Lakeland homebuilder sold to Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary
Highland Homes, founded by a father-and-son team in 1996, is now one of nine builders under the Clayton Properties Group umbrella.Original Article
Lakeland’s housing market is sizzling
People are now seeing Lakeland as an affordable destination as opposed to just a bedroom community for Tampa or Orlando.Original Article
Guest column: You could unknowingly be engaging in the unlicensed practice of law
“UPL” can occur in many different contexts, and all commercial service providers need to educate themselves as to what activities could violate the law.Original Article
Downtown Tampa’s 53-story Riverwalk Place condo tower inches toward a groundbreaking (New rendering)
Nearly four years after it was proposed as a pioneering, mixed-use vision for the downtown Tampa waterfront, the 53-story Riverwalk Place is inching toward a groundbreaking.Original Article
Meet Phil Price, a 2019 CFO of the Year honoree
Phil Price Chief financial officer Smith & Associates Real Estate What inspired you to become a finance executive? At the age of 10 was I inspired to be a finance executive? No, I wanted to be the quarterback for Florida State University. Although my dad and multiple brothers, uncles and cousins are accountants, my mom probably pushed the CPA route the most knowing there were good jobs. Not to say learning about the stock market in grade school from Dad and reconciling cash accounts at his office…Original Article
Vacant lot on Davis Islands sells for record-breaking $6.62 million
A vacant waterfront lot on Davis Islands has been sold nearly twice what it fetched in 2015. The .56-acre lot at 84 Adalia Ave. sold for $6.626 million, Smith & Associates Real Estate said Friday. It has 175 feet of bay frontage. The brokerage firm says the sale is a record for residential land in Tampa. Smith & Associates did not reveal the buyer. A dead for the transaction filed Friday lists the seller as Longboat Capital LLC, which is linked to a Houston-based investment trust. Greg Margliano…Original Article
Heritage Insurance expects $10.2M net loss for Q1 due to severe Brevard County storm
Heritage Insurance Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HRTG) has announced it expects approximately $10.2 million of net losses due to a severe hailstorm in March in Brevard County. The National Weather Service determined the storm was the most significant hailstorm event in Brevard County history, dumping hail the size of quarters and nickels across the area for up to 10 minutes, according to Florida Today. In total, Heritage expects to incur approximately $15.4 million of net catastrophe losses in this year’s…Original Article
Trump says the U.S. is ‘full.’ Much of the nation has the opposite problem
Many economists see ample evidence of a country that is not remotely “full” — but one where an aging population and declining birthrates among the native-born population are creating underpopulated cities and towns, vacant housing and troubled public finances.Original Article
Laser Spine founder to auction off sprawling Belleair property (Photos)
Nearly two months after Laser Spine Institute abruptly closed its doors, its surgical founder will hold an auction to sell off a sprawling property on the Belleair waterfront. The auction, slated for April 30 at 9 a.m., will take bids beginning at $4.5 million, auction house Interluxe said Tuesday. Interluxe is auctioning the house in cooperation with Phyllis Franklin of Stonebridge Real Estate, the home's listing agent. The property has been on and off the market since 2010, when it was priced…Original Article
Meet Highland Homes, a 2019 Best Places to Work honoree
Extra Large (100+ employees) Highland Homes Location: Lakeland How would you describe your company to someone outside of your industry? We are new homebuilders who have been helping homebuyers realize their dreams of homeownership since 1996. Highland Homes is dedicated to delivering the American Dream and total satisfaction through true value in all aspects of the building process. What perks are offered by your company? Snacks Health benefits Vision benefits Dental benefits Ability to work…Original Article