Florida recorded 7,842 new-home permits in August, up 28% from July, with Tampa and Southwest Florida accounting for more than half of the total.

Fed Gov. Michael Barr said limited homebuilding, rising costs and owners’ reluctance to give up low mortgage rates add to housing affordability problems.

OpenAI plans to retire custom GPTs Dec. 11, prompting users to prepare replacements and test tools they rely on for daily work.

Some Florida agents say remote work is bringing younger seasonal buyers to the state, with buyers in their 30s and 40s splitting time between homes.

Florida approved home insurance rate cuts of up to 10.4% for more than 62,000 policies, while Citizens urged homeowners facing increases to shop for coverage.

The average U.S. 30-year mortgage rate rose to 7.03%, topping 7% for the first time since January 2025 and further limiting buyers’ purchasing power.

Florida housing inventory fell by double digits in August, helping support prices even as sales slowed, Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor said.

The rate on 30-year fixed rate mortgages rose to 6.95% from 6.76% last week, while 15-year rates increased to 6.26% from 6.09% last week, Freddie Mac said.

Fake sellers increasingly target vacant land and absentee-owned properties, prompting agents and title firms to strengthen identity checks.

About 22% of Realtors have faced a safety concern. Screening apps, panic buttons and smarter lockboxes can provide added protection before and during showings.

A John Burns Research and Consulting survey found about half view “dream home” as overused, suggesting agents should emphasize quality and how homes fit buyers’ lives.

During a Florida Realtors Live interview at the Florida Realtors Convention & Trade Expo, Realtor Cynthia DeLuca shares how long-term rental ownership can generate cash flow, build family wealth and help investors reach financial goals.

A study found buying sooner beat waiting two years in 74% of Florida scenarios, though it excludes several major homeownership costs.

Jimmy Burgess outlines in Inman seven expenses, habits and strategies agents can cut or rethink to create a more focused real estate business in 2027.

Lakeland-Winter Haven ranked first nationally, with more than 83% of its new-home listing views coming from shoppers outside the metro area.

AI marketing expert Sam Mehrbod told Inman that agents can improve visibility in AI searches with original, hyperlocal content focused on specific neighborhoods.

Nearly three-quarters of buyers would consider an all-electric home with solar panels and battery storage as utility costs and outages raise concerns.

On Florida Realtors Live at the 2026 Florida Realtors Convention & Trade Expo, real estate broker associate Corina Lessa Silva shares how a focused niche, consistent video content and customer follow-up helped build her international business.

Buyers who fall short under traditional credit scoring have another financing path now that more lenders can use VantageScore 4.0.

In an interview on Florida Realtors Live at the 2026 Florida Realtors Convention & Trade Expo, real estate educator Paul Fedynich explains how mentorship helps agents strengthen communication skills, build their businesses and better serve buyers and sellers.