TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The 2025 Florida Legislative session has wrapped up, and the Florida Affiliation of Realtors is looking it a significant victory for property homeowners and the actual property market. With a mix of focused funds allocations and new legal guidelines, the session addressed a spread of housing and property points throughout the state.
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A key spotlight for residential actual property: $50 million has been allotted for down-payment help applications for important employees, together with lecturers and first responders. The initiative is designed to assist extra Floridians “get a foot within the door” of homeownership.
“On the finish of the day, we gotta put our foot within the door. And I feel that is how lots of people see actual property these days,” mentioned Jack Cleary, a Florida realtor.
READ: New Florida legal guidelines taking impact July 1: Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know
Moreover, the My Protected Florida House Program obtained $280 million to assist householders fortify their properties towards hurricanes and different storms. Realtors say it’s a step towards retaining extra folks of their houses safely.
“We solely have so many patrons within the pool and we’ve got a variety of stock,” Cleary famous, emphasizing the necessity to assist each provide and demand.
Maybe probably the most vital coverage win for industrial property homeowners is the repeal of the Enterprise Hire Tax, a transfer Republican lawmakers say might save Florida companies over $900 million.
What they’re saying:
“If these tax breaks give aid to companies to permit them to develop and prosper in Florida, that’s good for the staff, the Floridians that work for these corporations,” mentioned Rep. Lawrence McClure (R-District 68).
The legislature additionally handed new protections for property homeowners coping with squatters, significantly in industrial and trip leases. Property homeowners can now take faster authorized motion to take away illegal occupants.
“With the ability to have them arrested or have that consequence over their head is nice,” mentioned Josh Bradley, a trip rental proprietor. “They price me some huge cash.”
The opposite aspect:
Not all lawmakers are glad. Critics say the legislature didn’t go far sufficient on the state’s broader housing points.
“Housing affordability is a significant disaster proper now. Property insurance coverage is uncontrolled. And the fact is that this session didn’t ship on any of these issues,” mentioned Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orange County).
Extra laws handed this session will now require higher flood threat disclosures for long-term renters and elevated transparency round cellular house park lot circumstances.
The Supply: This story was written with data gathered by FOX 13’s Genevieve Curtis.Â
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