Things To Do In SW Florida

By Abby Badach Doyle, NerdWalllet

With stylish features and floor plans, many of today’s manufactured homes break the old “mobile home” stereotype — without breaking the bank.

On average, new manufactured homes cost about a third of the price of site-built homes, reports the Manufactured Housing Institute, a trade group. Factory construction lowers material and labor costs, and a federal building code makes inspections more efficient.

Lesli Gooch, CEO of the MHI, says manufactured homes are an attractive choice for many buyers, from entry-level buyers to retirees.

“It’s affordable, but it’s also turnkey,” she says.

However, obstacles remain. In some cities, zoning restrictions limit or ban where manufactured homes can be placed. And it’s harder to find a mortgage for amounts below $150,000, so buyers have fewer lender choices for traditional financing.

On Jan. 6, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance, alleging that the company trapped some borrowers in manufactured home mortgages they couldn’t afford. Vanderbilt Mortgage is a unit of Clayton Homes, the nation’s largest manufactured home builder. read more

As billions of dollars in government assistance flow into Los Angeles County in the aftermath of its devastating wildfires, attempts to pilfer those funds are all but inevitable.

When disaster strikes, history shows fraud is sure to follow, as earnest efforts to expeditiously cut through red tape leave openings for bad actors. So far, roughly $750 million in federal funds already have been set aside, including $33 million paid to residents impacted by the wildfires and $550 million to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

California has earmarked another $2.5 billion for recovery efforts, including funding for shelters for evacuees, hazardous waste removal and expedited building permits.

County officials already are gearing up for a fight against those who would try to exploit the situation as early estimates of total damages climb toward $250 billion.

“We’re about to have billions of dollars of federal money descend on Los Angeles County; there are people who look at that as the opportunity of a lifetime to rip it off,” said newly elected District Attorney Nathan Hochman before offering a warning at a press conference last week. “We will go after you if you want to, in any way, rip off the money that is destined for true wildfire victims.” read more

By Adina Dragos, Stacker

For many, 2024 has been a year of transformations—driven by shifting job markets, lifestyle changes, and emerging trends in urban development. As these changes unfold, 2025 is poised to be an exciting year for rental activity. But, which urban areas are set to become hotspots for new residents, thriving businesses, and fresh opportunities?

To find out, RentCafe.com took a closer look at its online engagement rates for the most dynamic cities of 2024. Specifically, after analyzing the most popular rental markets each month during the past year, here is a comprehensive view of the last 12 months to get a sense of what’s ahead.

• Minneapolis is renters’ top city to watch in 2025 after attracting considerable rental interest throughout 2024.
• Atlanta claims the silver medal, followed by Overland Park, KS, in third place.
• The Midwest and West are neck and neck when it comes to the top region to keep an eye on in 2025.

After a strong performance in 2024, Minneapolis takes the top position as the city to watch in 2025, solidifying its reputation as a rental activity hotspot. Notably, it secured the #1 spot seven times throughout the past 12 months. Next is Atlanta, the leading location in RentCafe.com’s previous annual rental activity report and a city that continued to capture renters’ attention throughout the year. read more

By WILL WEISSERT and HALELUYA HADERO, Associated Press

President Donald Trump said Monday evening that Microsoft is among the U.S. companies looking to take control of TikTok to help the popular app avert an effective ban that could kick-in in April.

“I would say yes,” Trump told reporters when asked if Microsoft was one of the companies interested in helping to bring about a new ownership of TikTok, a requirement set by Congress to keep the app functioning in the U.S.

Trump added that other companies were also interested in purchasing TikTok, but wouldn’t provide a list.

“I like bidding wars because you make your best deals,” Trump said as he spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One while flying back to Washington from Miami, where Republican House members were holding a conference.

Microsoft declined to comment. Representatives for TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In one of his first acts in office last week, Trump extended the deadline for TikTok to find new ownership that satisfies the government by 75 days, to April 4 from January 19. read more

In an executive order aimed at “unleashing American energy,” President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to immediately freeze the funding for several programs that stand to add more clean energy infrastructure to Florida.

The future of low-cost loans and grants for Floridians adding rooftop solar panels, plus money to build electric vehicle chargers along Florida highways is now uncertain.

The order was part of a blitz Trump signed within hours of his inauguration last week, when he also declared an end to policies that promoted EVs, halted new permits for offshore wind projects and withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement.

His directive instructs federal agencies to “immediately pause the disbursement of funds” appropriated by two laws, the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law, for at least 90 days. During this period, officials must review their procedures for issuing the money to ensure they are consistent with the administration’s energy goals. read more