Housing Industry’s Legislative Priorities – “Real Estate Matters” 6-20-26

For nearly 12 years, Real Estate Matters has been the voice of real estate in Palm Coast and Flagler County, Florida. Veranda Bay, the new luxury Intracoastal Community in Flagler Beach, sponsors the show.

Given the outsized role that housing plays in the economy, it is imperative that Congress support policies that will increase the production of quality, attainable housing to meet market demand and keep the economy strong. Reducing damaging regulatory burdens at all levels of government and tackling these other supply-side constraints will expand housing supply and improve housing affordability for all Americans.

Watch the Poscast and read the Show Notes below for more details.

---

Be sure to check out the new Flagler County Map of Developments and Subdivisions.

Raw Show Notes

Our behind-the-scenes guide to the show’s flow, including topics we didn’t have time to get to on the show. This is raw and likely contains typos. Data reflects the date of the show’s recording.

Show Notes for 6-20-2026

Recorded 6-18-2026

Welcome to the tranquil side of Florida. This is Real Estate Matters, the voice of real estate in Flagler County and Palm Coast for nearly 12 years.

I’m Toby Tobin, publisher of real estate news website, GoToby.com, and a Florida-licensed Realtor with Grand Living Realty. I’m joined by Co-host Annamaria Long from the Flagler Homebuilders Association, one of our sponsors.

Thanks to Our Sponsors:

• Our Lead Sponsor is Veranda Bay – A private developing community of lots and luxury homes on the Intracoastal Waterway in Flagler Beach, featuring custom homes by Olsen Homes, AR Homes by Arthur Rutenberg, ICI Homes, and Hulbert Homes. Newly opened sections feature homes by Toll Brothers and Dream Finders. To learn more, visit VerandaBay.com.
• Flagler County Home Builders Association
• Hammock Community Church – On A1A in The Hammock – Small enough to know you but large enough to serve you. North of the toll bridge with the message sign out front. It’s not just for Hammockians. Like me, many people cross the bridge.

Guest: None

June stats update (as of 6-18)

• 176 homes sold at a median price of $360,000 vs 257 at $358,445. DOM=43 vs 52 one year ago.
• <$250K – 6 sold, 4 for cash, DOM = 9
• $1M+ – 7 sold, 3 for cash, DOM = 43
• Listings – 1.165 vs 1,405, DOM = 73 vs 74
• Pending sales – 380 vs 319, DOM = 47 vs 62, List price = $379,000 vs $366,500
• GINNdex – 3.1 vs 4.4

Florida Realtors recently published an article citing pending sales as a good metric for looking forward. Real Estate Matters has been using this metric to look forward for over a year. I conceived the GINNdex in 2009.

Check out the latest article on GoToby.com. It’s a report on May results and a summary of the first 5 months, including a neat map of May home sales layered by price so you can see the effect of location on home values. The map has been viewed over 1,350 times in only a few days.

A NEW Walmart

The PLDRB voted unanimously to recommend approval of a new Walmart next door to BJ’s. Media and social media are already sounding the huge number of additional trips the development would create, ignoring the fact that trips will simply be shifted from Palm Coast Pkwy to SR100. SR100 is burdened, but a new exit is being contemplated behind RaceTrac. If negotiations with the property owner fail, eminent domain is an option, a step that should have been taken before BJ’s was approved.

A frontage road from Seminole Woods to Belle Terre is envisioned.

Annamaria’s Trip to DC

Given the outsized role that housing plays in the economy, it is imperative that Congress support policies that will increase the production of quality, attainable housing to meet market demand and keep the economy strong. Reducing damaging regulatory burdens at all levels of government and tackling these other supply-side constraints will expand housing supply and improve housing affordability for all Americans.

Legislative Priorities.

LANDMARK HOUSING LEGISLATION: House and Senate leaders are considering a once-in-a-generation housing package that will significantly increase housing production by encouraging land use and zoning reforms, streamlining environmental reviews and instituting regulatory reforms.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND IMMIGRATION: There is a shortage of more than 200,000 construction workers, and more than 25% of the existing workforce is foreign-born. Home builders will need to add 2.2 million new workers over the next three years to keep up with demand and an aging workforce.

PERMITTING OBSTACLES: Permitting delays at all levels of government put housing projects on hold and raise construction costs. Obtaining a federal Clean Water Act Section 404 permit — essential for many housing projects to move forward — takes upwards of one year.

NATURAL GAS BANS: Localities across the nation are banning builders from installing gas appliances, limiting consumer choice and increasing costs on new homes. The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently forecast that American households that use natural gas spent about 42% less on heating this winter than those that use electricity.

Wrap up:

Video podcasts of Real Estate Matters are available on GoToby.com. Click on Podcasts on the top navigation bar. Show notes are included so you can see what we didn’t get to on the show. Also, on GoToby.com – the Flagler County Interactive map of residential developments and subdivisions, updated regularly. Currently viewed over 10.800 times.

Owners’ associations and Florida’s property tax system are often misunderstood by buyers and sellers, leading to undesired outcomes. I have served on homeowner and condo association boards and a CDD commission. I understand the world of deed-restricted communities. I also served for more than ten years on the Flagler County Value Adjustment Board.

Let me be your consultant at no additional cost to you. If you are thinking about buying or selling property in Flagler County, call me first. I’ll introduce you to a highly qualified agent or builder and serve as an informed consultant throughout the transaction at no additional cost to you. Call me at 386-931-7124 or email me at Toby@GoToby.com.