Lower rates have encouraged buyers from the sidelines. In Florida, builders are offering incentives that include lot premium waivers and price reductions.

Many forecasts have rates near 6% at the end of this year and falling to about 5.8% next year. The days of 3% and 4% rates appear to be over.

Even with affordability headwinds, builders remain optimistic about the future of the market. The share of builders cutting prices held steady at 32% in October.  

An Okeechobee real estate scam was uncovered after a man attempted to sell land he didn't own. The listing was removed. No arrests have been made.

In any transaction, including real estate, always verify information, be cautious with urgent requests, and confirm authenticity before sharing personal details.

Disaster-response resources are available this week in more than 10 Florida counties to help businesses and residents.

Pending home sales posted their biggest increase since 2021 recently, but some house hunters are starting to pull back, Redfin said.

About 53% of homeowners who hired a contractor went over budget, and 46% faced significant delays.

Massive amounts of sand shifted inland after back-to-back hurricanes. Many residents are now facing costly cleanup.

Builder sentiment and easing monetary policy boosted single-family construction. Multifamily fell 9.4% due to tight financing and rising apartment completions.