Hit by Storms, Florida Panhandle Experiences a Property Boom

Hit by Storms, Florida Panhandle Experiences a Property Boom
Hurricanes have spurred economic development in Florida and along the Gulf Coast, including real-estate transactions as landowners depart and prospective buyers hunt for property.

Home Resales Are Unchanged; Consumers' Mood Stays Grim
Existing-home sales were flat in September bolstered by hurricane refugees buying new homes, despite higher mortgage rates. Consumer confidence ebbed to its lowest mark in two years in October.

Shuttered Military Bases Turn Into Hot Properties for Towns
Some cities and communities are excited by the 2005 closings list. They are eager to start planning what to do with the available space, and big-name developers are angling for the land.