Florida's retirement communities face growing demand for more space, luxury

Florida's retirement communities face growing demand for more space, luxury

As baby boomers age and seniors continue to retire to Florida, the state’s strong housing market has led to heightened demand for high-end continuing-care retirement communities — where residents can move from independent living to assisted living to skilled-nursing care. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Southwest Florida real estate market shows signs of a recession

Scenic high rises and new homes are popping up all across Southwest Florida. But, fewer people are buying residential property. New data shows plummeting housing sales in Southwest Florida. With it being over a decade since the last recession, many assume the data points to a normal cycle in the market. [Source: WINK News]

Sanford couple builds 'floating bungalows' for residents who want to live on the water

Cynthia and Warren Billings had long dreamed of living in a lakefront home after they retired. But when they saw that waterfront real-estate prices in Sanford were beyond their reach, they opted to build a luxury dream house. Then they dropped it in the water at a Sanford marina. Their floating bungalow ended up drawing so much attention that the couple soon realized there was a market for tiny houses on water. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

First-time homebuyer programs for Florida residents

Breaking into homeownership can be difficult. Hurdles such as affordability, credit history and market prices keep many people from achieving their goal of owning a house. Fortunately for Floridians, federal and state programs and mortgage products are aimed at first-time homebuyers to help ease the burden and make homeownership possible and lasting, especially as homeownership rates decline throughout the state. [Source: U.S. News & World Report]

Canadian commercial real estate firm buys Florida’s Front Street

Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group, a 16-year-old Gainesville-based commercial real estate firm with an office in Sarasota, has been acquired by Canadian company Avison Young. Front Street managing director Nick Banks, effective immediately, is a principal of Avison Young and managing director of its Gainesville office and will be helping to lead the firm’s growth in Florida. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

ALSO TRENDING:

› Orlando homebuyers lose $46,000 in title company impostor scheme [WKMG]
An Orlando couple wired a $46,000 down payment to a title company they thought was legitimate, but later learned it was really a spoofed IP address for hackers based in South Africa. The home buyers were given the bad information by their real estate agent.

› Downtown Miami’s office market is diversifying [Miami Herald]
Miami’s pursuit of Amazon thrust our region’s technology sector to the forefront, but new data from the Miami Downtown Development Authority indicate that tech companies have been eyeing the city's urban core as a viable home base for years.

› Where are Florida's most affordable houses? [Tampa Bay Times]
Looking for an affordable home? Look no further than parts of Tampa Bay. A ranking released this week by HomeArea.com found that three of the top five communities with the most affordable homes are in the bay area: Largo (No. 2), Riverview (No. 3) and Spring Hill (No. 4).

› Indebted retail complex near Fort Lauderdale’s beach is for sale [The Real Deal]
The Gallery at Beach Place, a 22-year-old retail complex across State Road A1A from the beach in Fort Lauderdale, is for sale, and a $40 million debt may have been a factor in the owner’s decision to put the property on the market.

Tags: Real Estate eNews

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