News archive
Older First Coast Observer coverage — page 4 of 21.
Real Estate
Seller impersonation scams surge in Florida real estate market
A national study found 59% of title firms encountered fraudsters posing as property owners in 2025, up sharply from 28% a year earlier, with vacant land and absentee-owner parcels the top targets.
Recreation
Palm Harbor Golf Club sets new rates for 2026-27 peak season
The city-owned course in Palm Coast will charge residents $55. 60 for morning rounds starting October 1, with discounted junior rates to grow the game.
Conservation
St. Johns County Residents Weigh In on Beach Access and Wildlife Protection Plan
More than 1,000 people responded to a county survey shaping the renewal of a 20-year Habitat Conservation Plan that balances beach driving, coastal development, and sea turtle and beach mouse habitat.
City Budget
Palm Coast to vote on $534M budget, 4. 14 millage rate Sept. 23
The Palm Coast City Council will consider a $533. 9 million fiscal-year 2027 budget and set a property-tax rate during a public meeting next week, with a separate $4 million redevelopment fund for the SR 100 corridor also on the agenda.
Education
St. Johns County School Board sets Sept. 22 workshop
The district has scheduled a public workshop for Tuesday morning, with in-person and virtual attendance options available.
Housing
Jacksonville launches rental-property database with code violations, evictions
A new searchable site shows code enforcement history and eviction filings for Duval County rental units, giving tenants transparency into property conditions before they sign a lease.
Education
St. Johns Schools Begin Review of World Languages Instructional Materials
The district is inviting parents and community members to help evaluate new textbooks and digital resources for foreign language classes across St. Johns County.
Education
St. Johns County Schools Begin Review of Career & Technical Ed Materials
The district has opened public review of instructional materials for CTE programs, with committee slots available to parents through October 30.
Real Estate
Northeast Florida home prices rise despite slower sales as inventory tightens
Statewide inventory fell more than 10% in August, keeping upward pressure on median prices for both single-family homes and condos even as closed sales slipped.
Real Estate
Jacksonville real estate agents face new AI search challenge
As AI search engines reshape how buyers find agents, Northeast Florida Realtors must shift to hyperlocal content strategies to remain visible in an increasingly competitive digital marketplace.
Real Estate
Mortgage Rates Near 7% as Northeast Florida Homebuyers Face Affordability Squeeze
The 30-year mortgage rate climbed to 6. 95% this week, the highest since January 2025, adding hundreds of dollars to monthly costs and threatening to sideline buyers across Jacksonville and the First Coast.
Transit
JTA to pause Skyway, cut service to address $39M budget shortfall
Jacksonville's transit agency will halt its downtown automated people mover in November and sharply reduce bus frequencies as it slashes nearly 200 positions to close a funding gap.
Real Estate
Jacksonville Realtors Get Free Safety Tech as 22% Report Risk Incidents
With nearly a quarter of agents experiencing safety concerns during showings and open houses, Florida Realtors is rolling out identity-verification tools and panic-button technology to protect members across Northeast Florida.
Real Estate
Jacksonville homebuyers may find best deals late October, new analysis shows
A national housing-market study pinpoints the week of Oct. 25–31 as offering Jacksonville buyers the most inventory, least competition, and steepest price discounts of the year.
Real Estate
Daytona Beach new-home market draws 78. 5% of views from outside Flagler, Volusia
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach ranked sixth nationally for out-of-metro interest in new construction during Q2 2026, with Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and New York buyers dominating searches.
Development
Jacksonville Climbs to 97th in Global Cities Index, Eyes Top-50 Ranking
An international economic report names Jacksonville a "City to Watch" and credits tech-sector growth for 26 percent of the city's GDP gains in 2025, fueling ambitions to crack the top 50 globally by 2032.
Real Estate
Real estate agents rethink lead conversion as Northeast Florida market tightens
Speed isn't enough: agents in Jacksonville and across the region are shifting focus from response time to qualification and follow-through as competition for serious buyers and sellers intensifies.
Real Estate
Jacksonville Realtors warned: You own AI mistakes, not the software
As artificial intelligence tools spread through Northeast Florida's booming real estate market, agents face new risks—from data breaches to wire-fraud scams—and remain legally responsible for every error AI makes.
Real Estate
Florida Realtors launch program highlighting community service across Northeast Florida
The statewide I 🧡 My Hometown campaign invites agents to share volunteer work and civic contributions, with submissions open through October 30.
Real Estate
Why home deals fall apart in Jacksonville — and how to avoid it
A real estate professional warns that overlooked contract details and missed deadlines sink more Northeast Florida home sales than price disputes, offering a roadmap for buyers and sellers to protect their transactions.
Real Estate
Jacksonville appraisers, lenders face Nov. 2 deadline for new appraisal format
With less than seven weeks until mandatory compliance with UAD 3. 6 appraisal reporting, industry leaders warn that delayed preparation could create a transaction bottleneck across Northeast Florida's home-sales pipeline.
Education
St. Johns County School Board approves new elementary school in Ponte Vedra
The district green-lit construction of a $54 million, 900-student campus to serve fast-growing neighborhoods along the CR 210 corridor, with doors set to open in August 2028.
Education Infrastructure
St. Johns County School Board calls special September meeting
The district has scheduled an unscheduled session for September 10, 2026, though the agenda and topics were not disclosed in the public notice.
Corporate Finance
Dream Finders secures bondholder consent in Beazer merger, extends vote
The Jacksonville homebuilder cleared a hurdle to close its acquisition of Beazer Homes by year-end, though consent from holders of one series of senior notes remains short of the required threshold.
Education
St. Johns County Schools Seeks Federal Funding Flexibility for 2026-27
The district is requesting Ed Flex waivers on Title I and Title IV grants to better direct resources toward tutoring, parent engagement, and instructional technology without changing total funding amounts.
Development
One Tower Court Lit Up for Jaguars Game Weekend in Downtown Jacksonville
The new downtown tower illuminated the Sports and Entertainment District during the Jaguars' home game this weekend, marking a visible milestone in the area's transformation.
Real Estate
Military buyers shape Jacksonville home sales from across the globe
With three major installations in the region, Northeast Florida agents routinely guide active-duty buyers through remote purchases driven by sudden orders and tight reporting deadlines.
Sports Infrastructure
Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame Induction Highlights Jacksonville's 2028 Stadium Return
Four football legends will be honored at an October ceremony in Atlanta, marking a milestone in the rivalry's temporary relocation while Jacksonville rebuilds EverBank Stadium.
Real Estate
Fed Rate Hike Brings Uncertainty to Northeast Florida Home Buyers
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time in three years, a move that could ripple through the region's booming housing market as buyers and sellers navigate inflation pressures.
Infrastructure
JAXPORT ramps up heavy-lift infrastructure as data centers strain U. S. power grid
Demand for imported transformers and generators has spiked 274% since 2019, and Jacksonville's seaport is positioning itself as a critical gateway for oversized electrical equipment bound for the Southeast's booming industrial corridor.
