Sales of single-family homes were down 12% in September compared with the same time in the previous year. But interest rates, rising home prices and skyrocketing insurance costs likely played bigger roles than the recent hurricanes. “Florida recovers much faster than you think,” said Brad O’Connor, chief economist for Florida Realtors. Because of stricter building codes implemented in the years after Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida in 1992, newer homes withstand hurricanes better than older ones, O’Connor said. The number of households dropped from about 340,000 to about 326,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Persons: ”, Brad O’Connor, Hurricane Andrew, O’Connor, ‘, Hurricane Ian Organizations: Florida Realtors, . Census, Van Lines, Associated Press Locations: Florida, South Florida, Lee County, Fort Myers, United States