Things To Do In SW Florida

A bill filed in the Florida House of Representatives on Wednesday could make it more difficult for Wall Street-backed landlords to buy homes in the Sunshine State.

“When you have corporations buying up single family homes meant to be residential, it takes away from the supply and therefore has an impact on cost,” said Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, the representative who introduced HB401.

A first-of-its-kind analysis from the Tampa Bay Times found that large corporations own more than 117,000 single family homes across Florida, including around 27,000 in the Tampa Bay area.

Proponents of the growing single family rental industry say it’s creating more options for those who can’t afford to buy.

But the Times found these landlords neglected ongoing maintenance issues, evicted tenants at higher rates and accelerated gentrification in Black neighborhoods. Disproportionate concentration of ownership among a handful of companies is linked by researchers to rising rent and sales costs, and experts said the companies’ tactics can shut out individuals buyers in the housing market. read more

Chapter 7

Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include:

Azevedo’s Backyards LLC, 3852 LB McLeod Road, Orlando. Filed: Jan. 28. Assets: $16,550. Liabilities: $306,508. Major creditors: Chase Cardmember Services, Charlotte, N.C., $121,216; U.S. Small Business Administration, Miami, $100,000; Mary Bermudez, Orlando, $12,495. Creditors meeting: Feb. 28.

Chapter 11

Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for reorganization and protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include:

Cork Capital LLC, 8810 Boggy Creek Road, Suite 100, Orlando. Filed: Jan. 21. Assets: $312,267. Liabilities: $1,419,232. Major creditors: Dynamic Investment, Frederick, Md., $275,000; Perrymoore Wine Inc., Richmond, Va., $88,977; L.D. Vins, France, $72,288. Creditors meeting: Feb. 24.

Trucking Dynamics Corp., 860 Carambola Drive, Merritt Island. Filed: Jan. 23. Assets: $197,431. Liabilities: $770,764. Major creditors: Forward Financing, Boston, $96,900; First Citizens Bank, Raleigh, N.C., $86,229; On Deck Capital, Arlington, Va., $67,431. Creditors meeting: Feb. 24. read more

By MATT OTT

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased for the third week in a row, a smidgen of relief for prospective home shoppers getting into the market before the busy spring homebuying season starts.

Disney Cruise Line will place two of its expanding fleet in Alaska for summer 2026 while keeping four ships sailing from Florida ports.

The line announced its plans Thursday with the highlight of sending Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, its two oldest and smallest vessels, to sail Alaskan itineraries out of Vancouver.

Starting in May 2026 the ships will begin seven-night voyages with varied itineraries that may visit Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan as well as some visits to Dawes Glacier and Icy Strait Point.

In Florida, Port Canaveral will continue to host year-round sailings from three ships while Port Everglades will host one, with the ports offering stops among its sailings to either Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, the cruise line’s two private Bahamas destinations.

New ship Disney Treasure will continue seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries while sister ship Disney Wish will keep performing short three- and four-night Bahamas duties from Port Canaveral. In addition, Disney Fantasy will do mostly four- and five-night trips plus one special 10-night Southern Caribbean voyage. read more

As congestion increases on Florida highways, state Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue wants lawmakers to envision a world getting closer to the promise of decades-old sci-fi shows.

Perdue expressed support Wednesday for advanced air mobility, which would involve establishing vertiports in urban areas that could serve as hubs for short aerial commutes by battery-powered aircraft that have characteristics of airplanes and helicopters.

“What if there was an opportunity to have what we call vertiports in Orlando and Tampa, and there could be thousands of these vehicles flying back and forth on the I-4 corridor?” Perdue said to members of the House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee. “So, you can think about movies that you’ve seen that are science fiction. The Jetsons, yeah, is one of those … that’s a classic. This is actually becoming a reality.”

Perdue anticipates technology will advance in the next few years to expand the limited range now available to “eVTOL” — electric vertical take-off and landing — aircraft that can move cargo and people. read more