Poll: Residents Worried About Future of Florida Housing Market, Other Areas
While real estate experts try to predict the future of the Florida housing market, residents recently made thei feelings well known.
It turns out Floridians are positive about local schools and neighborhoods, but have told pollsters their deep concerns about the future of the state and low ratings to the job being performed by all levels of government.
“While this survey does indicate serious concern among the people of Florida, it also shows a general consensus about issues that need attention,” said Brad Coker, managing director at Mason-Dixon Polling & Research. “This isn’t an abstract malaise - it’s a strong indication that the people of Florida seem to know what they want.”
Many of them want a chance to take out new Florida mortgages, but prices continue to be out of the range of middle-income workers. Here are other results:
- More Floridians believe the state will be a worse place to live in five years than those who believe it will be better. However, more Floridians believe their neighborhood will be a better place to live in five years, while more than 60 percent said they would still tell a friend to take out a Florida home loan.
- Almost 60 percent rated the state’s job of providing good public education as only fair or poor, but half of respondents rated the quality of education in their local public schools as excellent or good.
Twice as many reported improvements in the quality of their local schools than those reporting declines. Of respondents, 59 percent said the state does a good or excellent job in higher education.
- 59 percent said the lack of affordable housing is a serious problem for current Florida residents.
- No level of government came close to receiving good/excellent ratings from a majority of respondents.
Most voters gave fair/poor ratings to each level of government, with 71 percent for the federal government, 61 percent for state government, 55 percent for county governments, 42 percent for local school boards and 38 percent for city governments.
52 percent of respondents said they do not believe that their local government is effectively managing growth in the community. This backs up a recent report of a leaner state budget.
Susan A. MacManus, a University of South Florida professor of public administration and political science, said good government and effective leadership mean taking the public’s temperature from time to time to make sure policies and legislative focus are in line with citizens’ priorities.
As this poll, along with recent lawsuits over condo purchases show, people are not entirely pleased.
“While expressing optimism, respondents’ projections about downturns in quality of life and low government ratings make it clear that Floridians are decidedly concerned about the future of our state, and our leadership must sit up, take notice and take action,” she said.
