Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 4/11/2019

The Brazilians are back! Latin Americans drive South Florida's foreign buyer spike in 2018

Brazilians have replaced Argentines as the biggest investors in South Florida real estate, according to a recent report by the Miami Realtors Association based on sales from August 2017 to July 2018. Miami-Dade remains an attractive destination for foreign buyers, who accounted for 65 percent of the real estate purchases. The largest group are the Latin Americans, who continue to trust in the city as an investment opportunity Read more from the Miami Herald and World Property Journal and see the report here.

Florida Virtual School faces leadership crisis after resignation, investigations, unexpected death

Well-known Orlando attorney Frank Kruppenbacher’s ties to former Gov. Rick Scott helped him amass authority at the state-run Florida Virtual School until a clash with its new leader led to his abrupt departure last summer, touching off a crisis at the school considered a national pioneer in online education. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Federal judge threatens to temporarily block Carnival ships from docking at U.S. ports

A federal judge Wednesday threatened to stop Carnival Corp. from docking its ships at U.S. ports temporarily as punishment for possibly violating probation but said she would make a decision at a hearing scheduled for June. Carnival has been on probation for the last two years as part of a $40 million settlement for illegally dumping oil into the ocean from its Princess Cruises ships for eight years. More from the Miami Herald and USA Today.

Orlando's new Asian markets are bigger, offer more ready meals

Orlando’s collection of Asian grocery stores are undergoing major changes to attract more mainstream shoppers, as well as younger shoppers who don’t have the time or the skills to cook. Many of the markets are catering to residents of low-income neighborhoods abandoned by other grocers. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Time is running out for Florida's gambling deal with Seminoles

Time’s running out on reaching a gambling deal during this spring’s legislative session, but Senate President Bill Galvano said Wednesday he’s “encouraged” by the status of talks between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Senate’s lead negotiator. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Out of the Box
A $1,000 Florida sundae needs to be ordered 24 hours in advance

In Florida it’s said that, “everything is bigger in Boca,” which apparently includes an appetite to match the Golden Opulence Sundae at Serendipity 3 at The Boca Raton Resort and Club, a Waldorf Astoria Resort. This $1,000 dessert requires 24 hours of advance notice to order, and one look at it suggests it might need just as much time to consume.

» More from Forbes.

Florida Trend Exclusive
A New Home: Floating Bungalows builds houses for unconventional dreamers

In 2016, Cynthia and Warren Billings started building a floating bungalow to live in. They set up a Facebook page to let friends follow their progress and wound up with nearly 50,000 views. That led the Sanford couple to launch Floating Bungalows in hopes of capturing a piece of the tiny homes movement.