal math of the proposal, which could drain billions of dollars from local government coffers in the region and around the state. More from WLRN and Gulfshore Business.

See also:
» Lawsuit challenges Florida property tax ballot language as 'biased' & 'misleading'

Florida leads in foreclosures as filings rise 14% nationwide

Foreclosures have continued apace, with Florida leading the nation in May, according to a new report. Nationwide, foreclosure filings dropped 5% last month from April but surged 14% from a year ago, according to the May 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report released by property data provider ATTOM. Florida had the worst foreclosure rate in the country, with 1 in every 2,110 housing units in the Sunshine State carrying a foreclosure filing, compared with 1 in every 3,562 housing units nationwide. More from Realtor.com and CBS News.

The salary you need to buy a house in Florida in 2026

Florida is the fastest-growing state in the country, according to U.S. News data. People choose to move to Florida for myriad reasons: The absence of income taxes makes Florida a popular destination among retirees, while families may choose the state for its year-round outdoor lifestyle. Whether you're looking to buy a home in Florida to enjoy the sandy shores or you just want to keep more of your paycheck in your pocket, you'll need to make a decent living to live comfortably in the Sunshine State. [Source: US News & World Report]

Wealthy Colombians look to Florida homes as election risks rise

Wealthy Colombians’ interest in buying real estate in South Florida is growing as the Latin American country faces economic weakness and political uncertainty in the midst of a highly competitive presidential election, according to sellers in the Sunshine State. Real estate investors from Latin America have long been looking at Florida as a sought-after destination to shore up their assets, with a focus on Miami. But purchases and searches for residential properties in the state from Colombian buyers, in particular, have seen a clear uptick in recent months, figures show. [Source: Newsweek]

STAT OF THE WEEK
$6.9 million
A one-of-a-kind penthouse overlooking Sarasota Bay has hit the market on Golden Gate Point, offering a combination of features rarely found in the city's luxury condominium market. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

ALSO TRENDING:

› Why Citrus County is defying Florida’s housing slowdown [Spectrum News]
As concerns grow about a potential housing slowdown across Florida, new data suggests Citrus County may offer a clearer picture of what a “normalizing” housing market looks like. Known for its rural farmland, Citrus County is now seeing increased development — two contrasting realities that together reflect the area’s growth. Local experts say it’s this evolution that highlights a more balanced and sustainable housing market.

› Northeast Florida home prices see 5.1% increase in May as buying activity increases [Jacksonville Business Journal]
The Northeast Florida housing market is seeing solid demand, reflected in increased sales activity and rising prices, according to the latest Northeast Florida Association of Realtors report. While closed sales in May increased from the previous month and homes sold more quickly, pending sales and new listings remained below year-ago levels, signaling a more measured pace of market activity, the report said. In May, the median price for single-family homes across the six-county region increased by 5.1% to $410,000.

› Affordable housing replacing public housing as developers address Miami shortage [Miami Herald]
Miami-Dade has a shortage of affordable housing — and the land to build it on. Bounded by Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades to the west, the county doesn’t have much space for the estimated 90,000 new units needed to address the shortage. But to deal with the squeeze, some developers are turning to sites where affordable housing already exists. They’re replacing aging county-owned public housing with new, denser affordable and workforce housing developments.

› Will Derek Jeter’s former Tampa mansion actually be demolished? Here’s what we know. [Tampa Bay Times]
58 Bahama Circle has become one of the most talked about addresses in Tampa. It started in 2012, when Yankees legend Derek Jeter bought the custom-designed Davis Islands estate. At 22,000 square feet, it remains one of the city’s largest waterfront homes. Jeter later rented the place to seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady and his then-wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen. In 2021, Jeter sold the home to a mysterious trust for a record-breaking $22.5 million.

Natalie Alzate: One of Florida’s top YouTube stars