Florida housing market shows steady improvements

In the second quarter of 2017, the Florida housing market had more closed sales, higher median prices and more pending sales, according to Florida Realtors. The median sales price for a single family home in Florida in the second quarter of 2017 reached $240,000 — up a substantial 9.1 percent from the same period in 2016. See the summary report from Florida Realtors, here. Also read more at Miami Agent Magazine and Builder.

See also:
» It’s not just you — there really are fewer homes for sale with inventory at a 20-year low
» The foreign buyers you haven’t heard about
» New-home construction continues to accelerate in Northeast Florida
» Fewer Tampa Bay homeowners are late on their mortgages
» Miami luxury residential sales surge in 2Q

Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Bar's new president takes over at a critical juncture

These days, Michael Higer is often reminded of something his late mentor, former Florida Supreme Court Justice Arthur England, was fond of saying: “If you want something done, give it to someone who’s busy.” Higer, a business litigator in Miami, became president of the 104,000-member Florida Bar this summer. Read the full story here.

Florida town tries to reverse runaway growth of "sober homes"

Delray Beach's charming downtown, palm trees and waves attract locals, vacationers and, increasingly, drug users who come here to try to get off opioids. In some parts of the small Florida community, there's a residential program for people recovering from addiction — a sober living house or "sober home" — on nearly every block. Listen to the report here: [Source: NPR]

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson sees history repeating on Space Coast

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson sees history repeating itself on the Space Coast, with commercial companies playing what once was the role of government agencies in the push to build a bustling space economy. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Did FHP break the law in setting a 'goal' for the number of speeding tickets?

A high-ranking Florida Highway Patrol official wants every trooper under his command to write at least two more tickets an hour, an order a key legislator says is against state law. The initiative is SOAR, or the Statewide Overtime Action Response program, paid for by taxpayers. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the AP.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Hotel industry was set to fund a controversial Airbnb study. But FIU pulled the plug [Miami Herald]
The American Hotel & Lodging Association will no longer fund a $68,000 study from FIU on safety and security at short-term rental properties after the two failed to agree on who should own the copyright for the research.

› St. Augustine Amphitheatre ranked 11th in world for ticket sales in first half of 2017 [Florida Times-Union]
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre was ranked 11th in the world for ticket sales for the first six months of this year, according to Pollstar, an entertainment sales tracking website.

› US and international teams being selected for World Rowing Championships [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
With the Rowing World Championships fast approaching, the U.S. Rowing Federation has selected 19 U.S. crews to compete against the world at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota beginning Sept. 24.

› University of Florida faces a second Title IX investigation [Tampa Bay Times]
The federal government has opened a second Title IX investigation into the University of Florida that appears to be related to the school's handling of the Antonio Callaway case.

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› Walton County TDC opts out of Visit Florida [WTVY]
Walton County's Tourism Development Council is one of many that have decided to pause their partnership with the statewide organization Visit Florida.

› Anthony Hucker named president and CEO of Southeastern Grocers [Florida Times-Union]
Anthony Hucker has had the interim removed from his titles of president and chief executive officer of Southeastern Grocers. The parent company of Winn-Dixie and other grocery chains announced Thursday that the position belongs to Hucker, effective immediately.

› Beer giant buys Oakland Park’s Funky Buddha Brewery [Miami Herald]
The trend of beer giants buying independent craft brands has come to South Florida. Oakland Park’s Funky Buddha Brewery, the fastest-growing craft brewery in Florida and started by a pair of South Florida-raised brothers, has been sold.

› Florida ranks #2 in child-pedestrian fatalities [WOFL]
As over 55 million students across the United States get ready to start the 2017-18 school year, AAA urges motorists to slow down and stay alert in neighborhoods and school zones.