The Miami Herald reports from Florida. "The sale of an aging Dania Beach hotel appears to have fallen through, stalling plans for one of the first major redevelopment projects in the heart of downtown. Now the date for closing on the Pirate's Inn has come and gone, and the seller, Hollywood Investments Group, is looking for other options."

"'The sale is not going through, the contract is terminated,' said Robert Fileni, who owns Hollywood Investments. The sale had been in the works for about a year."

The St Petersburg Times. "Here are the latest attempts by builders, in these slow times on the housing front, to persuade buyers to sign a contract now. If you sell at a loss, we'll make up the difference."

"If the final selling price is less than the original home price, Hannah Bartoletta Homes will pay the sellers the difference between the two: up to 10 percent of the original price or $100,000, whichever is lower."

"The offer is good only for owner-occupants who have lived in the house at least 18 months, and there are some other time limits and restrictions. No flippers seeking a quick profit need apply. 'I'm mad at 'em,' Hannah said of get-rich-quick investors."

"Lennar will include a voucher for a new Ford Mustang coupe with the purchase of certain homes for which a contract is signed by Tuesday and closed by Nov. 20. The promotion is good at South Fork in Hillsborough County; Heritage Pines and The Verandahs in Pasco; and Hernando Oaks and Hampton Hills in Hernando."

The Herald Tribune. "Joseph Michalak can't wait to show you his new pad, every luxurious, cavernous square foot of it. There are 3,000 to explore."

"But more than the amenities in his South Venice home, Michalak likes the price tag: $1,500 a month, or about $1,000 less than what he would pay on a monthly mortgage for the $400,000 home. Southwest Florida's soft housing market is proving a boon for renters who suddenly can find swank homes with top-of-the-line amenities at slashed prices."

"The phenomenon is driven by investors who gobbled up homes during Florida's 2004-05 real estate boom and now are unable to sell at a profit. Many have resorted to renting to help pay mortgages."

"Many investors are renting $300,000-and-up homes for $1,000 to $1,500 per month, said investor Ellie Vratanina of Baltimore. Vratanina, who manages or owns about a dozen properties in Sarasota, shrugs that 'you can't flip 'em like you used to.'"

"For renters looking to upgrade, now is the time. Michalak learned as much when he moved into his home in deed-restricted Island Walk. His last apartment, one-third the size for only $100 less, doesn't even compare, he said. 'With the palm trees, the scenery, the lake right behind me?' he said. 'Not even close.'"

"Scott Corbridge, president of the National Association of Residential Property Managers' Sarasota-Bradenton chapter and the broker for the home Cobb rents, said the home's owner lowered the rent from $1,510 to $1,395 to find a tenant. Corbridge said he has seen other investors cut rental rates $200 and $300 per month to attract tenants."

"Kassandra Williams took advantage of price-slashing when she found her Palmer Ranch apartment. When Williams arrived in Sarasota a year ago, she turned the key on a $1,000-a-month, one-bedroom condo in a community that includes a hot tub, two pools, tennis courts and a fitness center."

"That was nice, but the deal got even sweeter this month when Williams found a two-bedroom for the same price across the parking lot."

"Investors cite real estate market saturation as an indicator of why they've turned to renters. The number of homes for sale in the Sarasota market jumped 150 percent over the past two years. Meanwhile, homes are selling 35 percent slower and 15 percent cheaper than a year ago."

"The rental market has skewed so far toward tenants that sometimes peddling luxury isn't enough. Horse and Chaise Rentals and Property Management of Venice has twice as many listings as last year and 'if we go over $1,500, forget it, they won't rent,' said broker associate Sue Horner."

"Horner said the glut of condos on the market is driving prices down. Island Park, a luxury condo complex a half-mile from the beach on Venice Island, has $400,000 condos renting for $975, Horner said."

"Most were bought by investors looking for a quick profit. 'They thought they would buy them and flip them. Well, the flip didn't work,' she said. 'They cry because $1,000 doesn't begin to cover the mortgage.'"