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When people think about what drives home values, they usually think about interest rates, inventory and comparable sales. Those factors matter. But over longer periods, one of the most important forces affecting a housing market is much simpler: Where are the jobs going? Central Florida continues to attract corporate offices, manufacturing facilities, technology companies, healthcare...

For decades, outsiders have often described Orlando's economy primarily through one industry: Tourism. Tourism remains critically important to Central Florida, but that description increasingly tells only part of the story. Central Florida's economy now includes growing clusters in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, simulation, technology, financial services and...

Follow Business Investment, Infrastructure and Land Homebuyers often search for the “next hot area.” I look at the question differently. Instead of asking which neighborhood is becoming popular today, I want to know: Where are the ingredients for future growth being assembled? Those ingredients usually include three core factors: Employment, Infrastructure, and Developable land....

Why Jobs, Infrastructure and Development Matter to Real Estate Real estate values are influenced by much more than interest rates. Over the long term, population growth, employment, infrastructure and development patterns can dramatically change a community. That is why serious real estate analysis should include more than home sales statistics. Follow Employment When...

You Are Also Buying Into the Association A condominium purchase is fundamentally different from buying a detached single-family home. You are purchasing your unit, but you are also becoming financially connected to the building and the condominium association. That means the condition of the association can matter almost as much as the condition of the unit itself. Look...