D
espite the devastation caused by twin hurricanes in Florida, construction sites for new homes are still active. One such site is La Linda Estates, a high-risk flood zone on a barrier island near where one of the hurricanes made landfall. Since 2019, Florida has built more new properties in high-risk flood areas than any other state, with 77,000 added to the map.

    South Florida's luxury-home market remains attractive to wealthy buyers, despite recent storms and tornadoes. In the third quarter, most of the region's priciest enclaves saw home sales and prices rise compared to the same period last year. However, insurance premiums have skyrocketed after four major hurricanes in four years, causing some insurers to pull back on coverage.

    A nonprofit arm of Airbnb is helping people find free temporary shelter after the hurricanes. As of October 17, it has found housing for over 1,500 people from Florida. Industry analysts predict that more homeowners will rebuild rather than move, as they face questions about whether now is the time to leave their damaged homes behind.

    In Fort Lauderdale, condo sales have plummeted due to the state's ongoing real estate crisis, with a 14% drop in the third quarter. One mortgage lender has abandoned the Florida condo market, citing the crisis. Meanwhile, a city in South Florida may award over $19 million in incentives to a developer for an apartment project with workforce housing.

    A rare geodesic dome home is now on the market in St. Augustine, offering energy efficiency and hurricane resistance. Benderson Development continues to grow its real estate portfolio with three recent purchases in Florida, adding 650,000 square feet of commercial space.