Lay of the land

For a positive note about the near-term future of the economy, check out national economist Mark Dotzour.

The former chief economist and research director at Texas A&M University, Dotzour, speaking recently at a conference in the Omni Orlando Resort, says 87% of his retirement portfolio is in commercial real estate. He also believes “we're in a new bull market for single-family homes,” because millennials will soon start marrying, having kids and buying houses, according to a statement.

Dotzour was one of several speakers at the ninth annual Lay of the Land Florida Land Conference hosted by Lakeland-based Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate. Other speakers included former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Dotzour believes the United States is in the “sixth or seventh inning” of its current economic expansion. “Businesspeople and consumers are pretty optimistic right now; you wouldn't know that by watching TV,” says Dotzour. That's not a political opinion he adds, according to the statement, insisting he's neither Republican nor Democrat, but “a registered cynic.”