Realtors Advocate for Key Housing Issues at GARD

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Realtors® from across the state gathered in the capital this week to bring lawmakers a unified message on issues vital to homeownership, private property rights and the real estate market.  

From Tuesday through Thursday, over 1,000 Realtors traversed the cobblestone streets of Tallahassee and the marble floors of the capitol building for Great American Realtor Days (GARD) to meet with state senators and representatives and provide insights that can drive meaningful improvements in Florida’s housing market. More than one hundred legislator visits took place during the three-day event to urge lawmakers to support issues that include additional funding for the successful Hometown Heroes Housing, My Safe Florida Home and My Safe Florida Condo programs. On the agenda was also reducing the business rent tax and ongoing property insurance reforms, among other issues.

Florida Realtors® 2025 President Tim Weisheyer lauded the event as a success for all.

"Great American Realtor Days is always a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together with a clear, unified voice and get directly involved in the state’s legislative process," said Weisheyer, broker-owner, Dream Builders Realty and dbrCommercial Real Estate Services in Central Florida. "Our meetings with lawmakers this week were productive, and we helped reinforce how real estate issues touch every Floridian. A strong real estate market supports not just homeowners and buyers, but also jobs, local businesses and the overall economy.”

One of the highlights of GARD was a visit by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who celebrated the state’s low taxes, increasing home values and big population gains. He lauded the Hometown Heroes Housing Program and said Florida has become a leader in the nation for home and auto insurance reforms and increasing market stability.

Still, DeSantis said more work is to be done. He said he’s going to propose some relief on fees associated with mortgages and eliminating the business rent tax completely.

“If it's better for businesses, particularly for businesses that are just starting out, you're going to be better in the long run for getting rid of the tax,” he said. “This is a relic from a bygone era, and I’m really excited about the opportunity to sunset it once and for all.”

DeSantis also said while rising home values have been a boon for Florida homeowners, increasing property taxes have crippled some. He said lawmakers are working to pass legislation to study property-tax reforms with an eye on asking Florida voters to decide on any changes at the polls. The governor also intends to continue his work with the state Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to help reign in some local government spending that trickles down to property owners. 

“The dream of homeownership is that you work hard, you're able to purchase your home and you own it free and clear. I think we've seen instances in Florida where that's not necessarily the case,” he said. “My goal is that we get a really robust reform and do something that's very good for taxpayers with respect to property taxes, have the Legislature vote on it in the 2026 session and then you, as Floridians, will be able to vote to provide some constitutional limitations on what they can do to your own property.”

Following DeSantis’s address, Weisheyer said he appreciates the governor’s focus on issues that directly impact Florida homeowners and businesses.  

“The governor’s remarks align with our goals of fostering long-term stability and growth in Florida’s real estate market,” he said. “As always, we look forward to continuing to work with state leaders to ensure policies that support homeownership and benefit all Floridians."

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