High demand, low stock persist in South Florida
Re the Herald’s March 1 editorial, “The South Florida housing market is cooling, finally. That’s good — right?” From January to April 2022, the market was blazing. Buyers returned in droves from high-tax states such as New York and New Jersey. There also was a swell of international buyers. Miami-Dade is such a bargain compared to the rest of the world. We also had lower interest rates at the time, and homeowners were able to take advantage of the flurry of buyers and offers. Most of our sales last year were for cash.
Year-over-year, statistics make it seem as if sales have slowed greatly. They have indeed, but this is now due to limited inventory. In Coral Gables and other affluent neighborhoods, homes are still flying off the shelves, if fairly priced. The Gables now has about 134 homes for sale — a fair market would be 400 — out of 10,400 homes.
In February, we put three single-family homes on the market, priced under $2 million, and held them open for five days, with multiple offers coming in over list price. At each of these properties, we had at least 150 potential buyers.
For the last week of February, only six new homes came on the market, most priced much higher. We need inventory. Living in Miami is like living in Manhattan, we are privileged to own in some of the better parts of town, but there is not
– Jeannett Slesnick,
broker, Slesnick and Jochem,
Coral Gables
ACADEMIC QUALITY
The quality of a university is largely based on its faculty, the courses they teach and the research they conduct. Compared to hiring K-12 teachers, hiring a college professor involves a nationwide search.
Many of Florida’s state universities are in the midst of hiring new faculty. The quality of Florida’s universities has been growing; the University of Florida’s national ranking went from 47 in 1997 to 29 in 2022 according to U.S. News rankings.
Unfortunately, Gov. DeSantis’ anti-woke campaign has created a climate
Opinion content from syndicated sources may be trimmed from the original length to fit available space. in which any prospective faculty member would think twice before accepting a university position here.
Political interference and threats to academic freedom on a college campus, particularly state mandates as to which subject matter can and cannot be taught, are red flags to any professional academic.
Moreover, many of Florida’s fine faculty members would not find it difficult to get a job out of state.
I would hope that state legislators seriously think about what kind of environment they will be creating when they consider the various pieces of antiwoke legislation. It would be a shame if Florida’s universities’ progress were reversed.
ISRAEL’S COURT
The United States’ system of checks and balances has withstood the test of time. Israel deserves a system that has checks and balances, too.
BOB MCFARLIN
– Fred Fejes, Fort Lauderdale
Its system is deficient and must be fixed.
Americans must understand our Constitution and support any nation that is adopting a similar system.
HIGH AND DRY
Re the Herald’s Feb. 22 cover story, “Miami’s hidden high ground:” While the South Florida Water Management District has managed the work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for many years, developments beyond our direct control are causing waters to rise. Mother Nature created a ridge in South Florida that the original settlers understood and respected, but government and developers have not.
We have to realize that retreating to high ground may be our safest move, instead of continuing to think that pumps and higher streets offer permanent relief. While such retreat might require rezoning, that kind of action should be respectful of nature.
ALEX MENA
– David S. Lerner,
Miami
I thank the previous owner of my home every day for having had the foresight to respect Mother Nature and build on the ridge instead of on lower ground.
Realistically, we should consider isolating our waterfronts from rising seas and hurricanes, perhaps by using a dike system similar to that of the Netherlands.
Hopefully, the various users of our waterfront would be accommodated with locks that would permit ingress and egress to the ocean.
– Juan A. Galan, Jr.,
Coral Gables
PARTY CRASHER
The bill introduced by State Rep. Blaise Ingoglia to ban the Democratic Party on the outmoded grounds that it supported slavery 100 years ago during the Civil War, is outrageous.
He and purportedly a great many Republicans wish to abandon the twoparty system, which has been the cornerstone of American democracy since 1824.
DANA BANKER
Ingoglia conveniently overlooks that President Lyndon Johnson introduced the Civil Rights bill, which passed in 1965, and that the modern Democratic Party is clearly ahead of Republicans in civil-rights legislation.
If the Florida Legislature passes Ingoglia’s bill, or any such bill, and is signed by the governor, it will create the most cataclysmic backlash imaginable, while establishing Florida as the most ignoble, contemptible state in the nation.
– Sid Sussman,
Hallandale
MIDEAST VIOLENCE
Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his concern that Israel’s reaction to terrorism might incite further violence and he called for Israel’s restraint.
Perhaps he should have said that terrorism incites violence,saying that Hamas and the PLO should stop giving lifetime pensions to terrorists and their families; that Hamas and the PLO should stop naming streets and parks in honor of terrorists; that Hamas and the PLO should stop educating their young to hate Israel and Jews; and that Hamas and the PLO should amend their charters to stop calling for the destruction of the State of Israel.
– Ron Kriss, Miami Beach
FINANCIAL ABILITY
Presidential candidate Nikki Haley recently suggested mental competency tests for lawmakers over 75. Not a good idea, but other requirements are perhaps more relevant.
A better idea is to have all lawmakers submit three years audited financial statements and corresponding three years of federal and, where applicable, state income tax returns for public review. Releasing such information may result in fewer candidates, but that’s good news.
– Frank J. Sioli, Sr.,
Miami