Close to Home

THE LOCAL HOUSING MARKET

October housing snapshot

The latest Flagler County listing file now covers October 2026. These are asking-price and listing measures, not closed-sale results.

About 19 out of every 100 Flagler County home listings had their asking price lowered during October.

An asking price tells us what a seller is seeking. A closed-sale price tells us what a transaction actually recorded. They answer different questions, and these countywide listing numbers cannot tell you what one Palm Coast home is worth.

For a buyer or seller, the next useful comparison is similar homes in the same neighborhood, including recent closed sales, condition and the terms being offered.

Source: Realtor.com Economic Research, October 2026 county data, checked November 5. Countywide residential listings, including MLS-listed new construction. No current closed-sale median is included.

See the data and definitions

My Take

For buyers

If you’re thinking about buying, look past the advertised price and introductory rate. Builder incentives can be a real help, but find out what your payment will be after any temporary rate buydown ends, including taxes, insurance and HOA dues. Ask which homes and lots actually qualify. The best offer may be tied to a particular home or neighborhood.

A new home’s first tax bill can reflect the land rather than the completed house. Ask for an estimate based on the completed home and your exemptions, and confirm that your lender’s escrow calculation uses that estimate.

Before you buy, find out how the builder takes care of homeowners after closing. Talk with owners in the same community, ask how warranty claims and repairs are handled, and consider an independent inspection. Check drainage, elevation and the current flood map. Get property-specific homeowners and flood-insurance quotes, rather than relying on a sample insurance figure.

My mortgage calculator can help you compare estimated payments at different prices, down payments and rates. For a temporary buydown, compare the introductory payment with the payment at the full note rate, keeping the loan amount and term the same. Ask your lender for the year-by-year payment schedule, including taxes and insurance.

Try the mortgage calculator →

Planning estimates only. A two-rate comparison does not model every step of a temporary buydown; taxes and insurance can also change.

For sellers

If you’re thinking about selling, start with your own situation. For some homeowners, selling now may make sense. If you have the flexibility to wait, holding the property and revisiting your plans in the spring may be worth considering.

Spring often brings more activity, but no one can predict what prices or rates will do. Look at the homes competing with yours in your own neighborhood, compare the costs of holding, and consider what you might walk away with if you sell.

A walk-away estimate can help you compare selling now with waiting, using your own numbers and assumptions.

A DATE FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Free housing workshop on November 21

Palm Coast’s free Housing Empowerment Workshop Series covers a different housing topic at each session. On Saturday, November 21, the focus is how to apply for first-time homebuyer and housing rehabilitation assistance through the city’s CDBG and Flagler County’s SHIP programs.

8:30–10 a.m. · Informational session
10:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. · One-on-one discussions with housing experts
Southern Recreation Center
1290 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast

The event is open to the public, and registration is encouraged. City and county representatives will be there for questions.

Read the workshop details and registration information

Times follow the current city event listing, checked November 5. An older city announcement lists different hours; confirm the event page before attending.

LOCAL PLACES AND PROJECTS

Around Palm Coast

96 proposed homes, still in review

The city’s application for Evolve Palm Coast Phase 2 lists 96 units at 4800 US Highway 1 North, in the Sandlake subdivision. As checked November 5, the technical site plan remains pending in the resubmittal process. The November 5 review result is still listed as pending.

That is a proposal moving through review. It is not an announcement that 96 homes are finished or available to buy.

Read the city’s application record

Town Center moves toward a YMCA

One project we didn’t cover in the first issue: on October 20, City Council approved a 35-year lease for a planned YMCA at 1580 Central Avenue.

The city describes an approximately 46,300-square-foot facility with fitness and family programming, a competition pool and a separate family pool. Its announced timetable targets construction beginning in late 2026 and completion in winter 2029, subject to financing, permitting and other requirements.

The lease is approved. The facility is not open, and those dates remain targets.

Read the city’s October 21 announcement

A new gathering spot at Waterfront Park

Waterfront Park’s new pavilion and expanded parking opened October 23. The project added a 3,600-square-foot covered pavilion, 100 parking spaces and improved pedestrian connections, including access toward the kayak launch.

This one is a completed improvement you can visit, rather than a project waiting for approval.

See the city’s park update

FOR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS

A few useful links for the season

With the holidays coming up, I’m thinking about friends, family and neighbors who may be going through a hard time. I wanted to share a few links that might help, whether you use them yourself or pass them along to someone you care about.

Utilities
Palm Coast payment plans  ·  FPL bill credits and assistance

Housing
Mortgage guidance  ·  Flagler County resources

Everyday expenses
Food and cash benefits  ·  Phone and internet discounts

Local connections
Grace Community Food Pantry  ·  Volusia-Flagler 211

Eligibility, funding and application availability vary. Payment plans spread out or delay payments; the balance remains due.

LOCAL BUSINESS

Behind our local businesses

I want to get to know the people behind the businesses and hear their stories. Helping people discover them is something I genuinely care about.

From the city permit records

Here are three businesses named in recent Palm Coast permit records, checked November 5, 2026. These are permit-stage updates. Opening dates have not been confirmed.

Huey Magoo’s

INTERIOR BUILDOUT PERMIT

The city issued an interior-buildout permit on October 27 for Unit 1 at 5838 State Highway 100 East. Building and fire final inspections remain pending.

View permit 2026100164

Ellianos Coffee

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMIT

The commercial-building permit at 3 Old Kings Road South is in the inspection stage. It was issued October 7, with building and fire final inspections still pending.

View permit 2026080064

LOVE Donuts & Boba

WALL SIGN PERMIT

The city issued a wall-sign permit on November 2 for 25 Palm Harbor Village Way. The sign’s final inspection remains pending. This record covers the wall sign only.

View permit 2026100865

Know a local business owner I should meet?

A painter, landscaper, plumber, real estate agent or someone doing something completely different? I’d love to meet local owners and share their stories in a future interview or feature in Close to Home.

You don’t have to be new or have a big announcement. If you run a small business in Palm Coast or Flagler County, or know an owner with a story worth sharing, reply and tell me about it. Let’s help our neighbors get to know the businesses around them.

Introduce a local business →