Florida Realtors goes to Canada, hoping to bring back buyers

Patricia Fitzgerald, president of trade group Florida Realtors, accompanied Gov. Rick Scott to Canada this week in an attempt to convince investors to come to Florida. According to Fitzgerald, Canadians are already the largest presence amongst Florida’s foreign property buyers, with 36 percent of all international real estate sales in the state going to Canadians. Per an announcement from the Realtors: “participants have discussed relocation with numerous corporations interest in Florida” during the trip, and “Realtors’ leadership has met with a large number of individuals interested in buying Florida vacation and investment properties.” Meanwhile, they’ve been trying to quell concerns about property taxes for non-homestead owners by trumpeting the joint resolution about an assessment cap that will be on the 2012 general election ballot, said John Sebree, vice president of public policy for the Realtors. TRD