Donald Mihalik has been a successful real estate professional in the state of Florida for a long time. Over the course of his career, he has been involved in local real estate sales, mortgage originations, and even property management services. Similar to other real estate professionals in the state, he has seen dramatic improvements in real estate values in the state over the past few years. While the Florida real estate market did well over the past few years, there are concerns about the near-term future in 2023. Various factors could influence real estate prices in the state in 2023.

Current Real Estate Trends

When looking to project real estate values in 2023 and beyond, Donald Mihalik and others will first look at current and recent trends. Similar to other states, Florida saw considerable increases in value from 2020 through early 2022. From May 2020 to May 2022, the median sales price in the state increased by nearly 50%. However, since then, the values have declined each month slightly and are now down nearly 5% from the peak. Further, the volume of homes sold has declined more than 25% year-over-year as of September 2022, and homes tend to sit longer before a sale takes place.

Factors to Influence 2023 Values

Clearly, there has been a slowdown in the real estate market in Florida since mid-2022. Donald Mihalik and others believe that 2023 could also be affected due to various factors. There are various reasons why values could be affected in the coming year.

Sticker Shock of Prices

One of the reasons that home buyers may be shy about purchasing a home in 2023 is the sticker shock of prices. While most people agree that homeownership is an excellent long-term investment, there is a point where it makes more sense to rent. With home prices up more than 50% over a two-year period, Donald Mihalik and others believe there is a chance that many people could be priced out of the market.

Increased Interest Rates

One of the reasons for the dramatic rise in values over the past few years was the decline to historically-low interest rates. Many qualified owners could refinance their loans or purchase a home with a new mortgage and take out a loan at under 3%. Due to rising interest rates, mortgage rates in less than a year have increased to more than 7%. This dramatically increases the monthly mortgage payment and could make home ownership unaffordable.

Low Supply and Growing State Could Offset Declines

While high prices and mortgages could make owning a home unaffordable, the state housing market does have some things working in its favor. Donald Mihalik and others continue to point out that Florida is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, which increases housing demand. As supply remains low due to the costs of building new and people are reluctant to sell, the average values could continue to remain high.

Overall, Florida has had a solid real estate market over the past few years. While values have gone up considerably in this time, there is a chance that they could head in the other direction in 2023. Donald Mihalik and other real estate professionals in the state have identified various reasons why this could occur.

Just because you have a certain job right now doesn’t mean that that job is going to be the best for you for the rest of your time in the workforce. But because seeking a new job can be quite the headache, many people are willing to put up with jobs that they don’t love just for convenience. However, at a certain point, finding a new job may be the best option for you.

To help you to know if and when this is the case for you, here are three signs that you should be looking for a better career. 

You Don’t Have Growth Opportunities

At the best of jobs, having the possibility for career advancement is vital. Without this, you could find yourself stuck in a dead end job that won’t allow for things like better pay, a better position, more responsibility and experience, and more. So if you’re currently working at a company or in a job where moving onward and upward isn’t something that seems like a possibility for you, it could be well worth your while to look for a new job that will give you this capability. 

You Feel Bored With Your Job

Although many people don’t particularly enjoy the work that they do each and every day, if you’ve found that you’re regularly bored with the work that you’re doing, it might be a good sign that you should be looking for a new job to take on. 

While being bored at work isn’t the worst thing, if you’re newer in your career, you could have decades left being in the workforce before you’re able to retire. And if you spend all of those years not being challenged or curious about the work that you’re doing, which can happen even with a job that you used to love, you might want to look into a new career that can be more exciting for you at this point in your life. 

You Can’t Properly Prepare For Retirement

The last thing you want to have happen to you is to go from working in a job that you hate to not even being able to retire the way that you want to when you’re done working. And because retirement can be expensive, especially if you’re likely to move into an assisted living facility, you’ll want to be sure that the job you have enables you to retire comfortably. 

So if your current employer doesn’t have a good retirement program for you to invest in or you’re not making enough money to put a decent amount of funds toward your retirement, it might be time to look for something that will help you be more financially stable for the long run. 

If you’ve been wondering whether you should stick it out at your current job that you don’t like or look for something new, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you in making this decision. 

Looking to start investing? Read this advice from the expert first!

If you want to protect your wealth, investing is a wise idea. Unfortunately, investing can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to it. Further, even for experienced hands, some investing concepts are complex and challenging to understand. Fortunately, Darrin Eakins of Wilmington, NC, will share some must-know investing insights for those new to investing.

“The first thing to understand with investing is that knowledge really is power, or perhaps more to the point, profits,” he explains. “It’s smart to study investing and do so every day, even if you only spend 15 minutes studying; it can make a huge difference.”

Studying investing doesn’t mean having to complete a finance degree at a university or online. Although, if you want to take formal classes, consider your local community college. Many colleges offer affordable investing classes that working professionals can complete in their spare time.

You can also find plenty of great investing books on Amazon. Then you can work through the books one chapter at a time. Another option is to subscribe to a finance/business-focused newspaper, like the Wall Street Journal or Financial Times. Staying apprised of industries and government policies can go a long way too.

So what might you learn while studying investing? Some of the basics can go a long way.

“The first concept newer investors should understand is probably diversification,” Darrin Eakins argues. “If you diversify your portfolio, you can reduce risks, which is very important when safeguarding your wealth.”

Diversification can mean many things. For example, you might hold stock in Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon instead of just Apple. This way, if one company stumbles, your wealth is still protected. You can also diversify by industry, investing in, say, Apple, Toyota, and Johnson & Johnson.

“Investing in multiple industries is often wise,” Darrin Eakins explains, “however, with newer investors, I recommend sticking to industries you know. If you follow technology closely and work in retail, investments in retail and technology offer a good start. Just make sure you don’t let any allegiances say to your employer or favorite tech brand color your investment decisions.”

Investing in industries you’re familiar with may make it easier to understand trends, data, consumers/customers, and more. Macrotrends, in particular, can be very important. If you understand the general trends in an industry, you can look for winning companies that will profit from those trends.

“Definitely, keep an eye on macro trends. If a recession lands, most stocks and other assets will lose value,” he notes. “Also, pay close attention to government decisions, say raising or lowering interest rates, as they can have a big impact on society as a whole.”

Setting Up Your Investment Portfolio

Once you have some knowledge under your belt, it’s time to start building your portfolio. So how do you get started? By finding a stockbroker that offers affordable fees and value-added services.

“One thing investors sometimes fail to consider is how quickly fees add up,” Darrin Eakins says. “Some brokers charge $30 bucks or whatever a trade. Those fees can add up, so consider lower-cost brokers, especially at the start of your investing efforts.”

Mike Bjorkman is a real estate professional with many years of experience. Based in California, he’s been paying close attention to recent market activities and is fielding many questions from people as a result.

Recently, he’s had a lot of inquiries about how to tell when a particular local housing market is cooling off. Thankfully, learning how to tell isn’t necessarily difficult, though it will require you to pay attention to a few important things. 

What Your Local Housing Market is Trying to Tell You

Mike Bjorkman notes that one of the best ways to tell whether or not your local housing market is cooling off involves paying attention to the available inventory in the area.

In 2020 and 2021, in particular, as demand surged due to the pandemic and historically low-interest rates, it was rare that any particular house sat on the market for very long. Some didn’t even make it to market before getting several offers. In particularly hot areas, it was more common to see “Coming Soon” signs in front yards than “For Sale” signs.

However, as the market begins to cool down, this all starts to change. More houses will be sitting on the market, and they’ll also be available for longer periods – think days or weeks instead of hours.

Another tell-tale sign that a local real estate market is cooling off is the level of activity at the open house events that usually occur on weekends. Over the past few years, if you walked around your neighborhood and came across an open house, it would probably have a steady stream of people going in and out all afternoon. When the market begins to cool, the number of interested parties willing to stop by will likely begin to drop off – leading to less activity.

You can also tell whether a real estate market is cooling off by paying attention to the prices that the homes that are selling are going for. Keep in mind that sale prices on real estate are a matter of public record – after someone closes on a property, the price that it sold for will be listed on sites like Redfin and Zillow in just a few days.

At the height of recent buying activity, homes were going for incredible prices – including ones that they would never have been able to achieve under normal circumstances and ones that they likely won’t be able to reach again once things return to normal. If you start to see the average selling price of a home in your area creep back down, it’s an indication that things are definitely in the process of cooling off.

In the end, Mike Bjorkman wants to reiterate that we see some genuinely historical activity regarding real estate. First, there were unprecedentedly low-interest rates and record demand. Now, there are higher interest rates to combat inflation. As the old saying goes, “everything old is new again” – real estate runs in cycles, and before you know it, the pendulum will swing back in the other direction. Those who are paying attention are those who will benefit when it does.

It’s no secret that rising real estate rates are impacting residential home buyers and leading to cooling home prices throughout the United States. However, for commercial real estate investors, the rising rates are a mixed blessing. Joe Fairless, whose firm Ashcroft Capital manages billions of dollars in assets, offers insight into how rising interest rates are affecting the commercial real estate industry.

Commercial real estate prices are likely to remain stable or even rise in spite of rising inflation rates. Joe Fairless explains there are several reasons for this state of affairs. First, supply chain disruptions and worker shortages have limited the construction of new commercial real estate venues. At the same time, demand is still high, especially in select niches such as warehouse space, multifamily properties, and properties designed for use by medical facilities. Additionally, rising interest rates impact investors’ ability to borrow money to invest in real estate. They can even make it impossible for some investors to purchase potentially profitable yet expensive investment options.

Investors who have refinanced current investments may struggle to make payments, especially on loans with a variable interest rate. There is also the fact that supply chain disruptions that are helping to raise commercial real estate prices are also putting a squeeze on businesses that would rent or lease these spaces. Experts agree that commercial real estate values can remain stable in a strong economy even during inflationary periods; however, the economy is currently struggling to recover from the COVID-19 lockdowns and continues to struggle with various challenges.

At the same time, Joe Fairless notes inflation does have a positive impact on commercial real estate investment in some ways. The fact that commercial real estate space is typically rented or leased to tenants acts as a hedge against inflation in some ways, as renting costs rise along with rising inflation. Population migration due to inflation has opened up new market opportunities in areas where demand for certain properties is on the rise due to population growth. This trend could provide great opportunities for savvy investors who may not be able to afford investments in popular cities or states with skyrocketing inflation rates. Rising interest rates can cause some to choose other investment options, which means there will be less competition for good properties than there was in times past.

Joe Fairless has long encouraged individuals to invest in the commercial real estate market. Investment options range from warehouse space to multifamily dwellings to real estate investment trusts (REITs), and the profit margin can be high for those who pick the right investment option and know when to buy and sell their holdings. Inflation has certainly put a squeeze on the market as prices remain high and mortgage interest rates rise. Investors can lose money if they borrow more than they can afford and are unable to rent out the space in a timely, profitable manner. However, there are also updates an investor should consider. Reduced competition, rising rent prices, and new opportunities can enable savvy individuals to generate substantial passive income both now and in the future.

A part-time CFO performs the duties of the chief financial officer but isn’t a full-time employee of the organization. Small biotechs can benefit from the assistance of a part-time CFO with recording and analyzing financial data, completing and submitting annual tax filings, negotiating contracts, and other tasks. Additionally, a part-time CFO can offer crucial assistance during periods of expansion or crisis.

David Johnston of dbj consulting llc, offers three reasons, hiring a part-time CFO for your biotech startup may be the best business decision you ever made.

Saves on the Budget

It is less expensive to hire a part-time CFO than a full-time one, explains David Johnston. It is ideal for engaging a part-time CFO for small businesses that do not yet have sophisticated financial requirements. CFOs are not required to work five days a week for eight hours each day. Some CFOs are so proficient that they just need to work one day a week.

Additionally, part-time CFOs can deliver services on par with those of full-time CFOs, enabling businesses to expand financially without spending excessive amounts of money on hiring a qualified finance officer. And there are typically no contracts binding a business to a part-time CFO. Part-time CFOs do better as a result of this.

More Time Efficient

Since the part-time CFO is only needed for a brief time to provide CFO services, (s)he works hard to achieve the company’s financial objectives within that time. David Johnston says the goals are met sooner as a result. It is not just only time or money effective, but it is also both. Faster growth is accomplished because businesses have more time to concentrate on other areas. Since the part-time CFO is only needed for a brief time to provide CFO services, (s)he works hard to achieve the company’s financial objectives within that time. The goals are met sooner as a result. It is not only time and money effective, but it is also both. Faster growth is accomplished because businesses have more time to concentrate on other areas.

Enhances Staff Effectiveness

The entire finance department team benefits from hiring CFOs on a part-time basis. Providing workers with up-to-date knowledge of financial management is a component of the CFO’s services. Learning becomes ongoing because they have a fresh CFO to mentor them. Their financial management expertise is continuously updated, according to former CFO David Johnston.

Taking part in the company’s development strategy is also the duty of any CFO. If the organization continually appoints new CFOs, new plans and methods are created. It is perfect for business owners who want to use innovative administrative and operational techniques to hire a part-time CFO.

      Meet Christopher Letendre:  a licensed professional in the financial advisory and securities industry.  He has been in this business for nearly 30 years and has worked extensively in the fields of securities, annuities, and life insurance.   Presently, he’s focusing primarily on retirement planning.    Having worked in the investment advisory field all these years, he possesses essential knowledge of a wide-ranging concept of money, and how to apply it in a constructive way to achieve the ultimate favorable results. 

         Christopher Letendre has a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Marketing, Business Management, and Related Support Services, which he received upon graduating from Southern New Hampshire University. Currently, he works as an independent investment advisory representative at Brookstone Wealth Advisors, LLC, and Cape Wealth Retirement Advisors.    He is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with the state of Massachusetts, and he’s licensed to work in Massachusetts, Florida, and Texas.

Importance and Necessity of Instating an Appropriate Retirement Plan

           As you approach your retirement years, you’ve lived through enough financial crises to learn that specific planning for this next season of your life is especially crucial.     In addition to considering day-to-day and basic living expenses, being prepared for financial crises should also be incorporated into each retirement plan.       Chris Letendre recognizes the significance of readily providing accurate and realistic financial advice and services to produce a comprehensive retirement plan that will aptly suit his clients. 

Beginning Retirement Planning

             Chris Letendre will start by obtaining a complete evaluation of all your assets.   This includes an all-inclusive review of your income by determining the following:

• Asset management includes Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and work income.
• Legacy and estate planning.
• Learning about your long-term goals and objectives.

            After acquiring the necessary information from potential clients, Chris Letendre proceeds to put together a plan that incorporates the fulfillment of all the goals and objectives stated by his clients. He’s unique in how he seeks to work in areas that some may not consider, such as setting up the distribution of money and other assets in a way that will avoid the possibility of his clients outliving their retirement incomes.     Although he’s not a tax advisor, he knows enough about tax laws to work with you to help decrease the negative tax effects that can occur when dealing with retirement assets and income.

Christopher Letendre:    Producing Retirement Accounts That Will Endure for the Life of His Clients

            When it comes to retirement, the overall goal is to be able to live as comfortably and confidently as possible with your finances in your later years. It would be best to work with an advisor who’s an expert in financial business matters; one who will strive to anticipate all foreseeable projections and meet them with the appropriate calculations for achieving positive outcomes.      You’ll want to work with someone who will deliver a lifeline to your future that will provide as much comfort as needed to allow you to continue living your life in a practical and fulfilling way.     Contact Chris Letendre @ Chris@caperwa.com to find out what good news he may have for you.

In fact, the Florida resident has made a career of it. Matt R. Coben spends his days filling seats and emptying kegs as the Taproom Manager for the Funky Buddha Brewery. While he is constantly juggling various administrative tasks, he maintains a passion for innovative, craft beer.

But Matt R. Coben‘s passion for beer bubbles over into his personal life as well. As an avid traveler, he’s made it his mission to drink up at the most interesting breweries around the world. Call it a pursuit of “hoppy-ness.”

His most recent stop has been Norway. With a rich brewing tradition that dates back to the Vikings, the country truly raises the bar. With this in mind, Matt R. Coben pours over these four craft breweries worthy of a “cheers.”

Ægir BrewPub

Just to get to Ægir, you’ll have to traverse one of the world’s largest and deepest fjords. So, it’s fitting that this elevated brewery is named after the god of the sea in Old Norse mythology. The pub leans heavily into the Viking aesthetic, from the driftwood walls to the dragon head motif. Throw back a few pits beside the oversized fireplace or sprawl out on a fur rug. Although its award-winning brews are the toast of the town, Matt Coben encourages guests to sample the aquavit. This is a distilled spirit produced primarily in Scandinavia.

Nøgne Ø

While other breweries were adrift, Nøgne Ø floated ahead. Meaning “naked island,” the name was pulled from a poem, designed to symbolize the uncharted path taken by the brand’s founders to create a new beer that deviated from traditional lagers. For them, it was about experimenting with new flavors, ingredients, and seasonal concoctions. The result of this never-ending journey has been critical acclaim and fanfare. Not only is Nøgne Ø one of the country’s leading suppliers of craft beer, but it’s also been consistently rated as one of the best breweries in the world.

Grünerløkka Brygghu

Grünerløkka Brygghus is the microbrewery you’ve been waiting for. But there isn’t anything small about this Oslo staple. In addition to the relaxed atmosphere and English-infused pub food, the brewery serves more than 20 beers on tap. While there are a few imports and other local faves on the menu, most of this selection is brewed in-house. Matt Coben recommends the Bringebææærliner Weisse. Although it might be a mouthful to say, this raspberry-forward sour is even better for your taste buds.

Svalbard Brewery

If you’re craving a cold, refreshing beer, simply head north. And don’t stop. Svalbard Brewery proudly boasts that it’s the world’s northernmost craft brewery. But, as Matt Coben points out, this distinction presents some challenges. Svalbard Brewery, nestled at the tip of the North Pole, is only accessible by boat during the summer. Schedule a tour in advance to learn how the production team overcomes and embraces these unique obstacles. And, as an added bonus, enjoy the awe-inspiring, Arctic scenery.

Please tell me about yourself, your interests, and what you’re passionate about.

I’m Stephanie V. Smith, Everett City Councilor, mother to Harlowe (5) and Harrison (3), and wife to Mike. I am a huge NFL fan (go Pats! but temporarily a Bucs fan as well), and I love the Red Sox. I read ALOT, probably two books a week on my kindle, and am an avid TV watcher of all dramas (Dick Wolf is the man).  Fun Fact: When I worked at NBC, I worked in Dick Wolf’s building in his office. However, these days, my life mainly revolves around my children.

I am also very passionate about youth services in my local community. I have been very active in local politics since I was younger. I remember watching the Board of Alderman when I was just a little girl and writing in my notebook issues with the ordinance they passed about fining people for shoveling snow in the street.  I went to Northeastern University through GE’s rigorous financial management program, where I traveled the world for five years (another passion) and learned about different cultures. Now I am a consultant for Digital Technology products at Moderna.

Tell me about how you and Deanna Deveney crossed paths.

I met Deanna when I was running for City Council in Everett. She was the Director of Communications and always went out of her way to come over and say hello to my kids at every event and me and me. 6She made my kids feel very welcome at all times, which meant a lot to me as a Mom who was running for political office but had two kids in two at all times.  

Is there a particular situation that occurred or a specific skill set that Ms. Deveney possesses that drew you to her?

Deanna is passionate about everything she does.  She always gives 110%, and it shows.  She is excited about the entire process when she is putting on events.  From the minor details in planning to make sure everyone is taken care of who is at the event, no matter who you were or what position you held.  Deanna is genuine and cares, which drew me closer to her.  

How did your professional relationship grow after you began working collaboratively?

Once I became elected to the City Council and spent more time with Deanna professionally, I could see how much she really cared.  She always said hello to everyone; she took care of her staff and treated them as equals.  She was always willing to sit down and talk, bring my kids to her office to grab a snack, and just be there.  

As the Government Affairs Director, can you tell me about the challenges and obstacles Deanna helped you or the City Council in general work through?

Deanna was someone you went to when you needed help navigating City Hall. She was always present in meetings and willing to find the answers to anything that was asked of her. She helped the City grow and expand its Communications and Community outreach.  She was a driver of the social media platforms, which helped residents to understand what was happening and what was occurring in the City and what resources they could use.  She made sure to connect the residents with City Hall to collaborate with City departments. During the pandemic, when City Hall was closed and residents had to go completely virtual to get services, she showed how they could still get what they needed even though the world was closed.  

She was a huge advocate in getting Everett a Covid 19 test center which was amazing to have in our city when it was difficult to get a test.  I could pick up the phone at any time of day or night and call Deanna, and if she weren’t the right person, she would find the right person to get what I needed to be done.  

What would you tell someone inquiring about Deanna’s skill set and worth ethic based on your experience working with her?

Deanna gives it her all. She goes above and beyond her job responsibilities and is one of the hardest, most passionate workers I have seen. Deanna has a tremendous drive and always with a smile on her face.  She makes you feel very comfortable and is welcoming to everyone.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Deanna would be an asset to any team. She has a very inclusive leadership style and empowers her team to deliver positive results. Deanna’s style and ability to quickly build relationships across all levels of government fostered a highly motivated and effective communications team which helped the City Council to articulate the progress of the City clearly.

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It’s a roller coaster ride of highs and lows, and it takes tremendous hard work, dedication, and tenacity to make it to the top. You need to be passionate about your business and have a clear vision of where you want to take it. You also need to be able to articulate your goals and what you’re looking to achieve. If you’re thinking about starting your own business, there are a few key questions you need to answer first:

1. What Problem Are You Solving?

As an entrepreneur, you need to be focused on solving a problem. Offering a product or service that is already on the market is not going to cut it. You will end up competing on price, which is a race to the bottom. According to Michael Chavira, Managing Partner of Axiological Solutions, you need to be able to articulate what problem you are solving and how your product or service is going to solve it in a better way than anyone else. Providing a solution to a problem is the best way to ensure that your business will be successful.

2. Who is Your Target Market?

You cannot get into business without having a target market in mind. That’s like shooting an arrow without knowing where you’re aiming. You need to have a clear understanding of who your target market is, what their needs and wants are, and how you’re going to reach them. Trying to sell to everyone is a surefire way to fail.

Ideally, you need to research the market to identify an audience and a problem that is not being solved. Once you have that, you can focus on reaching that market and solving their problem.

3. What is Your Competitive Advantage?

To be successful, you need to clearly understand your competition and what you’re doing differently to solve the problem better than they are. This is your competitive advantage. It sets you apart from the rest and gives you the edge you need to succeed. It’s essential to be able to articulate your competitive advantage so that you can communicate it to your target market.

4. What is Your Business Model?

Your business model is how you’re going to make money. There are various business models out there, and you need to choose the one that makes the most sense for your business. Do you want to charge for your product or service? If so, how much? Or are you going to generate revenue through advertising or sponsorships? There’s no right or wrong answer here, but you need to have a solid plan for making money.

5. How Much Money Do You Need to Get Started?

Starting a business takes money. There’s no way around it. You need to clearly understand how much money you need to get started and where that money will come from. Are you going to self-fund, or are you going to seek out investors? How much can you realistically expect to raise? Answering these questions will give you a better idea of whether or not starting a business is the right decision for you.

In summary, succeeding as an entrepreneur is not easy. But if you’re willing to put in the effort, it can be a gratifying experience. If you’re considering starting your own business, answer these five key questions first. They’ll help you determine if you’re on the right track and give you a better chance of success.