Florida Housing & Policy Watch

• Dry mornings with temps in the 70s give way to scattered storms (60-70% coverage) each afternoon
• Storms bring heavy rainfall, frequent lightning,...

The shift from planning to vertical work on Coconut Road signals strong developer confidence in Estero’s long-term growth.

• Housing supply: First...

Rising public-safety needs, union salaries, and economic pressures are pushing Naples to a $294.1M budget and 1.29 millage rate, adding $60 in city taxes on a $1M home. Amendment 3 uncertainty is also shaping the move to protect core services.

The 2026 Atlantic season has posted record-low activity through mid-September, with just 4.4 ACE and zero hurricanes so far. Unfavorable conditions...

• Prices stabilize: Sun Belt values fell sharply from 2022 peaks but year-over-year declines are slowing or reversing in Texas and Florida metros.
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A recent PBS episode spotlights three quality-of-life topics in Southwest Florida beyond housing.

• Mosquito control peaks with seasonal rains and...

Are rising GDP estimates and capital spending finally turning into actual employment and wages?

• Manufacturing payrolls rose 16,000 last month, with...

Statewide normalization hides sharp splits: vacation-oriented pockets show distress while primary markets hold up.

• Vacation zones (Kissimmee,...

Eastern Lee County’s Unbuilt Triangle along SR 82 and Corkscrew Road is shifting development inland as coastal land tightens.

• Housing supply: Large...

Even Florida’s most expensive property, the Gordon Pointe estate in Naples, has failed to attract buyers after a $24 million price drop to $271...

The investigation into the Kuhestak strike may reveal critical details on targeting errors and munitions use amid disputed U.S. assurances.

• Experts...

Naples median active list price stands at $889,000 across 1,950+ listings, while Bonita Springs median is $799,000 across 308 listings as of September...

Fuel prices climbed sharply into Labor Day, with national gas averaging $4.14 per gallon and diesel reaching $5.82, up nearly $1 and $2 respectively...

Trump's pivot toward Treasury-led economic pressure on Iran is shrinking Defense Secretary Hegseth's influence, as the administration emphasizes...

$600 million I-75 widening across 21 miles in Lee and Collier counties advances ahead of schedule to address exponential post-pandemic population...

Florida new-home permits fell 18% in July to 6,127, with Southwest Florida builders active but volumes varying sharply by region.

Nationally, active...

Four straight years of price declines in The Villages reveal that post-pandemic demand for Florida retirement homes has normalized and weakened,...

Mortgage rates have climbed to 6.71%, adding hundreds to monthly payments and shrinking buyer pools while the lock-in effect keeps existing homeowners...

Cash-rich buyers are fueling luxury home resilience, with U.S. sales projected to hit nearly $300 billion in 2026 and grow 3.2% annually. Shrinking...

Homes in Southwest Florida sell year-round, but success hinges on managing insurance, disclosures, and storm timing rather than avoiding the...