Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor stated, “In August, Florida’s single-family home market was fairly calm. Closed sales declined by 1.1% year-over-year, and as has been the case for most of the year, they have tracked pretty close to last year’s totals. Year to date through August, closed sales of single-family homes are down 1.7%.”
One might as well use cash to light fires as to ignore potential regulations, which can be extremely expensive, both directly and indirectly. Regulations yield duties that must be discharged. Failure to discharge them triggers investigations, fines, litigation, class actions, and other consequences.
Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) announced the 2025 Class of the Executive Nurse Leadership Academy. The program is designed to assist nurses working in Florida’s skilled nursing centers in advancing their careers and maintaining high-quality care for elderly and disabled residents. A select group of rising nurse leaders from across the state will participate in a three-day intensive training, informative webinars, resource tools, and networking opportunities.
Special thanks were extended to all Florida port directors and seaport professionals who recently participated in the annual board meeting in Pensacola. The Port of Pensacola hosted the event, showcasing both the city's beauty and the port's benefits.
Carnival Cruise Line is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary of year-round sailing from Port Tampa Bay. The cruise operator, the first to recognize Tampa's potential as a year-round cruise homeport, will host an event aboard Carnival Paradise on September 21 to express appreciation for its long-standing relationship with Port Tampa Bay. To mark the milestone, Carnival will also make a donation to Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.
The MV Canopée, the world’s first hybrid propulsion commercial cargo vessel, recently made its inaugural U.S. visit to Port Canaveral. The specially designed Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off) delivered the European Service Module (ESM-3), which will fly on NASA's SLS Artemis-III mission to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era.
The Port of Palm Beach, located in Riviera Beach, Florida, is a full-service diversified landlord port. It serves as a significant engine for economic development and job creation in the South Florida region and the state, employing over 3,800 people.
Beginning this fall, students seeking an MBA at the University of South Florida (USF) will have a new blue economy offering to consider. The new options allow MBA students to build expertise in a specific domain, in addition to the fundamental leadership skills earning an MBA degree brings.
PortMiami has been awarded a $19,547,316 grant from the Resilient Florida Program to construct an elevated Berth 10 bulkhead system. This initiative aligns with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s Climate Action Strategy and Future-Ready Economic Plan. The new bulkhead system aims to protect existing uplands from flooding and potential damage caused by sea level rise.
A Realtor since 1984, Markowitz-Lewis was recognized as Realtor of the Year in 2010 by what was then the South Broward Board of Realtors. She has served as vice chair of the South Broward Regional Board for her local association, the Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors, and has been a member of her local Professional Standards Committee for over 28 years.
Lynn Hartley, a Realtor® based in Fort Walton Beach, has been named Humanitarian of the Year for her extensive support of Building Homes for Heroes. Over the past two years, Hartley has chaired the Building Homes for Heroes Task Force, which constructs or modifies homes and gifts them mortgage-free to injured veterans, first responders, and their families. The organization also provides support services aimed at helping recipients build better lives.
In nominating Johnson, her local association described her as “a consummate leader and a key proponent of bridging the divide between commercial and residential real estate through education, board involvement, committee service and networking.” She achieves multi-million dollars in annual sales in both commercial and residential real estate, which is uncommon in the industry.
Galavis has effectively utilized her background in political science and passion for political issues throughout her career. She served as the 2023 president of NEFAR and remains highly active in her local association. As chair of NEFAR’s Legislative Committee in 2015, she attended numerous City Council meetings with local representatives to discuss key community issues and continues to support and partner on local projects.
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) is celebrating National Assisted Living Week from September 8 to 14, with this year’s theme being “Inspiring Generations.” Throughout the week, FHCA will highlight caregivers who go above and beyond on social media in recognition of the national observance, which begins each year on National Grandparents’ Day.
Fifteen realtors have joined the ranks of Florida Realtors' Board Certified Professionals for 2024. The newly certified members include Cathy Alley, Michele Bailey, Hollie Billero Buldo, Cindy Birge, Eddie Blanco, Sandra Fernandez, Benjamin Gilbert, Erin Halstead, Patti E. Ketcham, Gonzalo Mejia, Catherine "Cookie" Miller, Charles Sowers, Tula Tucker, Sue Vasquez and Mary Anne Windes.
Every year, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) publishes its South Florida Environmental Report (SFER), detailing environmental and water projects for the past water year.
Florida farmers and ranchers affected by Hurricane Helene can now apply for interest-free loans through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. These loans are available to eligible agriculture and aquaculture producers to restore, repair, or replace essential physical property, such as fences, equipment, greenhouses, and other buildings. They can also be used to remove vegetative debris.
Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), was inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame during the Chairman’s Dinner at the annual VISIT FLORIDA Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Tampa. The induction recognizes individuals "whose vision, creativity, and drive have had a positive and significant impact on the development of Florida as a desirable visitor destination."