Cost Concerns Keep Real Estate Atop Florida Policy Agenda
Real Estate attorney Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz was interviewed by Law360 about real estate-related topics the Florida Legislature could address in 2025. The article cited ongoing concerns about affordable housing, condominium reforms and the state's property insurance market as some of the top issues on lawmakers' minds heading into the new session.
In the realm of affordable housing, additional tweaks to the Live Local Act, which aims to incentivize the development of affordable housing through tax breaks and zoning entitlements, are expected. Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz commented that the law has seen mixed results, with a number of developers interested but hindered by opposition from local governments and uneven application of benefits across jurisdictions. She also highlighted pending lawsuits over S.B. 264, which restricts individuals from certain foreign countries from owning or acquiring real property around military installations or critical infrastructure, saying the industry is looking to learn the law's impacts on investment funds from the countries named in the bill.
At the federal level, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Sen. Marco Rubi are featured among the appointments for executive positions. Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz remarked having Floridians in these high-profile roles could ultimately benefit the state.
"I think it confirms kind of where Florida sits," she said. "I think it could be in the long run a good opportunity for us... Even with hurricanes, we still seem to be a state where people want to come. We've just got to work through our issues."
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