Florida housing market at inflection point as summer approaches<\/p>\n
Florida\u2019s housing market is entering a stretch where the next few months could say a lot about where the rest of 2026 is headed. Florida Realtors\u00ae Chief Economist Dr. Brad O\u2019Connor said one key metric is worth watching closely: how long it takes homes to go under contract. In April, single-family homes sold in Florida spent a median of 44 days from listing to contract. That was almost identical to April 2019 and April 2025, two years that started from a similar place but moved in very different directions afterward. [Source: Florida Realtors<\/a>]<\/p>\n As Florida\u2019s housing market finds its footing, sellers still face pricing realities<\/p>\n Florida\u2019s housing market is settling into a period of measured stability, with pending sales on the rise and inventory levels flattening. Sellers who cling to pandemic-era pricing continue to face resistance from buyers navigating high mortgage rates and affordability constraints. [Source: Housing Wire<\/a>]<\/p>\n Property insurance experts cautiously optimistic ahead of hurricane season<\/p>\n A \u201cbelow-normal\u201d year for storms could further a positive trend for Florida\u2019s insurance market, industry experts contend. But because of Florida\u2019s location between the Atlantic and Gulf, homeowners will always be at risk, which will temper any potential reductions to premiums. Heading into the Atlantic storm season that begins June 1, insurance experts said legislative reforms in 2022 and 2023 targeting \u201cfrivolous\u201d lawsuits, along with a year without any storm hits, have allowed some \u201csoftening\u201d in homeowners insurance prices. [Source: Tampa Bay Times<\/a>]<\/p>\n Will getting rid of property taxes make Florida more affordable?<\/p>\n Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 proposal to phase out property taxes for most primary homeowners is rapidly becoming one of the state\u2019s most consequential housing debates in years. Supporters argue it could ease affordability pressures while critics warn it may fuel higher home prices and reshape local tax structures. The proposal would raise Florida\u2019s homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000 \u2014 a move DeSantis said would eliminate property taxes for about 60% of homeowners. The exemption would later increase to $500,000, potentially removing property taxes for as many as 92% of primary residences statewide. [Source: Housing Wire<\/a>]<\/p>\n Rethinking South Florida’s real estate industry<\/p>\n South Florida isn\u2019t just growing \u2013 it\u2019s transforming. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the region has emerged as one of the country\u2019s biggest magnets for wealth, drawing an influx of newcomers lured by its warm climate, high quality of life, business-friendly policies and lack of a state income tax. But unlike past migration waves that included billionaires, executives and other high-net-worth residents, this time around, they\u2019re bringing businesses with them. [Source: South Florida Business Journal<\/a>]<\/p>\n ALSO TRENDING: <\/p>\n \u203a Southwest Florida real estate agents expand use of AI tools<\/a> [Gulfshore Business] \u203a Tampa won\u2019t meet affordable housing goal, but Castor praises progress<\/a> [Tampa Bay Times]
\n STAT OF THE WEEK
\n $249,000<\/a>
\n An intriguing dome home in Florida that was constructed using sprayed polyurethane foam and has not a “single straight line” within its structure has hit the market for $249,000\u2014more than five decades after it was hand-built to serve as an example of what sustainable, eco-friendly living might one day look like. [Source: Realtor.com<\/a>]<\/p>\n
As global firms pour hundreds of billions into artificial intelligence infrastructure, the industry\u2019s message is clear: Use AI or be left behind. That message has not been lost on Southwest Florida businesses. Over the last several years, AI adoption among professionals has been widespread but uneven, ranging from experimentation with chatbots, such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini to companywide enterprise systems.<\/p>\n
Carlton Mallard has lived in the same East Tampa home since he was a child. His father purchased it in 1950 and passed it down decades later. For years, the brick building lacked air conditioning and Mallard relied on boiling water to bathe. Electrical issues left him without power for months at a time. Now, with the help of Tampa\u2019s Housing Rehabilitation and Renovation Program, Mallard has returned to a fully refurbished home, Mayor Jane Castor said at a news conference outside the home.<\/p>\n