When rents began skyrocketing across the country, Jacksonville didn’t just feel the impact, it ranked among the top five U.S. cities with the fastest rent increases.
Since last May, News4JAX has been tackling the tough topic of affordable housing from every angle. Now, we’re taking our efforts a step further by joining a coalition of Northeast Florida news organizations – including digital, broadcast, and print media – to tackle the issue of housing costs as a shared editorial project in 2026.
December closed out 2025 with a Northeast Florida housing market that showed resilience and growing balance, according to the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS.
President Donald Trump is pushing new proposals aimed at making housing more affordable, including banning large institutional investors from buying single-family homes and directing the federal government to purchase $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities — a move that is already impacting interest rates.
The rapid growth and rising housing costs in St. Johns County are forcing workers and seniors to leave the area.
We are looking ahead to 2026 at what local analysts and realtors say is coming next for home prices and what it could mean for your bottom line in the year ahead.
Ability Housing and partners on Tuesday opened the Village at Cedar Hills, a Jacksonville affordable housing community where 90 families will move in just in time for the holidays.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is expanding on his plan to eliminate property taxes in Florida — a proposal that is drawing mixed reactions from Jacksonville city council members.
A new report from the city’s Office of Inspector General found significant policy violations within the Jacksonville Housing Authority, including repeated failures to properly manage cases of unreported income in its housing programs.
As home prices continue to climb across Florida, a new analysis suggests it could take the typical household nearly a generation to save for a modest down payment.
A new Florida bill filed last week is pushing to add more responsibilities to mobile home park owners in the state, according to a report from News4JAX sister station WKMG in Orlando.
Essential workers in St. Johns County can’t afford to live there -- even if they’re combining incomes. But county leaders want to change that.
A growing number of Florida homeowners say their mortgage payments jumped by hundreds, even more than a thousand dollars, within their first year of owning a new construction home, and many believe they were never warned it could happen.
Dozens of Northeast Florida families say they were blindsided by steep increases in their monthly mortgage payments after buying new construction homes from D.R. Horton, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders.
As the population of Brunswick and the Golden Isles continues to climb, community leaders say the demand for affordable homes is outpacing construction, and the gap is widening.
The median price of a single-family home in the Jacksonville area fell slightly in October while the active inventory of homes for sale rose 1.4%, according to the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
A Jacksonville-based company says its new portable 3D construction robot could help lower homebuilding costs and make housing more affordable across Northeast Florida.
A Nassau County resident received the keys to a brand new home constructed through the county’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), which provides down payment and rehabilitation assistance for individuals in need.
A lawsuit claims D.R. Horton and DHI Mortgage worked together to promote “affordable” monthly payments that didn’t include full property tax costs, alleging the companies duped first-time buyers and left homeowners paying hundreds more each month than expected.
Jacksonville city leaders are rolling out a new tool designed to give residents a clearer picture of the city’s ongoing efforts to address the affordable housing crisis.
Helen Johnson will move into one of the 44 townhomes being built by Beaches Habitat for Humanity off Mayport Road, called Coastal Haven.
The CEO of City Rescue Mission will spend 24 hours sitting on a bench in Jacksonville in an effort to create authentic, open dialogue about the issue of homelessness.
The City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Housing Authority and First Coast Construction, will break ground on five new affordable homes in the Durkeeville neighborhood on Friday.
Homelessness among Florida families has surged in the last three years as soaring rents and a shortage of affordable housing push more residents into shelters, motels and the streets, a new University of Florida report says.
The Camden County Board of Commissioners announced last week that it has tentatively agreed to adopt new millage rates for 2025 that would increase property taxes.
As the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium undergoes millions of dollars in renovations, residents of the city’s historic Eastside say they’re caught between promises of revitalization and fears of displacement.
A local nonprofit announced on Friday the purchase of a new property in St. Johns County that will become its largest affordable housing community in its 33-year history.
Arbor Oaks on Jammes Road, the troubled Westside apartment complex the News4JAX I-TEAM reported last week, was previously owned by Jarek Tadla, a Polish-born real estate investor who, according to the JAX Rental Housing project at the University of North Florida, has companies that own more apartment complexes in Jacksonville than anyone else.
The News4Jax I-Team continued to try and find answers for residents of a Westside apartment complex on Friday, after people living at Arbor Oaks told us they can’t get a hold of anyone to address ongoing issues.
Jacksonville is short thousands of affordable homes, and the rising cost of rent and mortgages is forcing many families to look for alternatives. One solution gaining traction: tiny homes.
While the option of a "grace period" that allows you to pay a few days later than the due date without penalty might seem like a nice bonus from your property manager, it could also be a trap.
A Jacksonville renter says her “affordable” apartment turned into a legal and financial nightmare after she tried to pay rent and then learned days later that she’d been evicted, a case housing advocates say reflects a broader trend worsening the city’s affordability crisis.
A new report from Realtor.com shows the price gap between new construction and existing homes has fallen to a record low, and Jacksonville is among the metro areas seeing some of the steepest declines in new-home list prices.
As Jacksonville’s finance committee budget hearings continue, Councilman Matt Carlucci is advocating for the reinstatement of $3 million in funding for affordable housing.
The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing (HTH) Program reopened today, giving first-time homebuyers who serve their communities a chance to receive down payment and closing cost assistance.
The need for more student housing in Jacksonville is hitting the University of North Florida hard, but the school is spotlighting part of the solution on Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Osprey Ridge dorm hall.
Manufactured housing plays a key role in providing affordable housing, especially in Florida, which has one of the largest numbers of mobile home parks in the country.
In a move to address the pressing need for more affordable housing in Jacksonville, City Councilman Jimmy Peluso is introducing new legislation aimed at transforming eight vacant, city-owned properties into affordable single-family homes.
The median home-sale price fell by 3.1% in Jacksonville last week, according to a new report from Redfin.
The My Safe Florida Home program opened for applications Monday morning, and millions of dollars are up for grabs to help homeowners make improvements that can lower their insurance premiums and protect against storms.
Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, previously known as HabiJax, has changed its name to First Coast Habitat for Humanity, effective July 21, 2025. The new name reflects the organization’s expanded service area, which now includes Duval, Nassau, and Baker counties.
As part of News4JAX’s Addressing A4dability series, we’re taking a closer look at how short-term rentals, like Airbnb and Vrbo, are reshaping housing markets, neighborhoods, and the ability for locals to afford a place to live.
In one Florida city where new residents once flocked, “For Sale” signs now line every other block, according to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal. Foreclosures are on the rise, and open houses see no visitors.
As summer sets in, the Northeast Florida housing market is continuing to change, and buyers have more choice and slightly more negotiating power, according to the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR).
A growing number of Baby Boomers are transferring property directly to family members, bypassing the traditional real estate market, and it’s reshaping housing trends across the country.
As home prices and interest rates continue to climb, more families are struggling to cross the threshold into homeownership, especially single parents trying to save on a single income.
A major funding proposal aimed at revitalizing Jacksonville’s riverfront may also deliver a boost to affordable housing, if city leaders can agree on the details.
The Jacksonville City Council is moving forward with Ordinance 2025-385, which proposes appropriating $45 million from excess insurance funds to support affordable housing and downtown development initiatives.
As part of News4JAX’s ongoing weekly series “Addressing Affordability,” we’re digging deeper into the issue dominating local conversations — the rising cost of having a place to live.
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff has launched an investigation into large, out-of-state companies purchasing single-family homes in Georgia, a practice he says is raising prices and squeezing out local families.
Median prices for single-family homes fell in the majority of Northeast Florida counties in May, according to a new report from the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR).
The City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Housing Authority and First Coast Construction, will break ground on five new affordable homes in the Durkeeville neighborhood on Friday.
As part of our ongoing Addressing A4dability series, News4JAX gathered voices from three different generations — Baby Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z — to discuss the challenges they face when it comes to affording a place to live.
The Sulzbacher Center announced it has closed its financing on the $37 million Phase 1 of the Sulzbacher Enterprise Village on Walgreen Road, just off Interstate 95 and Golfair Boulevard.
When asked about the new poll on Tuesday, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said she can’t remember the last time a poll was done where crime wasn’t number one in terms of people’s concerns.
A new public health report by Human Impact Partners and Manufactured Housing Action paints a disturbing picture, accusing one of the nation’s largest mobile home park owners of transforming affordable communities into hazardous ones.
According to housing experts, “affordable” is defined as spending no more than 30% of your income on housing. In Jacksonville, where the median household income is $81,107 according to city data, that means monthly housing costs should not exceed $2,027 to be considered affordable.
A month after Jacksonville City Councilman Jimmy Peluso filed a resolution encouraging Mayor Donna Deegan to establish a landlord registry program for the city, he and another councilman are set to hold a meeting to discuss the program.
A recent survey by Clever Real Estate reveals that while 90% of Americans across generations—baby boomers, Gen X, and millennials—still view homeownership as a key component of the American dream, many believe it’s increasingly out of reach.
According to NEFAR, a growing inventory is giving buyers more choices across the region.
Three months following a public open-meeting contract negotiation, Cheron Corbett Waller is now officially the Jacksonville Housing Authority’s new CEO.
Attorneys have filed a class action lawsuit against a Jacksonville-based property management company, alleging it charged tenants excessive and unlawful fees in violation of Florida’s consumer protection laws.
A member of the Jacksonville City Council has filed a resolution encouraging Mayor Donna Deegan to establish a landlord registry program for the city.
Among the community, other faith leaders and Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, Mayor Donna Deegan sat as a guest in the front row of the Abyssinia Mssionary Baptist Church on Jacksonville’s northside.
Mayor Donna Deegan will be at the annual Nehemiah Action Assembly at Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church to hear ICARE's thoughts on the city’s affordable housing crisis.
Gov. Ron DeSantis in recent weeks has called for cutting property taxes, while also criticizing spending by local governments.
Jacksonville ranks third in financial distress according to a new WalletHub survey, highlighting concerns over credit scores, debt, and housing costs. The city’s rapid growth and rising rent prices contribute to the challenges facing residents.
A new poll from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) asked more than 800 active registered voters across Florida what their biggest concerns were, and most said the cost of housing and insurance.
Dozens of townhomes could soon come to the fast-growing World Golf Village area of St. Johns County. The county still needs to approve the project, which will be up for discussion at a meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at Pacetti Bay Middle School.
Whether you came knocking at our door or we came knocking at someone else’s, the News4JAX I-Team was on top of uncovering answers in Northeast Florida in 2024.
In this episode of “This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition,” host Kent Justice engages with Katessa Archer and John Rodriguez from Dominium to explore the company’s impactful initiatives in affordable housing and education.
New safety guidelines for condominiums in Florida are causing significant disruptions in the real estate market.
A new report from the Florida Policy Institute reveals Live Local Act might not be cutting it for some professions, like educators, firefighters and law enforcement officers.
JWB Property Management announced Thursday it reached a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed the company’s screening algorithms discriminated against rental applicants who are Black.
Christmas is fast approaching, but there’s one unexpected gift homeowners might unwrap early this season: lower property insurance premiums.
72% of local apartment complexes are owned by corporate investment firms
More than 12 million Americans spend at least half of their paycheck on rent. And new data shows housing prices in 99 percent of U.S. counties are unaffordable for the average wage earner. That’s why first-time home buyers are turning to friends to make their first big purchase.
In a step toward tackling affordable housing and homelessness in Duval County, the Jacksonville City Council approved an ordinance allocating $1 million from the city’s contingency fund to support affordable housing projects.
A Navy veteran who went from making six figures to being homeless for nine years finally has a new home thanks to a Jacksonville nonprofit.
There is a housing crisis in America, and it includes a significant racial disparity in mortgage access, according to studies done by a group called Reinvestment Fund.
A local nonprofit known for developing “high-quality” affordable housing announced Tuesday that it has partnered with Jacksonville to house 25 “unsheltered chronically homeless citizens” as part of a pilot program that current and former members of the city’s government created.
For most Americans, it is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make in their lives. However, owning a home might feel like a goal that is out of financial reach for some.
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. slipped this week to its lowest level in two years, boosting home shoppers’ purchasing power as they navigate a housing market with prices near all-time highs.
With the 2024 election season in full swing, News4JAX is looking at the role that financial uncertainty is playing in the sluggish real estate market in North Florida.
Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is issuing a warning to homeowners about ongoing roofing scams that are costing property owners thousands of dollars each year.
A report from the Florida Housing Coalition found that at least 2.4 million Florida families are “cost-burdened,” meaning that more than 30% of their income is spent on just rent and utilities.
The former Deputy Chief Financial Officer of the Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA) was arrested Wednesday and accused of using prepaid cards that were meant for residents.
Housing costs are a major focus for both Republicans and Democrats in the 2024 election as affordability is becoming a major issue for voters.
A proposed plan to tear down a YMCA campus in a Jacksonville neighborhood to make way for an affordable housing complex is getting some pushback from area residents.
An ambitious affordable housing initiative aimed at creating a potential 1,000 new rental units in Jacksonville has encountered yet another setback.
A proposed plan to tear down a YMCA campus in a Jacksonville neighborhood to make way for an affordable housing complex is getting some pushback from area residents.
Ability Housing, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit developer of affordable housing, announced Wednesday the launch of a fund that will help boost its work in Northeast and Central Florida.
