Here is what actually moved in Naples and Southwest Florida, and what each story means if you own, want to buy, or are thinking about selling.
M/I Homes plans 500-plus new homes at Barron Collier's Brightshore in North Naples
Business Observer reported Sept. 23 that Columbus-based builder M/I Homes will build more than 500 residences across two new neighborhoods inside Barron Collier Cos.' Brightshore master-planned community, near Immokalee Road and Everglades Boulevard in North Naples. Radiance carries 213 lots (135 single-family homes and 78 paired villas) and Sunward carries 313 lots, with homes running roughly 1,486 to 3,759 square feet. Radiance is expected to start in the low $400,000s and Sunward in the high $300,000s, with construction slated to begin in March and model homes opening in August.
Why it matters: Attainable new construction is scarce in Naples, so a builder adding 500-plus homes from the high $300,000s well below the county's luxury tiers is exactly the pipeline the AJ Lifestyle team should be tracking for buy-side clients. For out-of-state and relocating buyers, new construction means current building codes that help on insurance, builder warranties and predictable timelines, and it marks where North Naples growth along the Immokalee Road corridor is heading. It also gives the team a concrete comp when advising resale sellers who will soon compete with fresh, incentive-backed inventory.
Mortgage rates climb to a one-year high as Freddie Mac pegs the 30-year at 7.03%
In its weekly survey released Thursday, Sept. 24, Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 7.03%, up from 6.95% a week earlier and 6.30% a year ago, its highest in about a year. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.42%. Chief Economist Sam Khater said the housing market remains supported by a solid labor market and an economy growing at a healthy rate.
Why it matters: With financing parked at a one-year high, the AJ Lifestyle team can keep steering financed buyers toward rate buydowns, seller concessions and cash-forward offers rather than waiting on cuts that keep not arriving, while Naples' deep cash and second-home pool holds the leverage. For out-of-state and relocating buyers who need a loan, roughly 7% is the number to budget around, and it strengthens the case that a larger down payment or an all-cash offer carries real weight in this market.
US new-home sales jump to an eight-month high in August even as prices slide
On Sept. 24, the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD reported new single-family home sales ran at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 684,000 in August, up 6.4% from July and the fastest pace since December 2025, though still about 2% below a year ago. The median new-home price fell 5.8% year over year to $393,700 as builders leaned on price cuts and incentives to move product, with inventory at roughly 8.5 months of supply. The Census Bureau cautioned the monthly gain and the median-price drop carried wide margins of error.
Why it matters: The report shows buyers do respond when builders sharpen price, a playbook the AJ Lifestyle team can point to locally as Naples-area builders like those at Brightshore lean on attainable pricing and incentives. For out-of-state and relocating buyers, national builder discounting plus 8.5 months of new-home supply means real negotiating room on new construction, so a well-structured offer can win concessions. It also reinforces coaching resale sellers to price against fresh, incentive-heavy new-build competition rather than last year's peak.