Hello everyone.
Governor Ron DeSantis hosted a roundtable on Wednesday at the Miami-Dade County Sherrif's Office to discuss property tax relief and build support for Amendment 3, inviting Florida Realtors 2026 Secretary, Fernando Arencibia Jr. to participate in the discussion.
During the roundtable, the governor highlighted the significant growth in property tax revenues across Florida's 67 counties, which have increased from approximately $32 billion in 2019 to more than $60 billion today. He also spoke about how that additional revenue has far outpaced inflation and population growth, and how family paychecks have not grown nearly as much.
Fernando reinforced the governor's comments while also highlighting the growing challenges facing Florida families. He noted that the average age of a first-time homebuyer has reached a record 40 as the costs of buying and keeping a home continue to rise. He also emphasized that Amendment 3 offers an opportunity to provide immediate property tax relief, stressing that this is not a choice between lower taxes and funding essential public services.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz also spoke during the roundtable, reinforcing the notion that Floridians do not have to choose between safety and tax relief. To emphasize that point, she gave several examples of how she has tightened her office's budget significantly without cutting the core services her office supplies.
You can watch the full roundtable by going HERE . It was an informative conversation that offers some new perspectives voters can use to help educate themselves on Amendment 3. You can also read the governor's post-event recap of the roundtable by going HERE.
Sheltering and First Responder Assistance Announced for Hurricane Isaias Survivors
New Hurricane Isaias recovery assistance was announced this week, including the first temporary shelter trailers for families displaced by significant storm damage and one-time $5,000 grants for eight first responders in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties whose homes were damaged while they continued serving their communities. The shelter program, administered through a partnership between Emergency RV and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, has received nearly 300 applications. Florida has also requested a major federal disaster declaration covering 15 counties for Public Assistance and eight counties for Individual Assistance, with a federal decision pending. Recovery teams continue to assess damage and identify community needs. You can find updates and recovery resources by going HERE.
$4.5 Million Approved to aid Small Businesses Recovering from Hurricane Isaias
On Monday, the state announced more than $4.5 million has been approved through the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program for small businesses impacted by Hurricane Isaias. Sixty-five businesses have been approved to receive these funds to bridge the gap while they await other long-term funding such as insurance, with more applications being approved every day. The program, administered by FloridaCommerce, provides short-term, no-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Isaias. Interested applicants can apply now through November 25, 2026, or until all available funds are exhausted, by going HERE.
What the Appraisal Overhaul Means for Your Deals
The appraisal process is getting a major overhaul, and while REALTORS® won't be responsible for completing the new reports, they'll have an important role in helping transactions move forward.
During a Florida Realtors® webinar last week, Kim Bell, a Realtor, Florida Realtors faculty member and State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser, explained how the new Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) 3.6 and Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR) will change the way residential properties are evaluated and documented.
"This is a major historic shift," Bell said. "We have never seen appraisal formatting and reporting the way that it is now."
The changes are designed to create more consistent appraisal reporting nationwide, giving lenders standardized, detailed information about the properties securing their loans.
Get more information on the changes as well as resources to help REALTORS® navigate them by going HERE.
Treasury Proposes Rules for Limits on Institutional Investor Home Purchases
The U.S. Department of the Treasury released a proposed rule Oct. 22 to implement the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act's restrictions on large institutional investors purchasing single-family homes. Beginning Jan. 7, 2027, investors that control at least 350 single-family homes generally would be prohibited from buying additional properties, with exceptions for certain purchases, including build-to-rent and renovate-to-rent projects. The proposal limits build-to-rent purchases to newly constructed homes that have never been owner-occupied and are purchased within 18 months of completion. Renovate-to-rent investors would need to address building code deficiencies and spend at least 15% of the purchase price, excluding land, on improvements. The proposal also outlines requirements for programs helping renters become homeowners, including a 30-day opportunity for tenants to make an offer before a property is marketed to other buyers.
The proposed rule further clarifies which investors are covered and preserves exceptions for certain foreclosure-related sales and transactions between large investors involving homes they already own. Treasury plans additional rulemaking to implement the law, and public comments are due 30 days after the proposal's scheduled Oct. 23 publication in the Federal Register. The National Association of Realtors® is reviewing the proposal and will share updates with members.
Read the full story HERE.
REALTOR® Party Launches New Voting Resource
NAR Advocacy has launched a new online resource HERE to help REALTOR® members register to vote, verify their registration status, learn about upcoming elections and access election-related information. The site also features an interactive map showing REALTOR® voter registration and turnout rates by state for the 2024 general and primary elections.
The launch builds on NAR's efforts to encourage civic engagement, with approximately 87% of its nearly 1.2 million registered members voting in the 2024 presidential election, compared with 65.3% of the U.S. citizen voting-age population. The resource aims to make it easier for members to participate in elections and stay informed about government decisions affecting housing affordability, property rights and homeownership. Members are encouraged to use the site to prepare for the 2026 General Election.
You can also get a full rundown on Florida Realtors® PAC-endorsed state candidates by going HERE.
NAR Submits Comments on OCC and FDIC Community Reinvestment Proposed Rule
On Oct. 13, 2026, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) submitted comments to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on proposed changes to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), which evaluates banks' lending and community investment activities. NAR's letter calls for better coordination between regulators, analysis of how revised bank-size definitions could affect community investment, greater transparency in public reporting, consistent oversight and clearer guidance on activities eligible for CRA credit. NAR supports modernizing and strengthening the CRA to ensure banks continue providing capital to the communities they serve, particularly during times of need.
Read the full story HERE.
FHA Opens Multifamily Financing to Build-to-Rent Communities
On Oct. 14, 2026, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) issued guidance allowing build-to-rent (BTR) communities consisting of detached single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes, including manufactured homes, to qualify for FHA-insured multifamily financing. Effective immediately, the policy makes these communities eligible for financing under Section 221(d)(4) for new construction and Section 223(f) for the purchase or refinancing of recently constructed properties. HUD said the change responds to a January executive order directing the agency to establish limited exceptions for communities designed and developed specifically as rental housing.
To qualify, a BTR community must include at least five homes on one contiguous site operated as a single, professionally managed rental property, with no privately owned homes mixed in. Individual homes or lots cannot be sold separately during the insured loan term, and homeowners association rules must not interfere with HUD requirements or the property owner's control. While federal multifamily accessibility design and construction requirements do not apply to the individual homes, applicable accessibility standards still apply to shared spaces and community amenities.
Read the full story HERE.
NAR Calls for Standardized ROVs
NAR recently joined 11 other real estate, mortgage, banking, and credit union organizations on a coalition letter calling for the FHFA, FHA, USDA, and VA to:
Standardize the reconsideration of value (ROV) process
Align federal programs with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Improve consumer education
Coordinate any additional requirements
Read the letter submitted by the coalition HERE.
In Other News
Amendment 3 is one step toward greater housing affordability (Featuring commentary from Cyndee Haydon, Florida Realtors® 2026 Treasurer)
Why these Florida voters are backing Amendment 3 property tax cuts
Isaias: 47,000 Claims and $582M in Losses in Florida So Far, OIR Reports
Aerospace, medtech giants fuel Sunshine State's economic push
Florida condo sales rise 3.1% in third quarter
This Week in Florida History (October 19 - October 25)
Oct. 20, 1824: Tallahassee was selected as Florida's territorial capital, chosen for its central location between the former capitals of St. Augustine and Pensacola. The decision helped unite the territory's eastern and western regions under one government. Tallahassee remains Florida's capital today.
Please reach out to us at publicpolicy@floridarealtors.org with any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Trey Goldman
Senior Vice President of Public Policy
Florida Realtors®