Weekend Happenings on the Treasure Coast

Farmers Market and Craft Show at the Fort Pierce Marina

St. Lucie County

Date: Event occurs every Saturday of every month.

Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Location: Downtown Fort Pierce

Address: 1 Avenue A – Fort Pierce

Category: Other

Come enjoy the extraordinary Downtown Fort Pierce Farmers’ Market where there are over 70 friendly vendors that offer a wonderful and diverse selection of delicious foods, exotic plants, savory spices, and much much more!

For More Information

 

Spring Plant Sale

St. Lucie County

Date: Saturday May 1, 2021

Time: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location: St. Lucie County

Address: 911 Parkway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950

Price: Free

Category: Sale

Indoor Boutique and Outdoor Plant Sale

Saturday, May 1, 2022, to benefit Garden Club of Fort Pierce community projects.

A great selection of household treasures and locally grown plants!

Doors will be open from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Garden Club of Fort Pierce

911 Parkway Drive (Georgia and 10th St.) Ft. Pierce, FL 34950

See our Facebook page for more information.

https://fb.me/e/bRHIAtDVL

 

Port St. Lucie Spring Art & Craft Expo

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center

Date: Saturday May 1, 2021 through Sunday May 2, 2021.

Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Location: MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center

Address: 9221 SE Event Center Pl, Port St. Lucie , FL, 34952

Price: FREE

Category: Expo

Join us for the third annual Port St. Lucie Spring Art & Craft Expo benefiting the Port St. Lucie Arts League. Just in time for that one-of-a-kind, handmade Mother’s Day gift! Featuring over 200 booths of inspiration and creativity, you’ll be sure to find something new. FREE admission & parking, kids zone, yummy food, adult beverages, live music, and FUN!

Saturday, May 1st:

10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday, May 2nd:

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Please note:

Face Coverings are Recommended. This event will be hosted outdoors.

The MIDFLORIDA Event Center is dedicated to providing smart, safe entertainment for the residents of Port St. Lucie and surrounding areas. To ensure guest safety, the Event Center will be operating under the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Florida Department of Health at the time of the show.  For more information, please visit www.midfloridaeventcenter.com.  More info

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center

 

12th Annual Indian River Marine Flea Market and Seafood Festival

Indian River County

Date: Saturday May 1, 2021 through Sunday May 2, 2021.

Time: All Day Event

Location: Indian River Fairgrounds

Price: $7 Children 12 under Free

Category: Exhibits

The Indian River Marine Flea Market Announces 2021 dates the 12th annual event is set for May 1st and 2nd at Indian River Fairgrounds in Vero Beach, Florida. For two days May 1st and 2nd the 139-acre fairgrounds will be transformed into the Treasure Coast’s largest nautical “Flea Market.” THE LARGEST EVENT OF THE TYPE ON THE TREASURE COAST!

This event is held at the Indian River County Fairgrounds, in Vero Beach, FL.

Buyers can visit marine booths as vendors exhibit and sell their nautical and marine related merchandise and services during the two-day festival. The marine flea market area will have offshore rods, reels, tackle dock lines, halyards, sheet lines, anchor lines, ladders, seats, bimini tops, life vests, mooring whips and bases, gauges, wakeboards, skis, wake surfers, kneeboards, boat covers, scissors, fenders, antique collectibles and maps, marine artifacts, lures and lines, boating apparel, taxidermy, diving equipment, and all kinds of other marine items. Come by for some super discounts on surplus, liquidation, closeouts, new and used boating and fishing supplies

Admissions is $7 and Children 12 and under are free. www.FLNauticalFleaMarket.com for more information, discount tickets, vendor applications and specific driving directions. Contact Under the Sun Promotions, Inc. at 954-205-7813.

more information

 

Hippie Fest!

Martin County

Date: Sunday May 2, 2021

Time: 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Location: Martin County

Address: , , FL,

Price: $5 cover charge

Category: Entertainment

A wonderful afternoon and evening of live music – not to be missed. Special and unique you won’t find this just anywhere. The Old Hippies play music you’ll remember and adore! Some soft and mellow, some lively. CONTEST FOR BEST HIPPIE OUTFIT – win a gift from Stephanie’s Tye Dyes! $5 Cash at door (exact change is wonderful). Includes chips and salsa. Opening act Rogue Breeze followed by The Old Hippies – OUTDOORS, all ages, safe and fun and inexpensive! SEE YOU HERE for good positive vibes and kindness!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hippie-fest-mini-music-fest-for-all-hippies-woodstock-era-music-lovers-tickets-149434573833

Common Heart Disease Drug Reverses Obesity By Targeting Inflammation in Mice

It has long been known that obesity is an inflammatory disease, i.e. a chronic defensive reaction of the body to stress caused by excess nutrients.

Based on this knowledge, a group of researchers led by Nabil Djouder, Head of the Growth Factors, Nutrients and Cancer Group at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), decided to try to fight obesity by preventing inflammation—and they succeeded.

Their paper, published this month in Nature Metabolism, shows that digoxin, a drug already in use against heart diseases, reduces inflammation and leads to a 40% weight loss in obese mice, without any side effects.

Digoxin reverses obesity completely, according to CNIO. Treated mice became the same weight as healthy, non-obese animals. The mice were also cured of metabolic disorders associated to obesity.

Digoxin reduces the production of a molecule called interleukin 17A, (IL-17A) which generally triggers inflammation. The study identifies it as a causal factor of obesity: “When you inhibit the production of IL-17A or the signaling pathway that this molecule activates, you don’t have obesity,” says Djouder.

The Madrid researchers found that IL-17A acts directly on adipose tissue to cause obesity and severe metabolic alterations associated with body weight gain, the so-called metabolic syndrome, which includes type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

“Since no effective treatments for obesity and metabolic syndrome are available, digoxin may represent an effective therapeutic option,” they wrote in the paper in Nature Metabolism.

Same food—but metabolism was speeded up

The animals, obese due to a high-calorie diet, continued to eat as before when they were taking digoxin. However, they showed activation of their basal metabolism, which results in the burning of excess fat and weight loss.

Djouder’s group at the CNIO already observed weight loss within a few weeks, with no adverse effects. The benefits were maintained for at least eight months, suggesting that resistance mechanisms do not develop.

These findings are therefore clinically relevant: “It is tempting to propose that obese patients could take digoxin for a short period until weight loss stabilizes, and then follow a healthy diet,” says Ana Teijeiro, first author of the paper. “The drug could also be indicated for obesity-related pathologies, such as hypercholesterolemia, hepatic steatosis and type 2 diabetes,” adds Teijeiro.

But the researchers also stress that the results were obtained in mice and that epidemiological studies and clinical trials are required to corroborate them in humans.

The ‘first causal link between obesity and inflammation’

In addition to this potential clinical relevance, the finding has basic value because it “identifies a causal link between inflammation and weight gain,” says the authors. It opens new avenues for crucial research to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that make obesity an inflammatory disease.

“Thanks to this study, we know that weight loss and systemic metabolic changes are controlled by a unique molecular mechanism, IL-17A, which acts directly on adipocytes and changes their genetic profile and responsiveness to excess nutrients,” Djouder says.

“We still don’t know how nutrients trigger the inflammatory reaction or which cells produce interleukin 17A, and that is what we are going to study next,” Djouder reveals. “Understanding the connection between nutrient excess, inflammation and obesity is essential to find novel approaches to treat weight gain,” he adds.

Defined by the authors of the paper as “excessive fat accumulation usually caused by chronic overfeeding and/or inadequate physical activity,” obesity today has no effective treatment.

“Current options are limited and have not improved in the last 20 years, mainly due to insufficient knowledge about the pathophysiology of obesity and the mechanisms governing fat accumulation,” wrote the team.

Therapies based on lifestyle changes—changes in diet and physical activity—achieve a weight reduction of approximately 10%, and drugs that target appetite or fat absorption typically result in a loss of body weight between 2% and 7%.

This study provides a possible therapeutic strategy based on a novel approach: fighting obesity by targeting its inflammatory component.

The team started this line of research five years ago, when, in another study on inflammation and liver cancer, they observed that mice were losing weight, so they postulated that blocking the production of IL-17A with digoxin would reduce the action of IL-17A and thus reduce the weight of the mice. “That was indeed what we saw immediately,” says Djouder.

An already available drug

Digoxin has long been used to treat heart failure, and it was known to act on IL-17A. Its effect on body weight, however, had never been observed. Djouder ascribes this to the fact that the cardiovascular disease of patients using digoxin causes high liquid retention, which masks the weight-loss effect of digoxin.

Moreover, the dose at which digoxin is currently used in humans is three times lower than that used in mice to combat obesity, with no toxic effects. The fact that no side effects were observed in animals suggests that, in humans, the dose at which weight loss could be observed may not be harmful.

This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the State Research Agency, co-funded by European Regional Development Fund., the Carlos III Health Institute, the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes and the Pfizer Foundation.

 

Source: CNIO

 

Buyers Want Sense of Community, Nice Neighbors

Buyers are increasingly looking for a neighborly community. Fifty-one percent of buyers between the ages of 18 to 43 and about one-third of buyers between the ages of 57 to 75 say that community has become more important to them over the past year. House hunters are looking for neighbors who share similar interests and are active in the community, according to Bank of America’s newly released 2021 Homebuyer Insights Report, based on a survey of 2,000 adults who currently own a home or plan to in the future.

“Over the last year, people have had plenty of time at home to reassess their priorities and goals, including how their living space and surroundings fit into their lives,” says AJ Barkley, senior vice president of Neighborhood Lending and Retail Sales East Executive, Consumer Lending at Bank of America. “We know homeownership remains as important as ever, especially for younger generations looking for that sense of community.”

Homeowners were more likely than non-homeowners to say they like their neighbors—42% versus 29%. They were also more likely to say positive things about their neighborhood—44% versus 32%. The feeling of safety is also important to home buyers, the Bank of America survey shows.

Besides the importance of community, home shoppers have tweaked their home wish lists after spending more time at home over the past year. Nearly half—or 48%—of prospective home buyers between the ages of 18 to 43 say the importance of square footage has increased for them. Sixty percent are putting more weight on the outdoor space, too.

More activities are heading into the home and that has made potential buyers—particularly younger buyers—assess homes in new ways. For example, survey respondents between the ages of 18 to 43 say their home is now used as an office (45%), a school (31%), a movie theater (28%), and a gym (27%). Younger prospective buyers also expressed more desire for new technology in their homes, such as smart or Wi-Fi–enabled security systems (51%), solar energy products (42%), and smart or Wi-Fi–enabled appliances (44%).

 

Source: Bank of America

As Remodeling Surges, Electrical Issues Become Nuisance

As remodeling surges, some homeowners are discovering old, faulty electrical wiring in their home, while others may be creating new problems in the course of their DIY projects. Buyers also may uncover electrical problems in older homes during an inspection. Electrical problems are increasingly emerging because remote work and school may be taxing on older fuseboxes and frayed wiring.

Electricians consider electrical systems older than 1980 to be most likely to experience problems today, The Washington Post reports. But the costs to upgrade can mount quickly—about $25 to $30 an hour to replace a receptacle, for example. Homeowners could be charged about $200 to rewire an outlet and about $3,000 to rewire an electrical system, according to the Post. In today’s seller’s market, buyers don’t usually have the negotiating power to ask the seller for repairs to the electrical system or a discount if the seller refuses.

“Buyers don’t have the luxury to reject an old house in this market,” Catarina Bannier, a sales associate with Compass in Chevy Chase, Md., told the Post. “With lean inventory and multiple offers, buyers aren’t taking the chance of losing competitiveness by adding contingencies, even ones as ordinary as an inspection clause. A few years ago, I had a buyer who walked away because of an electrical problem, but I doubt I’d see that now.”

Rebecca Weiner, who works in the same real estate office as Bannier, suggests that buyers get a pre-offer inspection—a less comprehensive inspection that’s scheduled by the buyer, with the consent of the seller, prior to submitting an offer on a home. “A pre-offer inspection lets you know what you’re buying, what fixes you’ll have to make, and, generally, will make you feel more comfortable about the state of the house,” Weiner told the Post. “If you’re out a few hundred dollars, it’s a risk worth taking and the cost of doing the business of buying a house.”

Home inspectors say that during pre-inspections, they’ll determine the age of the furnace, air conditioners, and water heater. But during the full inspection—which usually comes after an offer is submitted—they’ll verify circuit breakers are properly matched and corresponding to electric wire sizes and test wall outlets using handheld plug-in testers to check polarity and grounding, the Post reports.

Some of the most common electrical issues home inspectors are seeing include the overloading of outlets and safety hazards from aluminum wiring, which is most often found in older homes. Also, electricians say not enough homes use the safer three-prong outlets, referred to as “grounding,” as many older homes have two-prong outlets that could increase the risk of shock or fire if they malfunction.

 

Source: “How to Avoid Shocking Discoveries in Your Homes Electrical Systems,” The Washington Post

FLORIDA HOME SALES AND PRICES UP, INVENTORY TIGHT IN MARCH

Florida Realtors®’ data: Single-family home sales rose 23.3% year-over-year and median sales price was up 18.9%. The coronavirus was first detected in Florida on March 1, 2020; therefore, last March’s data was the first to reflect the pandemic’s impact.

 

Florida’s housing market continues its momentum in March, with more closed sales, higher median prices, more new pending sales and increased pending inventory compared to a year ago, according to Florida Realtors® latest housing data. The coronavirus was first detected in Florida on March 1, 2020.

“Even as we continue to deal with the pandemic and the real impact that COVID-19 has had on our lives, this spring is very different from what we saw last year,” said 2021 Florida Realtors President Cheryl Lambert, broker-owner with Only Way Realty Citrus in Inverness.“Intense buyer demand, combined with the high level of home sales sparked by very low interest rates, continue to reduce inventory levels, which is challenging for potential homebuyers. Due in part to this extreme shortfall of homes for sale relative to high demand, home prices keep rising, which also impacts the availability and affordability of housing options, especially for first-time buyers.”

Closed sales of single-family homes statewide in March totaled 32,819, up 23.3% year-over-year, while existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 16,518, up 52.6% over March 2020. Closed sales may occur from 30- to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.

The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes was $327,000 up 18.9% from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Last month’s statewide median price for condo-townhouse units was $242,000, up 15.2% over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

Florida’s housing market is off to a strong start for this year’s spring buying season, according to Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor. However, he explained that the rate of sales growth in the condo-townhouse category continues to “steal the show” – its year-over-year sales growth (up 52.6% this March) has outpaced single-family home sales since last August, even though condo and townhouse sales were hit particularly hard early in the pandemic.

Why are condo and townhouse sales increasing so much relative to single-family home sales?

“For one thing, there is just so little single-family inventory available, especially in more affordable price ranges,” O’Connor said. “We have a very large population group, the millennials, who have moved into their prime home-buying years. However, in recent years, builders have not been building the classic single-family detached starter homes that young American families have long dreamed of one day owning – therefore, there aren’t enough of these homes available for resale to meet the overwhelming level of demand. Any that are listed frequently have bidding wars that price out many young prospective buyers.

“Increasingly, these buyers are giving up on single-family homes and are turning to attached condo and townhouse units instead. Even though these buyers might have had their hearts set on a single-family home, they’re realizing mortgage rates aren’t going to remain this low forever, and they don’t want to wait until they’re well into their 40s or 50s to start building up home equity. More and more, they’re seeing that condos and townhouses are the properties that give them the best opportunity to do that right now.”

In looking at March’s eye-popping positive numbers for new pending sales – up 48.2% for single-family homes and 126.4% for condos and townhouses – Chief Economist O’Connor noted that new pending sales were the first statistic to feel the brunt of the pandemic last year, and so were considerably down last March.

“That’s the reason these year-over-year numbers are so huge,” he said. “It might be more useful, then, to compare this March’s new pending sales to those from two years ago, in March 2019. And when we do that, we find that new pending sales were up by a very satisfying 14% for single-family homes and 47% for condo-townhouse properties.”

On the supply side of the market, inventory (active listings) remained constrained in February. Single-family existing homes were at a very low 1.2-months’ supply while condo-townhouse inventory was at a 2.8-months’ supply.

According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.08% in March 2021, significantly lower than the 3.45% averaged during the same month a year earlier.

To see the full statewide housing activity reports, go to Florida Realtors Tools and Research section. Realtors also have access to local market data (password protected) through Florida Realtors’ SunStats resource.

 

Source: Florida Realtors®

ST. LUCIE HOUSING MARKET HEATS UP, NEW CONSTRUCTION ON THE RISE

Just in! Newly released market reports from Florida Realtors® detailing recent real estate activity in St. Lucie County. The reports compare year-over-year data for March. Here are statistics on single family homes.

 

The South Florida housing market is booming! We’re continuing to see people move in droves to Florida from the northeast, across the United States, and internationally to cash in on the lower cost of living. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida has solidified itself as one of the nation’s top real estate hotspots. St. Lucie County, in particular, has seen huge growth in the past year with a steady rise in median sale price.

“The latest market reports from March showed median sale price reaching new heights. St. Lucie County had a 15.8 percent year-over-year increase to $281,153. Despite the trend of increases in median sale price, the housing inventory levels decreased 63.2 percent to 1.4 months. With the demand for housing being at an all-time high in South Florida, we’re seeing buyer competition ramp up, which is creating the low inventory levels,” said Karen Johnson, President of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors®.

Inventory is calculated by counting the number of active listings on the last day of the month and comparing it with the same month from the following year. Inventory rises when new listings are outpacing the number of listings that go off-market (regardless of whether they sell). Likewise, it falls when New Listings aren’t keeping up with the rate at which homes are going off-market.

“As inventory levels continue to drop, South Florida builders haven taken notice to the increasing demand for housing. They are finding effective ways to provide more opportunities to new and existing South Florida residents at an affordable price. New construction is a great investment option for homebuyers as South Florida continues to grow. Prospective homebuyers also get the benefit of being part of the design process and being able to build the dream home that they have envisioned,” continues Johnson.

Realtors® in South Florida are here to help you find your ideal home and their expertise can help you save thousands on your home purchase. Contact a local Realtor® today and talk to them about your housing wants and needs. Realtor® Members of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors® have the tools to help you find the home of your dreams and connect you with a quality builder who will work for you.

 

Market Reports: St. Lucie Single FamilyOpens as PDF. | St. Lucie Townhouses/CondosOpens as PDF.

Most Common Obstacles to Closing on Time

The majority of home sale contracts are settling on time, but 26% faced delays in February while 6% were terminated completely, according to the latest REALTORS® Confidence Index. The following chart shows the most common issues sparking a delay to closing on time.

 

The most common problems leading to a termination of the contract were related to appraisal issues (11%), obtaining financing (10%), and home inspection/environmental issues (9%).

Nevertheless, the housing market remains competitive. Respondents to the REALTORS® Confidence Index report an average of four offers for every house sold. Also, homes typically sold within 20 days—a record low since May 2011, when NAR started collecting such information. A year ago, homes typically sold within 36 days.

 

 

Source: “REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, February 2021,” National Association of REALTORS®

Vaccines, Stimulus Are Fueling Seller Optimism

Americans are more upbeat about the idea of selling, particularly as the vaccine rollout continues and latest round of stimulus checks are distributed. That could come as hopeful news as many markets face severe housing shortages and buyers are increasingly being left with few choices of homes for sale.

Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index rose by 5.2 points in March to a reading of 81.7. The components on the index that increased the most last month related to home selling and buying, household income, and home prices.

“The significant increase in the HPSI in March reflects consumer optimism toward the housing market and larger economy as vaccinations continue to roll out, a third round of stimulus checks was distributed, and this spring home buying season began—perhaps with even more intensity this year, since 2020’s spring homebuying season was limited by virus-related lockdowns,” says Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s senior vice president and chief economist.

The measure over home-selling sentiment moved higher across most consumer segments and reached nearly pre-pandemic levels, Duncan notes. That is “generally indicative of a strong seller’s market,” he notes. “Consumers once again cited high home prices and tight inventory as primary reasons why it’s a good time to sell.”

More Americans also reported it’s a “good time to buy” in the March survey compared to February, likely still being drawn to historically low mortgage rates despite recent upticks. However, that measure on home-buying sentiment still lags behind pre-pandemic levels. The home-buying experience is proving difficult due to rapidly rising home prices and a lack of housing supply, Duncan adds.

Here’s a closer look at indicators from March’s Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index, reflecting responses from nearly 1,000 consumers over the housing market:

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    • 61% of consumers said it’s a good time to sell, up from 55% in February.
    
    
    • 53% of consumers said it’s a good time to buy a home, up from 48% in February.
    
    
    • 50% of Americans surveyed believe home prices will go up over the next 12 months, up from 47% the month prior.
    
    
    • 54% of consumers expect mortgage rates to increase over the next year, up from 47% a month earlier.
    
    
    • 82% of Americans say they are not concerned about losing their job over the next 12 months, unchanged from February.
    
    
    • 25% of respondents said their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago, up from 17% in February.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

 

Source: “Home Purchase Sentiment Index,” Fannie Mae (April 7, 2021)

Best Time to List: Midweek

Homes that are listed on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday tend to sell for $1,700 more than homes listed on the weekend—in some markets that could be even thousands of dollars more. These middle-of-the-week listed homes also sell nearly two days faster, according to new research from the real estate brokerage Redfin, which tracked home sales data from July 2020 to February 2021 nationwide.

“Because the market is so competitive right now, most homes will receive plenty of attention regardless of when they’re listed,” says Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist. “But sellers can still maximize their potential profit simply by listing in the middle of the week, which gives potential buyers a few days to see the home, talk to their agent, and set up a showing for Saturday or Sunday.”

A separate study from realtor.com® also shows the best time of year to list a home is the week of April 18-24. Sellers who list their homes next week could have 5% less competition, sell eight days faster, and see 11% more online page views than the average week, according to the analysis.

Regardless, to have the most selling success, price the home appropriately from the start—which includes not underpricing the home. “If the home is priced too high, fewer buyers will see the home, but if it’s priced too low, the seller may be inundated with so many tour requests a serious buyer could give up before laying eyes on it,” Fairweather says. “The goal is to get as many serious buyers as possible to tour your home, make offers, and drive up the sales price.”

The Redfin study found that homes listed in midweek in Boston tended to sell for an average of $7,100 more than homes listed on the weekend. Boston had the largest premium of the 25 metro areas tracked in the analysis. Other markets noticing a high premium included Newark, N.J. (homes listed midweek tended to sell for $4,500 more); Seattle ($4,400); Oakland, Calif. ($3,500); and Denver ($3,200).

 

Source: “List Your Home in the Middle of the Week to Sell for More Money,” Redfin (April 13, 2021) and “The Best Time to Sell a Home: The Week of April 18-24,” realtor.com® (April 15, 2021)

Design Shows Raise Buyer Expectations with Staged Homes

Staged homes can sell faster and for more money, according to the 2021 Profile of Home Staging, a report released this week by the National Association of REALTORS®. Television shows about home design may be having an influence on buyers’ perceptions of what homes for sale should look like, the survey finds.

Sixty-three percent of real estate professionals surveyed said their buyers requested a home that looks like homes that are staged on television. Are their expectations too high? Sixty-eight percent of REALTORS® said their buyers were disappointed by how homes appeared compared with those seen on TV shows.

TV design shows may lead to unrealistic expectations when house hunters go to view homes for sale. “The magic of television can make a home transformation look like it happened in a quick 60-minute time frame, which is an unrealistic standard,” says NAR President Charlie Oppler. That said, these shows can also help educate some home buyers and sellers about the sales process.

As more buyers peruse listings online, they are placing more weight on photos, virtual tours, and videos. Staged homes may get even more attention.

“Staging a home helps consumers see the full potential of a given space or property,” says Jessica Lautz, NAR’s vice president of demographics and behavioral insights. “It features the home in its best light and helps would-be buyers envision its various possibilities.”

Buyers may be tempted to spend more on a home that is staged, too, the survey finds. Twenty-three percent of buyer’s agents said that home staging raised the dollar value offered between 1% and 5% compared with similar homes on the market that hadn’t been staged. Similarly, 23% of seller’s agents also reported a 1% to 5% increase on offers for their staged homes. Eighteen percent of seller’s agents reported even more—offers that were 6% to 10% more for staged homes.

Staged homes also may sell faster, the study says. Thirty-one percent of real estate pros said that home staging greatly decreased the amount of time a home spent on the market.

The most important rooms in the house to stage, according to more than half of real estate pros surveyed: living rooms, kitchens, primary bedrooms, and dining rooms. Also, 39% of real estate professionals said staging a home office or office space has become more important since the pandemic.

 

Source: “2021 Profile of Home Staging,” National Association of REALTORS® (April 6, 2021)

Treasure Coast Weekend Happenings

The Jazz Market

Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society

Date: Event occurs every Saturday of every month.

Time: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location: Historic Downtown on the Waterfront

Address: 200 N Indian River Dr

Category: Festival

Every Saturday, the Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society hosts a Jazz Market “featuring creative arts & crafts” in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce on the waterfront of the Indian River. Original hand made crafts, stained glass, Highwaymen paintings, hand-painted glassware and much, more are available for purchase. Funds raised support education programs and local scholarships.

The Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society Jazz Market is a year-round event.

The Jazz Market summer hours are 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Although we enjoy promoting our local Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County resident artists and crafters, our market is open to all crafters who wish to participate, given space available and our Market Managers discretion. If you are interested in displaying or selling your items, download the The Jazz Market Guidelines and Vendor Application.

If you are an interested new vendor, applications are now being accepted.

Print and fill out an application and return it with pictures of your items to:

P.O. Box 1086, Fort Pierce, FL 34954-1086

For more information, please email: JazzMarket@jazzsociety.org

Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society

 

Care Net Walk for Life

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center

Date: Saturday April 17, 2021

Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Location: MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center

Address: 9221 SE Event Center Pl, Port St. Lucie , FL, 34952

Category: Fund Raiser

Care Net presents their Annual Walk for Life! Fun for the whole family including games, music, fun, and food!

Be sure to come out on April 17th at 9 a.m.!  Please note: Face Coverings are Recommended.

The MIDFLORIDA Event Center is dedicated to providing smart, safe entertainment for the residents of Port St. Lucie and surrounding areas. To ensure guest safety, the Event Center will be operating under the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Florida Department of Health at the time of the show.

For more information, please visit www.midfloridaeventcenter.com.

More info

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center

 

Earth Day Family Fun Festival at the ELC!

Indian River County

Date: Saturday April 17, 2021

Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Location: Indian River County

Address: , , FL,

Price: $5.00

Category: Festival

Join us April 17th for an Earth Day celebration in Vero Beach, perfect for the whole family! In love and honor of Mother Earth, we will be offering a range of hands-on activities that are sure to excite, educate and inspire nature-lovers both young and old. Enjoy activities from pond dip-netting, recycled crafts, guided nature walks along our beautiful mangrove forest boardwalks, access to the Discovery Station and touch tank, an interactive storytime (that youre not gonna want to miss!), plus so much more! Participants will also leave this event with valuable information on how to lead a more sustainable, eco-conscious lifestyle.

To learn more or to register, please visit DiscoverELC.org today!

Earth Day Family Fun Festival!

 

IRSC Hallstrom Planetarium “The Planets”

St. Lucie County

Date: Friday April 16, 2021 through Saturday April 17, 2021.

Time: Times Vary

Location: St. Lucie County

Address: , , FL,

Price: $5.00

Category: Educational

The Hallstrom Planetarium at Indian River State College (IRSC) presents “The Planets,” a full-dome immersive presentation of our solar system. The show debuts on April 16 at 6:00 and 7:30 p.m., and April 17 at 1:00 and 2:30 p.m. Tickets for the “The Planets” are $5.

In a recorded narration, Kate Mulgrew—Captain Janeway of Star Trek: Voyager—takes viewers on a grand tour of the solar system. Explore the surfaces of Mars, the perils of the asteroid belt, the cold rings of stormy gas planets and the features of other solar systems.

There is limited availability for seating in order to maintain CDC and social distancing guidelines—patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased at the IRSC Box Office in the McAlpin Fine Arts Center lobby on the IRSC Massey Campus at 3209 Virginia Avenue in Fort Pierce, Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., or by phone with VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. Call the McAlpin Fine Arts Center Box Office at 1-800-220-9915 to reserve seats.

Planetarium shows are recommended for adults and for children over the age of four. The Hallstrom planetarium’s temperature is maintained at 72 degrees and visitors may want to bring a light jacket or sweater. To learn more about the Hallstrom Planetarium, visit https://www.irsc.edu/community/planetarium.html.

https://www.irsc.edu/community/planetarium.html

 

SEAN KENNEY’S NATURE CONNECTS® Made with LEGO® Bricks Exhibition

Indian River County

Date: Friday January 15, 2021 through Sunday April 25, 2021.

Time: Times Vary

Location: McKee Botanical Gardens

Address: Vero

Category: Arts / Exhibits

A Beautiful and Inspirational Exploration of Art & Nature presented by David and Barbara McKenna

JANUARY 15 – APRIL 25, 2021

McKee’s third installation and Sean Kenney’s latest series of his award-winning and record-breaking exhibition that uses LEGO® bricks to explore animal endangerment, the balance of ecosystems and mankind’s relationship with nature. Produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Nature Connects presents a playful spin on traditional sculpture art – making it accessible to guests of all ages and backgrounds. Using the beloved toy bricks as an artistic medium, the sculptures, and exhibit post the question: just as LEGO bricks interconnect, how is our natural world interconnected?

HOURS OF ADMISSION: Tuesday – Saturday (10 am – 5 pm), Sunday (noon – 5 pm). Last admission ticket sold at 4 pm. Closed Mondays and major holidays.

ADMISSION: $15 Adults, $13 Seniors (65+)/Youth (13-17), $10 Children (2-12). McKee members and children under 2 free.

3 Alt Credit-scoring Methods

New types of data to determine prospective buyers’ creditworthiness may increase homeownership opportunities for Black and Hispanic Americans. However, standards need to be developed for the use of such data—which come from sources outside traditional credit bureaus—to ensure equitable and responsible lending practices, experts said Thursday during a National Association of REALTORS® webinar on alternative credit scoring.

Ann Schnare and Vanessa Perry, authors of the white paper “Tipping the SCALE: How Alternative Data in Credit Scoring Promote or Impede Fair Lending Goals,” said 21% of Black households and 19% of Hispanic households are considered “unscorable” because they don’t have access to traditional credit. Schnare and Perry suggested that three alternative data sets could help lenders determine “credit-invisible” consumers’ eligibility for loan products, including:

 

1. 
   
   
   
   1. Credit proxies: Payment histories for bills such as rent, utilities, and other financial obligations, which can suggest a person’s ability to pay and likelihood to default.
   
   
   2. Banking data: Account balances, check-writing history, and savings—information that can tell lenders whether a person is financially stable.
   
   
   3. Nonfinancial personal data: Data harvested from a person’s digital footprint, such as spending patterns and social media activity suggestive of their purchasing power or financial status.
   
   
   
   

 

“Minorities are far more likely to be ‘unscorable’ or have relatively weak credit scores using traditional credit bureau data,” said Schnare, president of AB Schnare Associates, a consulting firm specializing in housing and mortgage finance. “Incorporating additional data into the credit evaluation process can open doors for many deserving borrowers and boost minority homeownership rates.” She added that some countries where credit agencies don’t exist are already using alternative data to shape lending practices.

But such data could be misused without legal safeguards, said Perry, professor of marketing, strategic management, and public policy at The George Washington University’s School of Business. “When we start looking at how and where people spend their money, those kinds of indicators can be proxies for race, gender, or neighborhood,” Perry said. “Some of the same issues can apply in the case of social media data. People are assigned a trustworthiness score based on who they associate with online, which is obviously problematic.”

Schnare said banking data likely is the most promising source of alternative data for credit scoring because it’s a more objective way to evaluate someone’s finances and requires the consumer’s approval, which offers a layer of privacy protection. No matter which source of data is used, though, any lending practices around alternative credit scoring should meet the standards of what Schnare and Perry call SCALE.

 

• 
  
  
  
  • Societal values: Does the practice respect social and ethical norms, such as the right to privacy?
  
  
  • Contextual integrity: Regardless of predictive value, is it relevant to mortgages?
  
  
  • Accuracy: Does the data accurately reflect the household’s financial situation?
  
  
  • Legality: Would the use of the data have a disparate impact on protected classes?
  
  
  • Expanded opportunity: Would the use of the data increase the number of qualified borrowers?
  
  
  
  

 

“The rise of big data greatly expands the options for credit scoring,” Perry noted. “However, predictability is not enough to justify the use of certain kinds of data. Their use must also be consistent with broader social and ethical values.”

NAR President Charlie Oppler said during the webinar that the association plans to use Schnare and Perry’s research to help shape its policy positions and inform its future advocacy efforts on credit scoring.

“A borrower’s credit report and credit score are the gateway to a mortgage,” Oppler said. “But for too long, inaccurate credit reporting methods have raised the cost to borrow while limiting access to mortgage credit for prospective borrowers, particularly those from minority populations and rural communities.”

 

Article Link – April 9, 2021 – Graham Wood

HUD ANNOUNCES $5B TO HELP HOMELESS; FLORIDA TO GET $254M

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge announced that nearly $5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds will go toward affordable housing and services for people currently homeless or at risk of becoming so.

 

In Florida, 38 counties or cities will share about $254 million. The largest dollar amount goes to Miami-Dade County at $17,686,235. The smallest allocation goes to North Miami at $1,088,181. The supplemental funding is allocated through HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program to 651 grantees, including states, insular areas, and local governments.

“Homelessness in the United States was increasing even before COVID-19, and we know the pandemic has only made the crisis worse,” says Fudge. “With this strong funding, communities across the country will have the resources needed to give homes to the people who have had to endure the COVID-19 pandemic without one.”

The $4.925 billion in HOME-ARP funding gives states flexibility to meet the people’s needs, including through development of affordable housing, tenant-based rental assistance, supportive services, and acquisition and development of non-congregate shelter units. Funds must be spent by 2030.

Florida county-metro allocations for homelessness relief

1. 
   
   
   
   1. 
      
      
      
      1. 
         

         Clearwater – $1,637,567

         
         
      
      
      2. 
         

         Daytona Beach – $1,405,829

         
         
      
      
      3. 
         

         Ft Lauderdale – $2,589,019

         
         
      
      
      4. 
         

         Gainesville – $1,968,639

         
         
      
      
      5. 
         

         Hialeah FL $5,388,586

         
         
      
      
      6. 
         

         Hollywood – $1,915,134

         
         
      
      
      7. 
         

         Lakeland – $1,401,459

         
         
      
      
      8. 
         

         Miami – $12,720,427

         
         
      
      
      9. 
         

         Miami Beach – $2,245,387

         
         
      
      
      10. 
          

          North Miami – $1,088,181

          
          
      
      
      11. 
          

          Orlando – $4,787,204

          
          
      
      
      12. 
          

          Pompano Beach – $1,639,319

          
          
      
      
      13. 
          

          St Petersburg – $3,036,659

          
          
      
      
      14. 
          

          Tallahassee – $3,412,463

          
          
      
      
      15. 
          

          Tampa – $6,335,438

          
          
      
      
      16. 
          

          West Palm Beach – $1,734,257

          
          
      
      
      17. 
          

          Collier County – $2,729,078

          
          
      
      
      18. 
          

          Jacksonville-Duval County – $12,060,074

          
          
      
      
      19. 
          

          Hillsborough County – $10,374,531

          
          
      
      
      20. 
          

          Lake County – $2,060,197

          
          
      
      
      21. 
          

          Lee County – $3,802,106

          
          
      
      
      22. 
          

          Manatee County – $2,362,768

          
          
      
      
      23. 
          

          Miami-Dade County – $17,686,235

          
          
      
      
      24. 
          

          Orange County – $10,554,916

          
          
      
      
      25. 
          

          Palm Beach County – $8,768,012

          
          
      
      
      26. 
          

          Polk County – $5,105,519

          
          
      
      
      27. 
          

          Seminole County – $3,046,438

          
          
      
      
      28. 
          

          Volusia County – $2,665,311

          
          
      
      
      29. 
          

          Non Entitlement (outside county/metro) – $71,903,340

          
          
      
      
      30. 
          

          Pinellas County – $4,794,571

          
          
      
      
      31. 
          

          Brevard County – $4,524,586

          
          
      
      
      32. 
          

          Sarasota City – $3,170,598

          
          
      
      
      33. 
          

          Escambia County – $4,135,750

          
          
      
      
      34. 
          

          Broward County – $13,987,207

          
          
      
      
      35. 
          

          Marion County – $3,217,585

          
          
      
      
      36. 
          

          St. Lucie County – $3,480,403

          
          
      
      
      37. 
          

          Pasco County – $4,455,673

          
          
      
      
      38. 
          

          Osceola County – $3,478,510

          
          
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   

 

Florida total: $253,677,973

 

Source: Florida Realtors®

Biden Administrations' Infrastructure Proposal: Commitment to Housing

President Joe Biden on Wednesday proposed a plan to revamp the nation’s infrastructure, which the White House called a “once-in-a-century capital investment.” Biden’s proposal aims to rebuild the country’s roads, bridges, and rail service; provide greater support for clean energy and universal broadband; and build millions of affordable homes.

Specifically relating to real estate, the proposal includes plans to “build and rehabilitate more than 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income homebuyers.” The White House noted that this would serve as a “pathway for more families to buy homes and start building wealth.”

National Association of REALTORS® President Charlie Oppler released the following statement in response to the infrastructure investment proposal: “NAR thanks President Biden and his administration for recognizing that housing represents a critical piece of our nation’s overall infrastructure. While a lack of inventory and rising prices continue to limit opportunities for homeownership—especially for younger Americans and minority populations—policies that support nationwide housing affordability are now more important than ever.”

The Biden proposal also includes an investment in broadband, which NAR has long supported as a comprehensive national policy to stimulate the deployment of broadband in underserved areas, increase data speeds, and lower broadband prices. “Broadband access is no longer a luxury, it is a critical utility,” Oppler said in the statement. “That was true before the pandemic, and even more so now.”

NAR will continue to advocate for key measures it supports within the proposal. For example, the Biden infrastructure proposal also will attempt to take aim at SALT, a cap of $10,000 on state and local tax deductions that was implemented from a 2017 tax overhaul.

“We look forward to working with Congress and the administration to ensure these proposals are funded responsibly while continuing to promote additional housing inventory,” Oppler said. “In addition, we are encouraged by reports of rising support to end the SALT marriage penalty through this bill, and we urge the administration to work with lawmakers to find a solution.”

 

Source:

REALTOR® Magazine

2000 Microphones Unlock the Mystery of Why Hummingbirds Hum

‘Like a Beautifully-tuned Instrument’: 2000 Microphones Unlock the Mystery of Why Hummingbirds Hum.  The hummingbird is named after its pleasant humming sound when it hovers in front of flowers to feed. But only now has it become clear how the wing generates the hummingbird’s namesake sound when it is beating rapidly at 40 beats per second.

Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology, Stanford University, and Sorama meticulously observed hummingbirds using 12 high-speed cameras, six pressure plates, and 2,176 microphones. The team of engineers succeeded in measuring the precise origin of the sound generated by the flapping wings of a flying animal for the first time.

They discovered that the soft and complex feathered wings of hummingbirds generate sound in a fashion similar to how the simpler wings of insect do. The new insights could help make devices like fans and drones quieter.

The hummingbird’s hum originates from the pressure difference between the topside and underside of the wings, which changes both in magnitude and orientation as the wings flap back and forth. These pressure differences over the wing are essential, because they furnish the net aerodynamic force that enables the hummingbird bird to liftoff and hover.

Unlike other species of birds, a hummingbird wing generates a strong upward aerodynamic force during both the downward and upward wing stroke, so twice per wingbeat. Whereas both pressure differences due to the lift and drag force acting on the wing contribute, it turns out that the upward lifting pressure difference is the primary source of the hum.

The difference between whining, humming, and wooshing

Professor David Lentink of Stanford University said, “This is the reason why birds and insects make different sounds. Mosquitoes whine, bees buzz, hummingbirds hum, and larger birds ‘woosh’. Most birds are relatively quiet because they generate most of the lift only once during the wingbeat at the downstroke. Hummingbirds and insects are noisier because they do so twice per wingbeat.”

To arrive at their model, the scientists examined six Anna’s hummingbirds, the most common species around Stanford.

One by one, they had the birds drink sugar water from a fake flower in a special flight chamber. Around the chamber, not visible to the bird, cameras, microphones, and pressure sensors were set up to precisely record each wingbeat while hovering in front of the flower.

During a follow-up experiment, six highly sensitive pressure plates finally managed to record the lift and drag forces generated by the wings as they moved up and down, a first.

The researchers finally managed to condense all their various results in a simple 3D acoustic model, borrowed from the world of airplanes and mathematically adapted to flapping wings. It predicts the sound that flapping wings radiate, not only the hum of the hummingbird, but also the woosh of other birds and bats, the buzzing and whining of insects, and even the noise that robots with flapping wings generate.

Making drones quieter?

Although it was not the focus of this study—published in March in the journal eLife—the knowledge gained may also help improve aircraft and drone rotors as well as laptop and vacuum cleaner fans. The new insights and tools can help make engineered devices that generate complex forces like animals do quieter.

This is exactly what Sorama aims to do: “We make sound visible in order to make appliances quieter. Noise pollution is becoming an ever-greater problem. And a decibel meter alone is not going to solve that. You need to know where the sound comes from and how it is produced, in order to be able to eliminate it. That’s what our sound cameras are for. This hummingbird wing research gives us a completely new and very accurate model as a starting point, so we can do our work even better,” concludes CEO and researcher Rick Scholte of Sorama, a spin-off of Eindhoven University of Technology.

If the movements of hummingbirds can give us quieter technology in the future? Well, we are absolutely here for it.

(WATCH the researchers’ video all about how hummingbirds hum)

 

Home Design Trends For 2021

The pandemic sparked this year’s home design trends, but high aesthetics and fun should keep them around far longer.

 

The home design trends that will dominate in 2021 reflect the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has upended people’s lives, driving them to create a home that’s a safe place to relax, work, study, and socialize. While the following three enhancements address practical needs, there are plenty of high aesthetics—and a healthy dose of joy—in these new visions for the lives people are living indoors and outdoors. These are the kinds of upgrades that may just have people choosing to stay put, even when it’s safe to venture out more freely.

1. Two-for-one “Layered” Kitchens

 

 

Even before the pandemic, some homeowners with an open-plan layout found that increased exposure and family togetherness posed a downside in the kitchen work area: piles of dirty dishes, cluttered countertops, and other unsightly messes. Leave it to trendsetters to develop a solution for those with ample space and funds: two kitchens in one. Mick De Giulio of de Giulio Kitchen Design in Chicago calls it a “layered kitchen” with separate “work” and “living” zones. Cheryl Kees Clendenon of In Detail Interiors in Pensacola, Fla., refers to it as having a “prep and show kitchen.” In the work area, typically at the back and concealed by a door, wall, or hall, serious cooking and cleanup take place. The area may be part of a large laundry or utility room and might also be used by caterers (when entertaining returns with gusto), Clendenon says.

In contrast, the living or show kitchen at the front remains open, designed to display culinary creations in a clean, uncluttered way. It’s where a golden-brown turkey would come out of the oven before being carried to the back for carving. Some homeowners may also designate one kitchen for special-requirements cooking such as gluten-free prep, which a client of Clendenon’s requested. Or some may want to make space for a dedicated beverage center with a coffee station, refrigerated drawers, and a wine cooler to meet needs from morning to night, De Giulio says.

2. Flexible, Prefabricated Sheds

 

 

Sheds, once used primarily to store sports equipment and garden paraphernalia, have evolved into a common home addition. Some homeowners use them as overflow storage instead of paying for an expensive off-site facility. Others seek larger and better outfitted models as accessory dwelling units for people because more municipalities are approving ADUs. They’ve become dwellings for returning adult children and short- and long-term renters, quiet work-from-home quarters, and escapes for recouping sanity—hence the new moniker “the sanity shed.”

Rather than have an architect or contractor design and build a shed from scratch—which can be pricey and time-consuming and which often requires a building permit—homeowners can find more affordable, off-the-shelf options on the market, some of which can be customized. Boulder, Colo.–based Studio Shed has experienced explosive growth during the pandemic. The company offers prefabricated, sustainable designs that vary by size (from 64 to 256 square feet), color, door and window placement, finishes, and price ($11,000 and up). Because of the increase in gardening during the pandemic, the company offers its “Studio Sprout” greenhouse ($14,250), while customers’ most popular choice is a functional home office (about $25,000). Some municipalities looking to spur affordable housing in a shorter time frame offer preapproved plans for expanded sheds that can serve as modest dwellings, says architect Brian O’Looney of Torti Gallas + Partners in Washington, D.C., in his new book, Increments of Neighborhood.

3. Outdoor Warming Features

 

 

As temperatures fell, homeowners wanted to extend safe, outdoor socializing with family and friends in the time of COVID-19. “Everybody wanted to turn their backyard into an oasis to be able to eat safely and talk,” says landscape architect Clara Batchelor of CBA Landscape Architects in Cambridge, Mass. Many, including residents of multifamily buildings with shared outdoor space, want to keep doing so throughout winter. Two features that make fresh-air living in chilly evening weather pleasant are fire pits and patio heaters. They offer warmth from infrared electric heat, propane, or real wood-burning fires.

Local authorities are revising codes and ordinances to ease requirements pertaining to fire features, says architect Gary Kane with The Architectural Team in Chelsea, Mass. While fire pits have been popular for years, they’ve become more stylish, now available in different shapes, sizes, materials, weights, and prices. One design that grabbed attention early in the pandemic was Solo Stove’s portable “Bonfire” pit that uses logs but is smokeless. Hybrid models use gas and burning logs, says landscape architect Marc Nissim of Harmony Design in Westfield, N.J. Patio heaters are a newer home addition, inspired by restaurants using them to coax diners to eat outdoors. Using a variety of heating fuels, some are designed to stand alone and others mount on a wall or ceiling, says landscape designer Michael Glassman of Michael Glassman & Associates in Sacramento, Calif.

 

See more design trends for the year ahead.

Barbara Ballinger

Barbara Ballinger is a freelance writer and the author of several books on real estate, architecture, and remodeling, including The Kitchen Bible: Designing the Perfect Culinary Space (Images Publishing, 2014). Barbara’s most recent book is The Garden Bible: Designing Your Perfect Outdoor Space, co-authored with Michael Glassman (Images, 2015).

Companies Mull Pet-Friendly Office Policies to Entice Workers Back

Pets have become trusted allies—and coworkers of sorts—to a growing number of remote workers during the pandemic. Now companies who are welcoming employees back to the office are realizing they may also need to invite workers’ furry friends. And that means building operators may need to ease restrictions to allow for more pet-friendly office workspaces.

Fifty percent of C-suite executives say they are considering allowing employees to bring their pets to work when they return to the office, according to a survey from Canfield Pet Hospital and OnePoll. Fifty-nine percent of executives say they would allow “more flexibility” for employees to take care of their pets during the workday.

Such a policy may help entice more employees to return to the office after working from home for an extended period. Sixty-three percent of pet owners report anxiety over how their pets will cope with their post-pandemic work routine, according to a separate survey from Banfield Pet Hospital and OnePoll.

NAR Study: Pets in the Home Buying and Selling Process

Executives also express an understanding and tolerance for pets, with 75% percent saying that being a pet owner has made them a better, more compassionate business leader. Other findings include:

• Among executives who are crafting a specific pet policy in the workplace, 59% say their plans were motivated by employee requests.


• Fifty-eight percent say they understand that staff members have gotten used to being around their pets all day.


• Forty-two percent say a pet perk at work would entice employees to return to the office.

 

Research also has shown that dogs at work can make employees more collaborative and less stressed, Inc.com reports. “We’ve seen the human-animal bond only get stronger during the pandemic, and it’s no surprise that owners are thinking about how they can best be there for their pets when they start to spend more time outside of home,” says Brian Garish, president of Banfield Pet Hospital. “We believe we can advance human health through pet health, elevating societal well-being.”

Executives who already had a pet-friendly workplace policy before the pandemic say it prompted an increase in employee socializing, encouraged more employees to come to work, effected an uptick in employee productivity, and made employees more willing to stay at work later. However, those suffering from pet allergies or who do not have a fondness for pets may not be as happy about pet-friendly policies at work.

 

Source:

Banfield Pet Hospital; “A Lot More Post-Pandemic Offices Are Going to Be Pet Friendly, New Survey Says,” inc.com (April 2021); and “Expect Workplaces to Become More Pet-Friendly After the Pandemic,” Apartment Therapy (March 27, 2021)

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS UNDER ATTACK IN FLORIDA

This is your wake-up call, Florida, and we need your help to save affordable housing.

 

Last week, Senate President Wilton Simpson and Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls unveiled legislation, HB 5401 and SPB 2512, to permanently redirect two-thirds of the housing trust funds each year to sea level rise and wastewater infrastructure projects.

That’s some serious money that won’t be available to teachers, firefighters, nurses and other first responders for housing assistance. If this legislation passes, 66% of the $423 million available in the housing trust funds will go toward priorities other than housing.

This is unacceptable.

For nearly 30 years, the State Housing Initiative Program has received $2.6 billion from the housing trust funds that has helped 217,000 households with down payment and closing cost assistance, among other housing programs. A $423 million investment into housing programs next year would create 33,000 jobs and more than $4.9 billion in positive economic impact. That’s sound policy as we seek to restore our economy to a pre-pandemic state.

Monies for the housing trust funds come from a portion of the documentary stamp taxes charged on every real estate transaction. In 1992, Realtors advocated for this tax — 10 cents per $100 of value — on the condition that all monies collected went to housing programs.

But for years, that hasn’t happened.

During years of budget shortfalls, legislators swept more than $2.3 billion collected for the housing trust funds into general revenue. And now, when the people of Florida are experiencing pandemic-related challenges that include a critical shortage of affordable, attainable housing, there’s a plan to permanently reduce these vital “trust” funds to the lowest level of all.

The idea of permanently redirecting two-thirds of the housing trust funds is concerning during a pandemic. Housing has been our refuge, office, childcare and more. Essential workers, our first and last line of defense, would be left with one less option to secure housing, be it down payment or rental assistance.

Florida Realtors is the voice for millions of property owners who have paid into the housing trust funds. On their behalf, know that we appreciate the need to fund other priorities. But affordable housing IS a priority now more than ever in this post-pandemic economy. Affordability housing IS a priority for the elderly on fixed incomes and low-income families. Affordable housing IS a priority for teachers, firefighters, first responders and others who serve our communities. Our essential workers have guided us through the pandemic, and housing trust funds should be available to help them achieve the American dream of homeownership.

In 1992, lawmakers created a dedicated trust fund for housing purposes. HB 5401 and SPB 2512 would permanently change this dedicated funding source.

Visit https://affordablehousingfl.org/ TODAY to tell your elected leaders to honor the intended purpose of the trust funds and support affordable housing by voting NO on HB 5401 and SPB 2512!

 

Source: Florida Realtors®