realestate

Florida condos become unaffordable for aging residents

Weekly Alert: In-Depth News & Analysis on Critical Florida Real Estate Issues.

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lorida's condo crisis is pricing out seniors, reversing the state's reputation as a retirement haven. Lawsuits against insurers have declined for two years running, but attorneys argue reforms made it harder for policyholders to challenge insurers and left many without recourse when claims are denied or underpaid.

    Four of the top 10 cities with plummeting home prices in the US are in Florida, with Miami experiencing a 12.4% decrease, Jacksonville down 6.1%, Orlando down 5.6%, and Tampa down 5.5%. This decline is attributed to high prices and interest rates straining the housing market.

    Florida voters have passed Amendment 5, which adjusts homestead tax exemptions for annual inflation starting in 2025. This means that homeowners who qualify for exemptions will see their deductions increase if inflation rises.

    International buyer purchases of Florida residential properties declined 44% between August 2023 and July 2024 compared to the prior year. High prices and interest rates are making it difficult for international buyers, who also face intense competition from domestic out-of-state buyers.

    In Jacksonville's fastest-selling market, homes averaged 68 days on the market in the third quarter of this year, a 10-day decrease from last year. The state's largest insurance company has shed nearly 200,000 policies, leaving hundreds of thousands without coverage. Central Florida's hottest housing markets include Windermere and fast-growing Lake suburbs.

    JEA plans to put its former headquarters campus on the market in early 2025, while a proposed mixed-use complex in downtown Largo remains in limbo after being approved by the Planning Board in August.

Florida seniors struggle with rising condo costs in Miami Beach area.