At the close of our 95th anniversary year, we turn our attention, once again, to our community. Henderson Franklin’s attorneys, staff, friends and family volunteered to help two organizations this holiday season, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast and Meals for Hope, Holidays Without Hunger in Naples.
On January 21, 2016, Certified Commercial Investment Members (“CCIM”), Southwest District, held its 16th Annual Commercial Real Estate Outlook Conference at the Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers, Florida. The annual event was well attended and full of positive projections from local leaders regarding market trends for Southwest Florida’s real estate industry. Land Use Attorney Austin Turner and Real Estate Attorney Michael Lehnert attended and provide the following recap:
The Mayor’s Inside Look at Downtown Fort Myers
The program began with the City of Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson providing an “inside look” at downtown. He explained that our community is postured for many robust real estate opportunities in the next decade, such as the development of its urban infill areas. Mayor Henderson seemed confident that the real estate market, both on a statewide and local level, “is back.” He stated that Fort Myers has recently issued permits for private development that will result in $450 million invested into the downtown area. The Mayor also stated that Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW’s) new baseball stadium and potential basketball arena will positively influence the community’s youth.
The Macro Outlook of Florida’s Real Estate MarketContinue Reading Southwest Florida Real Estate Industry Leaders Say “We’re Back”
As the laws change, we strive to share how they will affect our clients and readers of this blog. Thus, we are pleased to share the following guest post by Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trust and Estate Planning Attorney Eric Gurgold.
On June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court of the United States, in Obergefell v. Hodges, Director, Ohio Department of Health, in a five to four opinion ruled to allow same sex marriages in every state. The Court held that the 14th Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize the marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out of state. The Court said the 14th Amendment concepts of due process and equal protection require states to treat same sex couples the same as opposite sex couples with regard to the fundamental right of marriage. The ruling does not apply to civil unions or other arrangements where the couple is not lawfully married.
Effect on Homestead ProvisionsContinue Reading Impact of the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Same Sex Marriages on Homestead and Property Rights