News archive
Older First Coast Observer coverage — page 9 of 21.
Real Estate
Real estate agents balance open house security with buyer comfort
As home showings expose properties to theft and vandalism, Northeast Florida agents are adopting low-key security strategies that protect sellers without chasing away prospective buyers.
Real Estate
Florida's 'Fun' Ranking May Add to Northeast Florida's Real Estate Draw
A new WalletHub study ranks Florida second in the nation for entertainment and recreation, a lifestyle factor that could amplify the region's appeal to buyers already drawn by affordability and job growth.
Real Estate
Florida Realtor who owns 621 properties tells agents to invest locally
Steve David, a Broward County broker who has invested in real estate every year since 1974, urged Florida agents at a wealth summit to turn commissions into rental income and long-term equity.
Development
Michelin Guide Restaurant Asado Life Opens at Met Park Marina Downtown
The live-fire grilling restaurant marks the latest addition to Jacksonville's waterfront dining scene, with riverfront seating and boat access at the marina.
Real Estate
Florida Realtors clarifies rules on website ads for lenders and home services
A new ethics advisory explains when brokers must disclose fees from real estate-related advertisements on their websites—guidance that affects how Northeast Florida agents market mortgage, title, and home-service providers.
Real Estate
Solar Panels Complicate Northeast Florida Home Sales, Realtors Warn
Ownership, leases, and financing of rooftop solar systems are emerging as transaction snags in residential contracts — and many sellers don't know they need to resolve the issue before going under contract.
School Safety
Duval County Schools K9 Unit Trains to Detect Firearms, Narcotics
The district's police dogs are trained to detect weapons and drugs, track missing students, and locate evidence as part of school safety operations across Duval County.
Education
Duval County VPK program offers free preschool prep for 4-year-olds
The district's Voluntary Prekindergarten program provides school-year and summer instruction in elementary school classrooms, introducing early literacy, math, and social skills ahead of kindergarten.
Education
Duval Schools to Expand Weapons Detection to Elementary Campuses This Fall
The district will begin installing CEIA OPENGATE systems at approximately 30 elementary schools during the 2026-27 school year, part of a multilayered security approach that includes officers at every campus, K9 units, and emergency alert technology.
Infrastructure
JEA Reinforces Cybersecurity Defenses for Jacksonville's Utility Grid
The municipal utility says its systems remain secure and outlined how it protects the electric, water, and wastewater infrastructure serving more than a million Northeast Florida residents.
Consumer Alert
JEA warns of scam wave targeting Jacksonville utility customers
The municipal utility has seen an uptick in impostor calls and texts demanding instant payment through gift cards or Walmart barcodes, tactics JEA says it never uses.
Education
Free & Reduced-Price Meal applications open for 37 Duval schools
Families with students at non-CEP schools can now apply online for meal assistance for the 2026-27 school year, while breakfast remains free for all district students.
Education
Five Duval high schools rank in Florida's top 50, Stanton places No. 63 nationally
Stanton College Preparatory, Paxon, Wolfson, Darnell-Cookman, and Douglas Anderson earned spots in U. S. News & World Report's latest Best High Schools rankings, reinforcing Jacksonville's specialized-school model.
Infrastructure
JEA wins state approval for 675-megawatt combined-cycle plant
Florida regulators cleared JEA's need for a gas-fired power plant at the old St. Johns River Power Park site, a project designed to meet Northeast Florida's surging electricity demand while cutting emissions.
Education
Duval Schools Launch Campaign for 1-Mill Renewal on November Ballot
A 2022 property tax referendum that pays teacher salary supplements averaging $8,668 annually faces renewal Nov. 3, as the district reports rising retention and student achievement.
Real Estate
Northeast Florida condo sales rebound across all price ranges
After months of regulatory uncertainty and insurance challenges, condo and townhouse sales rose 11% statewide in July — with luxury properties outpacing entry-level units for the first time in years.
Real Estate
Jacksonville brokerages race to set AI guardrails as use surges
Nearly all real estate firms now use artificial intelligence for listings and marketing, but a new survey shows brokerage leaders still worry about data security, agent compliance, and whether safeguards can keep pace with the technology.
Real Estate
Florida Realtors backs property-tax amendment on 2026 ballot
The 215,000-member trade association voted to support Amendment 3, which aims to provide property tax relief and will appear before voters in November.
Real Estate
Northeast Florida seeing wealthier, older buyers as migration profile shifts
Florida's newcomers now earn more and are likelier to own homes already, a shift that could influence Northeast Florida's housing market as single-family sales continue a gradual recovery.
Public Health
Three Jacksonville ZIP Codes Rank Among Florida's Worst for Child Gun Injuries
Hospital data from 2018 to 2024 shows Jacksonville has three of the state's 10 worst ZIP codes for pediatric firearm injuries, concentrated in neighborhoods west and north of downtown.
Infrastructure
Main Street Bridge southbound lanes to close overnight Thursday for barrier work
Both southbound lanes will shut down for one night as contractors install a barrier wall, forcing downtown-to-San Marco traffic onto a Bay Street detour via the Acosta Bridge.
Economic Development
St. Johns County hosts free small business resource fair September 23
More than a dozen agencies—from the SBA to JAXPORT—will connect with local entrepreneurs at The Waterworks in St. Augustine to help startups and established businesses tap capital, training, and growth programs.
Consumer Protection
Jacksonville residents trapped in home repair scams despite state licenses
Two home-repair companies with extensive complaint records continue to operate in Northeast Florida with active state contractor licenses, ensnaring elderly homeowners in inflated loans and liens.
Community
Riverside Foundation Hosts 13th Annual Summer Camp for Girls
The Allison Brundick Haramis Foundation brought 25 girls together for Camp Sunshine, continuing a decade-plus tradition in Jacksonville's Riverside neighborhood.
Business Leadership
SS&C Technologies Executive Named Chair of Junior Achievement North Florida
Crystal Brown, a chief growth and product officer at a Jacksonville financial services technology firm, will lead the nonprofit's board for the next two years.
Real Estate
Northeast Florida housing inventory grows as June sales hold steady
The region's housing market showed signs of rebalancing in June with more homes available for buyers even as transaction volume remained consistent, according to the local Realtors association.
Real Estate
Mortgage preapproval doesn't mean you can afford that home, Northeast Florida buyers warned
As the Jacksonville area's housing market continues to draw buyers, real estate experts caution that lender approval amounts often exceed what buyers can comfortably spend—especially when property taxes, insurance, and rising rates are factored in.
Infrastructure
St. Paul's Union Depot revival offers roadmap for downtown Jacksonville station
After 43 years without passenger trains, Minnesota's capital restored its 1923 terminal as a $235 million intermodal hub—a model as Jacksonville weighs the future of its own historic station.
Infrastructure
St. Johns County offers free Labor Day shuttle to ease beach traffic
The county will run a free shuttle from Cornerstone Park to Mickler's Landing throughout the holiday weekend to reduce congestion at one of the area's most popular coastal destinations.
Real Estate
Florida Realtors summit highlights behavior-first approach to wealth building
A behavior-change expert told hundreds of Northeast Florida real estate professionals that small, repeated financial habits matter more than perfect investment strategies.
