SOUTH FLORIDA NEWS - July, 2026

Larry Mastropieri Ranked Top 25 Real Estate Agent in Florida by FastExpert

According to Florida's Department of Real Estate, the state has more than 310,000 licensed real estate agents. FastExpert filtered that pool down to 7,188 top-performing profiles for its 2026 evaluation, and only 25 names cleared the final cut. Larry Mastropieri appears on that shortlist for the third straight year. The 2026 badge covers a trailing 12-month performance window running from Q2 2025 through Q1 2026. Data sources include closed transaction volume, verified client reviews, and MLS cross-reference records.

Three specific safeguards separate this honor from most consumer directories. First, no agent can pay to move up. Every review also runs through an MLS validation check tied to actual closings. The scoring model refreshes continuously…

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The ROAD to Housing Act: What It Means for South Florida

Congress passed it with rare bipartisan support, and its headline measure blocks Wall Street from buying up single-family homes. In South Florida, though, its impact may be minimal.

Key Takeaways

• The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed the Senate 85-5 and the House 358-32, and became law on July 11, 2026.
• Its headline measure blocks investors who own 350 or more single-family homes from buying additional existing homes, with new construction and build-to-rent exempt.
• Institutional investors hold only about 5% of single-family rentals in the Miami metro area, so the ban's direct effect on South Florida appears small.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is the biggest federal housing bill in decades, and its most talked-about…

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Trump Jr. & Bettina Chose West Palm Beach Over the Island

The newlyweds are planning an eight-bedroom home on a reported $15 million waterfront lot in the Prospect Park neighborhood. What they skipped is almost as telling as what they bought.

Key Takeaways

• Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson are planning an eight-bedroom custom home in West Palm Beach's Prospect Park neighborhood.
• Property records reviewed by the Palm Beach Post indicate a reported $15 million waterfront lot, though the exact parcel has not been officially confirmed.
• The choice would make Trump Jr. the only one of the president's three oldest children not living in a gated community.

Here is a real estate story that doubles as a signal. When a high-profile family decides to build a permanent home somewhere, it tells you…

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Boca Raton vs Wellington: Coastal Hub or Equestrian Capital?

Boca Raton and Wellington are both wealthy, safe South Florida cities, but they offer almost opposite versions of upscale living. Here is how the two stack up on home prices, lifestyle, schools, and daily life.

Quick verdict: Boca Raton vs Wellington

Choosing between Boca Raton and Wellington comes down to whether you want a coastal hub with a real downtown, ocean access, four universities, and a Brightline station, or an exclusive inland equestrian village where 700+ horse farms, a 57-mile bridle trail system, and the largest equestrian competition in the world define daily life. Boca Raton has Mizner Park, miles of public beach, and a diverse demographic. Wellington has the Winter Equestrian Festival, an equestrian overlay zoning district, and…

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Alba Palm Beach Condos: Why Boutique Luxury Sells Itself

The 55-unit tower is the only finished building on a West Palm Beach corridor where everything else is still a construction site. Now open, with most of its water-view homes already claimed.

Key Takeaways

• Alba is the first newly completed waterfront condo tower on West Palm Beach's North Flagler corridor.
• The 22-story building holds 55 residences starting at $2.5 million, with 95% of its water-view homes sold.
• Bigger towers like Olara and Shorecrest are still under construction nearby, leaving Alba the finished outlier.

Let's zoom out on West Palm Beach for a second. For the last few years, the waterfront north of downtown has been one long construction zone, with crane after crane going up along Flagler Drive. Most of those towers…

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