Tuesday's Afternoon Update
Florida homeownership declined during past decade
Florida had one of the largest declines in homeownership in the nation during the past decade. The homeownership rate in Florida went from more than 73 percent at the start of 2005 to just under 65 percent at the end of last year, according to the Census Bureau. More on the decade of declines at AP.
However, there are spots in the state, such as Southwest Florida, that saw all-time highs for home sales during the past year. And in Tampa Bay, January 2015 sales of single family homes were up considerably over January 2014. Links:
» South Florida posts sharp home ownership declines from 2006-2014
» Southwest Florida home sales hit all-time high in 2014.
» Tampa Bay single-family home sales kick off 2015 with a bang
Related:
» Home ownership out of reach for many middle-income families
Office Depot reports 6 percent lower sales
Boca Raton-based Office Depot, which earlier this month announced its proposed merger with rival Staples, saw its expenses shrink as it closed stores during its fourth quarter, which also resulted in lower sales. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Miami: US gateway for Latin America
Start-ups are taking root among the palms and sandy beaches of Miami, Florida, drawn by the opportunity to tap into a community of Spanish speakers and the promise of getting a tan while typing lines of code. Despite the thickening web of incubators and venture funds, the city is still struggling to shed a reputation as more of a playground than a hotbed of business activity. More at the Financial Times.
Gov. Scott may find it tough getting tax cut plans passed
Florida's economy is recovering, but that's no guarantee state legislators will pass all the tax cuts Gov. Rick Scott wants. State legislators have to a pass a budget during their annual session that opens next week. More at WESH.
Top talent hard to find, hiring managers say
It's getting harder for human resource professionals to find candidates, much less qualified ones, a new survey from Glassdoor shows, with nearly half of hiring managers saying they don't see enough qualified candidates. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.