Focus on Quality Employers, Not on Moratoriums: 9-5-26 Podcast

Real Estate Matters has been Palm Coast and Flagler County, Florida’s real estate voice for more than 12 years.

We need good jobs and an increased commercial tax base. But we spend more time, energy, public meeting time, social media posting, and tax dollars fighting residential growth than attracting clean, well-paying industries. Can you list any recent economic development accomplishments in Palm Coast? DC BLOX was a huge win, but the city’s response was a moronic moratorium on data centers, a response unlikely to attract many site-selectors.

Can you describe any incentive programs in place to attract target industries?

Does Palm Coast have a Director of Community Development today?

How does our Economic Development budget compare to our total legal expenses defending lawsuits spawned by our no-residential-growth policies? What about staff resignations and firings?

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

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Be sure to check out the continually updated interactive 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 show’s recording date.

Show Notes for 9-5-2026

Recorded 9-3-2026

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

I’m Toby Tobin, publisher of the 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:

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.

Guests: None

August stats:

Homes sold – 267 v 227 one year ago

Median Price – $369,220 v $365,000

Inventory – 1,122 – 4.2 months worth of inventory

241 Pending sales at a $385K list price

42.2% of pending sales are New Construction.

15 under $250 – 9 for cash

22 $1M+ – 13 for cash

YTD Highlights

Cash remains king at both ends of the price spectrum

The number of homes sold has increased 16.3%

While dominating the metrics, the $250K to $499K slice of the market remains weakest.

The strongest market is above $500K. Sales volume for $1M+  homes increased 42.8%

Main topic – following up on last week’s article, which got over 2.2K views on Nextdoor.

I agree that we need good jobs and an increased commercial tax base. But we are spending more time, energy, public meeting time, social media posting, and tax dollars fighting residential growth than we are attracting clean, well-paying industries. Can you list any recent economic development accomplishments in Palm Coast? DC BLOX was a huge win, but the city’s response was a moronic moratorium on data centers, a response unlikely to attract many site-selectors.

Can you describe any incentive programs in place to attract target industries?

Does Palm Coast have a Director of Community Development today?

How does our Economic Development Department budget compare to our total legal expenses defending lawsuits spawned by our no residential growth policies? What about resignations and firings?

I could do similar paragraphs for Flagler County and Flagler Beach too.

Annamaria, tell our listeners about the current scrimmage over trash hauling and the ongoing disagreement over silt fencing.

Over the past 20 years, we have lost a boat manufacturing plant that once had 500 well-paid workers and Palm Coast Data with its 1,000 workers. Healthcare is growing but only because we have so many seniors. It is estimated that between 10 and 18% of lifetime healthcare spending occurs in the last year of life. We are a target-rich environment.

Where was social media when wind and solar farms were multiplying? And how have they worked out?

To Google Gemini: What economic benefits have accrued to Myrtle Beach, S.C., attributable to its cable landing station?

• Direct Capital Investment & Tax Revenue
• Hyperscale Tech Partnerships & Big-Tech Presence
• Regional Infrastructure & Fiber Expansion
• Economic Diversification & Job Creation

We need a comprehensive and well-funded economic initiative, and we need a stable government.

To Palm Coast’s Anti-Growth Movement, Be Careful What You Wish For.

Western Expansion – dead for now

Impact Fee Lawsuit Loss

Town Center Developer Settlement

Byrndog Files Bert Harris Lawsuit

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, the Flagler County Interactive map of residential developments and subdivisions on GoToby.com is updated regularly. Currently viewed over 11,600 times.

If you are thinking about buying or selling property in Flagler County, call me first. Based on your goals, I’ll connect you with an appropriately qualified Realtor or builder and serve as your consultant throughout the transaction, at no additional cost to you. Call me at 386-931-7124 or email me at Toby@GoToby.com.action, at no additional cost to you. Call me at 386-931-7124 or email me at Toby@GoToby.com.