Florida Realtors® Takes Part in Gov. Scott's Business Mission to Spain

MADRID, May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Representing Florida's Realtors and the interests of the state's real estate industry, Florida Realtors® President Summer Greene is in Spain this week working alongside Gov. Rick Scott and other key business leaders to encourage Spanish companies and individuals to develop business in Florida.

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"It is vital to our future to encourage business investment and diversification," says 2012 Florida Realtors President Summer Greene, regional manager of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida 1st in Fort Lauderdale. "Development missions like this one offer a prime opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of establishing a business – and home – in Florida. Over the next several days we will be meeting with various industry groups to share our current Florida market data and forge potential alliances that will benefit Florida Realtors."

During the five-day trip, the governor and a delegation of more than 60 Florida business executives and others are meeting with Spanish government officials and business leaders. Scott has said he intends to promote the Sunshine State "as the ideal location for Spanish companies seeking to do business." Spain is Florida's 34th-largest trading partner.

The delegation also is promoting next year's 500th anniversary celebration of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon's landing in Florida in 1513.

John Sebree, Florida Realtors senior vice president of public policy, says, "In addition to attending numerous meetings with U.S. and Spain officials that have been set up by Gov. Scott's staff, we are also meeting with trade mission participants who may be natural partners with Florida Realtors in our campaign to pass Amendment 4."

Amendment 4 will appear on the state ballot on Nov. 6, 2012. The constitutional amendment would empower the Florida Legislature to prohibit increases in the assessed value of homestead property, and of specified non-homestead properties, if the fair market value of the property decreases.

It would also reduce the cap on annual changes in assessments of non-homestead property from 10 percent to 5 percent; and provide an additional homestead exemption for first-time buyers equal to 50 percent of the median home price in the county. The additional exemption would be gradually reduced until it expires within 5 years.

Florida Realtors®, formerly known as the Florida Association of Realtors®, serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 115,000 members in 63 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.

SOURCE Florida Realtors