Amendment Three added to Florida constitution

Amendment Three has been passed in the US state of Florida after it was deemed a recount was not necessary, it has emerged.

The issue received 60.5 per cent of votes the when residents decided upon the proposal as part of the presidential election last week, half a per cent more than the threshold required to pass the change.

Under Florida law, a margin of less than 0.5 per cent requires a mandatory recount before a victor can be declared, meaning the amendment - which grants tax exemptions for residents who make energy-efficiency and hurricane-proofing improvements to their property - can now be added to the state's constitution.

Investors thinking of buying property in the sunshine state may welcome the news, as they may be able to benefit from tax breaks if they make such additions to any homes they purchase.

In related news today, president elect of the National Association of Estate Agents Chris Wood has suggested Barack Obama's recent victory could bring "the light at the end of the tunnel" for the US property market.