
                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

  Avatar Holdings Updates Short Term Impact From Hurricanes Charley and France

     CORAL GABLES, Fla., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avatar Holdings
Inc. (Nasdaq: AVTR) advised today concerning the impact on its business from
Hurricanes Charley and Frances.  The hurricanes have resulted in minor damage
to Avatar's communities in Osceola and Polk counties.  Most damage was
landscape related.  There is very little or no structural damage to Avatar
owned facilities.  Hurricane-related costs are currently estimated at $1.5 to
$2 million, of which in excess of 80% are landscape related.

     Osceola County has lifted its short-term hold on issuing new home
permits; however, land development and home construction continue to be
delayed due to saturated grounds caused by the hurricanes' torrential rains.
Avatar estimates that closings of approximately 100 homes scheduled for 2004
will be delayed until the first quarter of 2005.  Additionally, the
commencement of construction of as many as 100 homes scheduled for 2004 will
be delayed until future periods.


    Avatar Holdings Inc. is primarily engaged in real estate operations in
Florida and Arizona.  Its principal real estate operations are conducted at
Poinciana, Solivita and Bellalago in central Florida near Orlando, Harbor
Islands on Florida's east coast, Cory Lake Isles in Tampa, Florida, and at Rio
Rico, south of Tucson, AZ.  Avatar's common shares trade on the Nasdaq Stock
Market under the symbol AVTR.


    Certain statements discussed herein constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of results to differ materially from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-
looking statements.  Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors
include, among others: the successful implementation of Avatar's business
strategy; shifts in demographic trends affecting demand for active adult
communities and other real estate development; the level of immigration and
in-migration into areas in which Avatar conducts real estate activities;
international (in particular Latin America), national and local economic
conditions and events, including employment levels, interest rates, consumer
confidence, the availability of mortgage financing and demand for new and
existing housing; access to future financing; geopolitical risks; competition;
changes in, or the failure or inability to comply with, government
regulations; adverse weather conditions and natural disasters; and other
factors as are described in greater detail in Avatar's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.



SOURCE  Avatar Holdings Inc.
    -0-                             09/20/2004
    /CONTACT:  Juanita I. Kerrigan, Avatar Holdings Inc., +1-305-442-7000/
    /Web site:  http://www.avatarhomes.com /
    (AVTR)

CO:  Avatar Holdings Inc.
ST:  Florida
IN:  CST RLT
SU:

