Taming the Great Florida Swamp Rush
In its early years, the Association worked diligently to bring order to a chaotic and often corrupt real estate market. Mandatory regulations and registration of brokers and salespeople were implemented in 1923. By 1925, Florida was in the midst of a speculative land boom. Investors, promoters, and unscrupulous operators flooded in from across the country. Prices soared, and dubious lot propositions flourished. Daily sales often exceeded 100 lots, with the same property being bought and sold up to six times in a single day. Many purchased lots sight unseen, only to discover they had invested their life savings in essentially worthless swampland. To protect the public and restore order, the REALTORS® Association began investigating subdivisions upon developers’ requests and publicly endorsed those meeting the group’s standards. The Association even hired a detective to investigate unethical activities. At the boom’s peak, more than 70% of local businesspeople were involved in real estate. The Great Depression eventually ended the land boom and its associated chaos, but it also introduced new challenges in maintaining the area’s prosperity.A Voice for Economic Development
The Daytona Beach Area Association of REALTORS® has long championed economic growth, tourism, and community development. In the early 1960s, the Association lobbied for the construction of roads connecting the area to the rest of the state, including extending I-95 south to Cape Kennedy and closer to Daytona Beach. They initiated significant city improvement projects like the 1956 “Cinderella Project,” which widened South Atlantic Avenue from the southern city limits to Dunlawton. The $467,000 appropriation for this project was a first for the peninsula in Florida’s history. Since the early 1950s, the Association has been instrumental in attracting industry. Following Mayor Tamm’s suggestion that REALTORS® could “aid materially to bring in types of business that bring outside income into the city,” their efforts led to the formation of the “Committee of 100.” This group is credited with bringing General Electric to Daytona Beach through the “Industry for Pay—Beaches for Play” campaign. The Association also successfully lobbied for additional daily flights into Daytona Beach Airport and initiated downtown redevelopment efforts, leading business owners to form their own corporation and hire a planner to revitalize the area.Promoting Tourism to the World’s Most Famous Beach
Tourism has always been vital to the community’s economic well-being, and the REALTORS® Association has consistently prioritized it. In 1925, noticing that tourists were being directed to Florida’s west coast, the Association formed a committee to explore ways to increase tourism in Daytona Beach. The following year, they urged the city to enlarge the existing Burgoyne Casino to accommodate conventions and exhibitions and advocated for an ordinance requiring hotels to post room rates in each room due to visitor complaints.
In 1937, facing a downturn in summer tourism, the REALTORS® Association held a special meeting to promote Daytona Beach as a summer vacation destination. Six REALTORS® volunteered to travel at their own expense through West Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee, engaging with merchants and residents and distributing souvenirs and literature. This initiative is believed to have established Daytona Beach as a popular summer vacation spot.
Lending a Helping Hand Since 1922
Today, REALTORS® and their Association are active in all facets of life in the Daytona Beach area. From coaching Little League teams and mentoring schoolchildren to holding public office, REALTORS® contribute significantly to the community. With more than 2,000 members, the Association continues to support causes that enrich the region.
Throughout its long history, the Daytona Beach Area Association of REALTORS® has remained steadfast in its commitment to community service. Dedicated to the economic and social development of Daytona Beach, the Association works tirelessly for the benefit of all residents. The core principles of REALTOR® service—to act ethically, promote prosperity, and enhance quality of life—remain unchanged since the Association’s inception.