Real estate will remain strong in 2016, report says

2016 looks good for real estate, despite slowing sales and price gains in the condo market, a new report says. The Berger Singerman law firm, based in Fort Lauderdale, polled about 100 top developers, Realtors, investors, lenders and contractors for their take on the new year. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Miami Herald.

See also:
» Why The Best Investment In 2016 Might Be Global Real Estate
» Real Estate Trends To Watch In 2016
» Southwest Florida home prices rise 12.8 percent over last year

Business group hopes to jumpstart momentum for trade pact

Leading business groups, often at odds with President Barack Obama, are looking to give momentum to one of his top priorities before he leaves office: approval of a trade pact linking 12 nations along the Pacific Rim that make up 40 percent of the world economy. [Source: AP]

Florida construction firms to add jobs in 2016

Most Florida construction firms, still plagued by worker shortages, say they'll add up to 25 percent more jobs in 2016, according to an outlook from the Associated General Contractors of America. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Things you learned in school that make you less creative

The way we educate people who go into the workplace leads to a number of habits that actually make it harder to generate really creative new ideas. In fact, the more successful people are in school, the more that they may have developed habits that make them less creative. [Source: Inc.]

No-party voters make campaigns more complex, partisan

Voters across Florida are increasingly snubbing the Democratic and Republican parties, and the trend has made earning support for candidates more complex and the races often more partisan, consultants say. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Public Service Commission approves need for FPL Okeechobee Clean Energy Center [Florida Trend]
The new high-efficiency power plant is scheduled to begin generating affordable clean energy by mid-2019 to help meet the electricity needs of Florida's growing population and expanding economy.

› Berkshire Hathaway acquires MidFlorida real estate firm [Lakeland Ledger]
MidFlorida Real Estate Sales has been acquired by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group, but officials said there's only one change planned.

› AutoNation's sales rise 7 percent in 2015 [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
AutoNation saw its 2015 sales rise by 7 percent over 2014, outpacing the industry's 5 percent increase, the nation's largest car dealer said Wednesday. The Fort Lauderdale company said it sold 343,753 cars and trucks last year.

› Orlando Magic begin process of bringing D-League team to Florida [Orlando Sentinel]
The Orlando Magic hope to have a Florida-based NBA Development League team begin play in the 2017-18 season. A team spokesman said the Magic sent requests for proposals today to eight potential locations to serve as a home base for the team.

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› RPS says Canada has approved respiratory infection test [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
RPS Diagnostics Inc. said the Canadian government has licensed RPS' quick test to determine whether respiratory infections are caused by a virus or by a bacteria.

› Should Florida make secretary of state an elected office again? [Orlando Sentinel]
A House Republican has proposed a constitutional amendment that would lead to the return of an elected secretary of state who would serve on the Florida Cabinet.

› Furniture a family affair for one Naples clan [Naples Daily News]
Having owned five furniture stores in Illinois and another furniture store in Southwest Florida over careers that have spanned more than 40 years in the industry, Sharon and Todd Galler said they were especially gratified to count sons Dan and Tim among their employees.

› Florida Blue, other companies offer free doctor visits under 2016 Obamacare [Miami Herald]
Health insurers in several big cities will take some pain out of doctor visits this year — the financial kind. They’ll offer free visits to primary care doctors in their networks.