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Mary Bruno was hired as national director of agency due diligence for JLL’s Value and Risk Advisory group. She is based in Orlando.

Rose Kemp, RE/MAX Town Centre, was appointed 2024 President of the Orlando Regional Realtor Association.

Lawrence Bellido, Keller Williams Advantage III Realty, was appointed to 2024 President Elect of Orlando Regional Realtor Association.

Christopher Atwell, Empire Network Realty, was appointed to 2024 Treasurer of Orlando Regional Realtor Association.

Deidre Graybill, Graybill Realty and Associates LLC, was appointed to 2024 First Vice President of Orlando Regional Realtor Association.

Lisa Hill, Keller Williams Realty at the Park, has been recognized as the 2024 Immediate Past President of Orlando Regional Realtor Association.

Submit professional appointments, management-level promotions and significant awards for individuals, along with photos as .jpg attachments, to peopleonmove@orlandosentinel.com.

Here’s a personal question: How long do you think you’ll live? Most people will roll their eyes, believing that only a higher power has the answer to that question. It’s an imponderable. Why bother asking, since it makes us so uncomfortable?

We know the longevity statistics, which tell us that a girl born today is predicted to live to age 90.2, and a boy is expected to live to age 87.3. An estimated 14% of boys and 19% of girls born this year are expected to reach 100. But we won’t be around to see that!

A more relevant look at longevity statistics tells us that if you are 65-year-old woman, you’re likely to live to age 87. Your male counterpart is expected to live until around age 84. (Yes, on average, women live longer — and that certainly impacts planning.)

But a recent study conducted by the TIAA Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center found that most Americans are truly in the dark about longevity — their own, and the averages. More than 65% guessed incorrectly when asked about the likely lifespan of a 65-year-old, predicting a far earlier demise. read more

WINTER PARK — Two premium Park Avenue lots on Lake Maitland sit empty next to each other after mansions on both were demolished in recent months.

One sold for $6.85 million late last year. The other changed hands earlier this month for $6.5 million, the second time that property has sold in less than six months, making the seller a nice profit.

Together, they encompass three acres of prime waterfront land with about 240 feet of shoreline.

“That’s the rumor in town [that they are connected] and I have heard it from more than one person, and no they are not connected,” said Brian Mitnick, a real estate agent with Re/Max 200 Realty, told GrowthSpotter. “There was a period where you could have bought both, which would have been pretty incredible, but no, they had nothing to do with each other.”

Mitnick represented the seller of the property at 1190 N. Park Ave. when it sold in October 2023. The 20,000-square-foot home was torn down.

That property was the family home of homebuilder Charlie Clayton’s late parents, Joan and Charles Clayton. read more

Orlando Health officials have opted not to pursue plans for a 200,000-square-foot corporate office tower following discussion with Orlando planning staff.

Members of the company’s development team and their planning firm, GAI Consultants, held a pre-application meeting with city staff in December to discuss the project, which was contemplated for 1227 S. Division Ave.

Spokeswoman Kena Lewis told GrowthSpotter on Tuesday the tower project is a “no-go.”

Orlando Health purchased the site in 2018 for $1.6 million from AT&T, which previously operated a small office and a warehouse, both built in 1959, on the site. The hospital also bought the adjacent warehouse at 1309 S. Division Ave., increasing the size of the property to 3.68 acres. Lewis said there are currently no plans for future development on the parcel.

Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at lkinsler@GrowthSpotter.com or (407) 420-6261. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.

December collections of tourist taxes dropped from a year ago, continuing a nine-month downward trend.

Collections totaled $29.8 million for the month, about 4% or $1.4 million lower than December 2022.

December was the eighth month of the past nine in which monthly revenues dropped year-over-year, said Comptroller Phil Diamond, whose office tracks the county’s 6% surcharge on hotel rooms and other short-term rentals.

Despite the trend, revenues have been strong, averaging more than $28 million a month over that time span.

If collections continue at the same stride over the next nine months, the county would rake in $336.5 million, the second-highest total in the history of the tax, out-performing Diamond’s forecast of a 7.5% revenue drop in fiscal year 2023-24.

Collections are down about 5% from last year’s record pace.

Diamond said he would be happy to be wrong as it would mean a stronger local economy.

“But where it goes from here, nobody knows,” he said.

Orange County Comptroller releases memo urging cautious tourist-tax spending read more