Last updated: 2026-08-27 · Published: 2026-08-27
Florida’s housing market is turning a corner, with statewide sales rising for 11 consecutive months and a growing share of that activity coming from higher-priced homes, according to new analysis from Florida Realtors.
Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor shared the update on August 20 at the Florida Realtors Convention & Trade Expo, describing steady, broad-based improvement rather than a surge.
| Who said it | Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor, speaking at the Florida Realtors Convention & Trade Expo. |
| Closed sales | 11 consecutive months of year-over-year increases through July, after three years of declines. |
| New pending sales | 12 straight months of year-over-year growth. |
| $500k–$1M sales | Up 7% year-to-date compared with a year earlier. |
| $1M+ sales | Up 22.4% year-to-date, with growth across Florida, not only South Florida. |
| Inventory | Active listings are down from a year ago; single-family supply is near balanced-market territory statewide. |
| Outlook | O’Connor says gradual income growth can improve affordability without a big drop in mortgage rates. |
A measured turnaround, not a boom
“This is not a boom,” O’Connor said, “but it’s very important because we had three straight years of falling sales, and now we have things going in a positive direction.”
That framing matters for buyers and sellers watching headlines. The numbers point to a market that is moving again — buyers who postponed moves are starting to act — but not to runaway price pressure.
Where the growth is coming from
Higher-priced homes are pulling much of the weight. Year-to-date sales between $500,000 and $1 million are up 7%, and sales above $1 million are up 22.4%, with O’Connor noting the luxury market is growing statewide, not just in South Florida.
Inventory has shifted as well. Active listings are down from a year ago, and single-family supply sits roughly in balanced territory, well below 2008 levels. Condos tell a different story: condo-townhouse inventory remains more elevated, condos take longer to go under contract, yet condo sales have shown stronger year-over-year growth than single-family sales.
Fly to the numbers: what the videos show
Florida Housing Market 2026 Is Shifting: What Buyers & Sellers Need to Know
A market analysis video explains that Florida real estate is starting to move again — more contracts getting signed and more buyers stepping in after a period of hesitation. It matches the broader theme in the statewide data.
Why Jacksonville and Tampa Are Dominating the 2026 Florida Housing Market
This regional report highlights two fast-moving Florida markets: Jacksonville sales volume jumped 46% year-over-year in March, and Tampa posted its fifth straight month of price gains around mid-2026.
What economists and skeptics are saying
O’Connor stressed that improving affordability does not depend on a dramatic rate cut. Incomes have continued to rise, and if prices and rates hold relatively steady, affordability can improve gradually and pull more buyers back in.
| Confirmed by Florida Realtors data | That Florida recorded 11 straight months of year-over-year closed-sales increases through July. |
| Confirmed by Florida Realtors data | That year-to-date sales of $1 million or more are up 22.4%. |
| Confirmed by Florida Realtors data | That active listings are down from a year ago and single-family supply is near balanced. |
| An economist’s assessment | That the market does not need a dramatic drop in mortgage rates to make progress. |
| Not confirmed data | Forward projections for home prices or interest rates; O’Connor framed the gains as direction, not a boom forecast. |
Note: Some online posts frame the improvement as a crash risk or assume a rate cut is coming. Neither is reflected in the current Florida Realtors data.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Florida housing market recovering?
Sales momentum is clearly positive. Florida has recorded 11 straight months of year-over-year increases in closed sales through July, and pending sales have risen for 12 consecutive months.
What is key facts at a glance saying about home prices?
Higher-priced homes are driving much of the growth. Sales between $500,000 and $1 million rose 7% year-to-date, while sales of $1 million or more rose 22.4%.
Are mortgage rates expected to fall?
Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor said the market does not necessarily need a dramatic drop in mortgage rates to make progress, noting that income growth and stable prices can gradually improve affordability.
What did Dr. O’Connor say about the market’s direction?
“This is not a boom,” he said, “but it’s very important because we had three straight years of falling sales, and now we have things going in a positive direction.”
How is condo inventory different from single-family?
Condo and townhouse inventory remains more elevated than single-family inventory, and condos are taking longer to go under contract even as condo sales show stronger year-over-year growth.
Why does Florida’s housing strength matter?
Florida continues to draw newcomers, with driver’s-license exchange data above pre-pandemic levels, and buyers who postponed moves are starting to re-enter the market.
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Note: ScoopVibe has not yet published dedicated real-estate coverage, so the closest existing market stories are listed above.
Sources: Florida Realtors
