Southwest Florida Real Estate News and Market Insight

After a year of easing mortgage rates and slightly improved affordability, the U.S. housing market heads into 2026 with expectations for steady, if uneven, progress. First American deputy chief economist Odeta Kushi said a broader reset remains gradual. “There are no quick fixes — recoveries take ti

The federal government shutdown has officially ended. As federal workers and agencies begin to work through backlogs, we’ll see a smaller affect on home sales in November than in October. One important note amid reopening, is that the current deal is only temporary for most agencies. This means that

Billionaire Citadel founder Ken Griffin is selling a prime strip of Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue for $80.5 million, three years after buying it for $78 million. Sources confirmed the buyer of the 48,600-square-foot building at 151 Worth Avenue is TZ Capital, a West Palm Beach-based real estate investme

Buying a home is the biggest purchase most Americans will ever make. And for many, closing day wipes out years of savings in a single transaction. That’s why move-in-ready homes feel so safe: No major renovations, no big surprises—just unpack and start living. But in reality, an untold number of unl

A Miami-Dade County committee gave David Martin’s Terra the green light to take over the troubled Miami Seaquarium in Virginia Key. Now the Coconut Grove-based firm will seek approval from the full county commission next month.  On Thursday, the Miami-Dade appropriations committee advanced Terra’s p

Figure Technology Solutions reached $2.5 billion in consumer loan marketplace volume in the third quarter of 2025 — a 70% year-over-year increase, the company reported Thursday in its first earnings release since going public. Most of Figure’s volume continues to come from home equity lines of credi

Earlier this month, title and real estate services company Stewart Information Services Corp., owned by SISCO Holdings, agreed to acquire the mortgage services of property preservation provider Mortgage Contracting Services (MCS) for $330 million. The transaction, which expands Stewart’s suite of se

As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and its members prepare for Monday’s board of directors meeting, leaders are asking members and directors to consider some proposed changes to both the code of ethics and MLS rules. Repeals are the name of the game When it comes to MLS rules, according t

While much of the U.S. housing market faces affordability pressures and elevated mortgage rates, the luxury sector continues to expand. A new Mordor Intelligence report projects the high-end residential market will exceed $338 billion by 2030, up from roughly $289 billion today. The firm reports tha

Arkansas continues to punch above its weight in housing affordability and new construction. The state earned a B on the Realtor.com® State-by-State Housing Report Card, part of the Let America Build campaign that tracks how well states are meeting the challenge of building more homes while keeping c

Most home improvement contractors are still optimistic about the future of the market, but headwinds such as material costs and reined-in consumer spending are weighing down expectations.  The Q3 Contractor Activity Tracker, released by The Farnsworth Group and Home Improvement Research Institute, f

Miami ranks second only to Dubai among global markets for its branded residence pipeline, a newly released report shows. Dubai had 64 completed projects and an additional 87 in the works, with Miami trailing behind with 48 completed projects and 55 planned, according to the report from British broke

The Supreme Court could decide on the legality of many of the Trump administration’s tariffs within months, but the ruling won’t impact many of the administration’s levies on imported construction materials such as lumber, steel, aluminum and copper.  The case before the Supreme Court contests the l

The Trump administration is preparing a major overhaul of its homelessness strategy, moving away from long-term housing support and reducing funding for those programs. The plan redirects Continuum of Care program resources toward short-term shelters that tie participation to employment and substanc

Citing negative impacts from climate change, Miami-Dade officials may grant a rent break to a politically connected restaurant tenant leasing a county owned waterfront venue. Hammock Marine Corporation — a company owned by Rodney Barreto, chairman of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, and Brian

With its clean lines, open floor plan, oversized windows, vaulted ceilings, and walls of glass, the midcentury modern style has remained one of the most sought-after home designs since it was first introduced back in the mid-20th century. Midcentury modern designs first began popping up in the mid-1

Renovating a home, no matter the time of year, can be equal parts exciting and overwhelming. However, renovating in the winter may come with its own set of additional issues. Exterior renovations are especially risky during the colder months since the ground at your construction site can be slippery

A 50-year mortgage sounds like the next big innovation in housing finance, a way to make homes “affordable” again in an era of high prices and stubborn interest rates. But the way I was raised and educated, financial independence and straight talk count. Having studied economics at Texas A&M, I see

Tennessee’s housing market continues to ride a wave of growth powered by strong migration, robust job creation, and steady new construction. The Realtor.com® State-by-State Housing Report Card gave the Volunteer State a C, reflecting its ability to deliver new homes while maintaining moderate afford

Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's former housekeeper has opened up about the sinister signs she saw around the former lawyer's infamous South Carolina hunting estate that convinced her of his guilt in the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson had been working for the