U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, isn’t running for president. He said so repeatedly. Sorry people, it’s not happening.

Yet, I promise as the senator gives a keynote speech at the Florida Young Republicans conference in town this weekend, the topic will come up. He will hear the questions from those whose interests piqued after a New York Times article asserted Scott could jump in the race if Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign continues to falter. 

Indeed, I predict Scott will hear from some ambitious politicos who very much want to know if he will forgo a re-election campaign for Senate. U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, will also be a featured speaker at the YR event, and Steube has long held an interest in running for U.S. Senate. A vacancy, I’m quite certain, will earn his attention. Heck, Scott ally Jimmy Patronis suggested the Senator’s phone has “blown up” with calls from Florida Congressmen just curious what his next steps will be.

Steube’s not even the only local who might run. Sources close to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, and state Sen. Joe Gruters, a former Republican Party of Florida chairman, agree there’s a “non-zero chance” either could jump into an open Senate race. There’s even some self-funders like developer Carlos Beruff, who already ran for U.S. Senate once. Anything could happen.

Except this totally isn’t happening. Scott already said he’s running for re-election. His travel schedule involves trips to Florida Lincoln dinners, not Iowa fairs and New Hampshire hobnobs. Plus, his campaign issued several communications pouring cold water on fresh speculation he’s running for president. Though that begs the question what prompted the Times article in the first place. 

Sure, many expected his ambitious step leading the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2022 would be a preamble to a national run. Scott was so constant a face for the NRSC many joked that acronym really stood for the National Rick Scott Committee.

But Senate Republicans had a crummy midterm. The GOP caucus scored saw a net loss in seats. Then, Scott made a failed challenge to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and seems persona non grata with Senate leadership. 

Of course, one might ask why he would want to stay in the Senate in that environment. 

Also, money’s never been a problem for the richest member of Congress. He largely self-funded two successful runs for governor and his U.S. Senate campaign in 2018. Plus, Florida seems more Republican-friendly than ever. He might see his first landslide victory in 2024.

Except he’s not running. He’s just not.

Never mind Scott’s icy relationship with DeSantis or the fact the Senator (secretly) rubs his hands in glee at every poll showing his gubernatorial successor losing to Donald Trump.

Also, Scott and Trump have been friends for years. The senator’s loyalty to the ex-president will surely make him wait at least until Trump leaves the stage.

Of course, that could happen sooner than later. Twice indicted with other legal troubles on the horizon, Trump can call witch hunt all he wants, but most tied to stakes in Salem burned to death. A guilty verdict, or a plea that included a promise not to run, could still push Trump out regardless of his public resolve now.

If Trump drops out, and DeSantis can't consolidate GOP voters, none of the reasons Scott stayed out of the race will really apply. Plus, he clearly enjoyed being an elected executive more than a lawmaker (and was much better at it).

But this is silly. Scott won’t run for president this year. And that’s how everything will stay. Unless everything changes.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor to SRQ MEDIA.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

The Sarasota Real Estate Market has certainly shifted in the last six months. The attached charts show 10 years of activity in April in the over $1 Million price tier. Available inventory is returning to a more normalized level, at the same time sales have relaxed from their peak in 2021.

While sales slowed starting in the second half of 2022, there has been considerable activity in the luxury market since the first of the year bringing closings in line with historical averages in a healthy market. Pending sales in April fell by double-digits across Florida and the U.S., but in Sarasota the year-over-year decrease was just 6%. With busy spring showings traffic, I am optimistic we will see sales remain steady in the next few months.

New construction continues to fill a void left by fewer existing homes and condos entering the for-sale inventory, and home builders’ confidence that demand will remain strong is at its strongest in six months. However, they are still facing supply and labor challenges, along with newly tightened conditions and increases in costs of construction and development loans.

Would-be sellers of existing homes have been slow to list for several reasons, including wanting to hang onto their low-rate mortgages, fear of not finding a suitable place to move, their speculation prices will start to fall, and more. Experts believe if rates fall to near 5%, those sitting on low interest rate mortgages will begin to list their homes. And while prices are appreciating more slowly than they have over the last two years, they will continue to rise due to the still limited inventory to meet demand.

New luxury listings year-to-date are up 18.8% compared to the same period last year. Even with more inventory, our listings in the upper price points are selling at near list price, multiple offers are not unusual, and properties in good condition and well-located are moving quickly.

I expect the summer months will continue to see strong buyer interest, making now an excellent time to consider bringing a property to market. However, I am seeing a shift away from buyers accepting of some defects because of the urgency needed to “win” a home during the pandemic period. Buyers now are a bit more thorough in their inspections and insistent on repairs or credits for repairs, so sellers will need more time to prepare their properties for sale than in the last few years.

As the Sarasota Real Estate Market continues to show positive signs, conditions are unpredictable due to ever-changing financial, political and global influences. Partnering with an agent who understands the fluid market, what that means for you and how it impacts your goals is critical. It is more important than ever to work with a highly experienced, locally as well as globally connected agent/broker, skilled negotiator and advocate.

Michael Moulton is a Realtor with Michael Saunders and Company. 

Sarasota's Finest Properties