The Sun Sentinel reports from Florida. "Many builders are experiencing sales slowdowns and contract cancellations because of the real estate market slump, and they're hungry for your business. Last week, Bradenton-based Taylor Woodrow Inc. announced a new program to attract home buyers. Under its 'Forfeited Deposit Transfer Program,' qualified buyers can use contract deposits forfeited by other buyers and apply those funds toward the purchase of a new Taylor Woodrow home."

"'We wanted to find a positive application for these forfeited deposits,' said Sheila Johnson, director of sales and marketing for Taylor Woodrow in Palm Beach Gardens. 'Making these monies available to potential buyers is a meaningful incentive that significantly increases their buying power.'"

"While Johnson wouldn't disclose the percentage of the firm's contracts that have been canceled by home buyers, she said the rate is higher than usual. 'But we're certainly not in panic mode,' she said."

"To avoid a buildup of excess inventory after cancellations, builders are offering sales incentives, some of which can be substantial. Taylor Woodrow also launched a new Web site to advertise available inventory, closeouts and grand opening specials at discounts from $30,000 to $500,000."

"Sunrise-based G.L. Homes is also applying forfeited deposits to the purchase of other homes, according to Marcie DePlaza, division president."

"David Levin, a Delray Beach-based housing analyst, said builders are anxious to avoid contract cancellations and to hold onto existing home buyers. He has advice for anyone under contract to buy a home who is thinking twice."

"'If you're in danger of losing your deposit, go back and talk to your home builder,' he said. 'They may be more receptive to working out a deal with you than you would imagine.'

The Herald Tribune. "During the past year, Scott Corbridge, who runs Sarasota Management & Leasing, has seen a 100 percent increase in the number of rental properties that his firm manages."

"Q: Why has your business grown so quickly? A: With the sales market as slow as it is, there are a lot of people who can't sell and have placed their properties on the rental market. This has caused a glut of rentals available, making it more difficult to get properties rented."

"Q: When did the majority of your clients purchase their properties? A: About half of our owners purchased in the past year."

"Q: Are they now trying to sell those properties? A: Many of our most recent investors would like to sell their homes or have tried to sell prior to placing on the rental market. But they have been unable to sell in this market and have turned to rentals to gain some income until the sales market turns around."

"Q: Have owners been perplexed or frustrated by rising real estate taxes and insurance rates? Q: Has the oversupply forced owners to drop rental rates to attract tenants? A: Absolutely. Either drop 'em or lose 'em."

"Q: Is there an oversupply of homes and condos for rent? A: There is currently a six-month supply of unfurnished houses on the market for rent and a 10-month supply of unfurnished condos."

"Q: Do you think the prices owners are asking and the prices renters are willing to pay are out of equilibrium? A: Yes. Many owners are unrealistic in what they feel they can rent their properties for. Renters are enjoying a good selection of properties on sale. It really is a renters' market right now."

"Q: Have owners had trouble coming to terms with maximum rents they can charge? A: Not really. They don't like it, of course, but we educate our owners with hard facts and statistics that are difficult to argue with. It's the uneducated owners who believe that they can rent for the same price they could two years ago that are suffering the most because they continue to sit empty. Then they decide to try to sell it and of course that is even more difficult right now. Those people are hurting."

The Star Banner. "As delinquency and foreclosure rates nationally hit record highs, Marion County's number of foreclosure filings jumped. In January, there were 141 filings, up from 99 in the same month last year, for a 42 percent increase."

"When the housing market was at its zenith, speculators bought homes in droves and then looked to sell them quickly. Now those speculators are stuck with homes they can't afford or unload. As a result home prices have dipped."

"In Ocala, the average median sales price for an existing home dropped 4 percent in January, from $166,200 to $159,600, according to the Florida Association of Realtors. 'When home price appreciation slows, the foreclosures tend to rise,' said Darren Blomquist, for RealtyTrac."

"Heath Fleming, owner of Fleming Mortgage Services in Ocala, said with the glut of inventory on the market and home prices continuing to fall, the number of foreclosures will likely continue to increase."

"'We're still in the very, very early stages of this,' said Fleming, who believes it will be 'two to three years' before the local housing market correction is over."

The St Petersburg Times. "SkyPoint, the $80-million 32-story tower with 381 condos, is the biggest residential high-rise in downtown's history. Its future residents will pioneer a way of life in a downtown known for its office towers, parking lots and deserted after-hours streets."

"'Downtown is very transitional,' Bobby Neale said. 'Sometimes it's pretty vacant. But with all the things that are projected to come, I just see it getting better and better.'"

"With its floor-to-ceiling glass windows wrapped in Smurf-blue protective tape, SkyPoint hardly looks ready for occupation. Inside, it looks even more uninhabitable. On the 32nd floor, construction debris covers the floors of the penthouse suites. Dust swirls in the air. Wires dangle from the ceiling."

"So who exactly are the people moving into these condos, which fetch from the $170,000s (for the 650-square-foot units) to more than $500,000? Downtown will soon find out."

The Orlando Sentinel. "Are you thinking about buying an upscale, urban condo? Don't settle for some chump dump in downtown Orlando. Not when you can move down the road to Tampa and live like The Donald."

"Here it is, straight from Donald's mouth: 'The architectural design is truly distinctive, establishing a bold new landmark on the city skyline. Every residence will afford sweeping views of the water, and every detail, from the splendid finishes to the unrivaled amenities, will reflect the exceptionally high standards that every Trump building must satisfy.'"

"Donald arrived at the sales launch in 2005 with his usual panache. He proclaimed the project a major success with reservations on 98 percent of the units. He bemoaned not owning any more of the project than his already 'substantial stake.' The groundbreaking was in March 2006, with completion in 2008."

"And now I fast forward to the present, standing at a spot where I should be buried under a good 30 stories or so of rising concrete and steel. Weeds are the only visible life form. One crane stands idle. The snout of a second one rests limply on the ground, like it is taking a siesta. Even the Trump name can't trump the great Florida condo implosion."

"It turns out Trump's 'substantial stake' was a licensing fee for use of his name. The project is so muddled that attorney Tom Long, who is suing to get a deposit back for two buyers in the building, says, 'Frankly, I don't know who owns it.'"

"Buyers who put down 20 percent, many of them investors, are in a sticky situation. If they all demand their money back now, that could increase the odds of a bankruptcy. As with many high-flying Florida condos, once you shake out speculators and flippers, it's hard to find locals who can afford to live in them."

"At the lonely sales office, real estate agent Toni Everett still has her red laser pen ready to point out amenities on a model of the building. Desperate for good press, she offers me first crack at any big news about the project for a positive article."

"Toni says people will be moving into Trump Tower Tampa in 2009. If she's right, I'll take a swan dive into the neighboring Hillsborough River from the 52nd floor."