Understanding The Florida Real Estate Market
Florida just surpassed New York as the second-hottest housing market in the US.
Florida's population growth between 2012-2022 (3,170,389) was larger than the population of 17 US states.
- Arkansas (3,045,637)
- Mississippi (2,940,057)
- Kansas (2,937,150)
- New Mexico (2,113,344)
- Nebraska (1,967,923)
- Idaho (1,939,033)
- West Virginia (1,775,156)
- Hawaii (1,440,196)
- New Hampshire (1,395,231)
- Maine (1,385,340)
- Montana (1,122,867)
- Rhode Island (1,093,734)
- Delaware (1,018,396)
- South Dakota (909,824)
- North Dakota (779,261)
- Alaska (733,583)
- Vermont (647,064)
This caused many metros to climb in value, especially since the 2020 Pandemic.
- Tampa (+88.9%)
- Miami (+86.6%)
- Jacksonville (+82.4%)
- Orlando (+72.3%)
Even Florida’s smallest municipalities have seen enormous growth.
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Wildwood (current population 24,681): +17,712 new residents since 2012
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Groveland (current population 21,633): +12,573 new residents since 2012
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West Melbourne (current population 28,857): +9,739 new residents since 2012
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Davenport (current population 10,824): +7,859 new residents since 2012
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Palm Springs (current population 26,924): +7,155 new residents since 2012
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Panama City Beach (current population 19,078): +7,011 new residents since 2012
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Minneola (current population 16,446): +6,884 new residents since 2012
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Tavares (current population 20,296): +6,242 new residents since 2012
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Freeport (current population 8,068): +5,859 new residents since 2012
- Eustis (current population 23,595): +5,024 new residents since 2012
With a residential housing market of 3.81 billion, thousands of new homeowners are flocking to the Sunshine State — and for good reason.
The recent Florida boom is all about change
Changes with work
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The flexibility of remote work: More than 16% of all Floridians worked remotely in 2022 — a number that’s only projected to rise.
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The boom in entrepreneurship: 3rd highest rate of new business applications per capita in 2022 and highest percentage of small businesses in the US - 13,370 small businesses per 100,000 residents.
- The availability of work: Florida saw the third-highest employment increase of 2023 (2.8%).
Changes with housing
New constructions - In 2023, new building applications for housing reached:
- 134,377 in Florida
- 77,283 in California
- 18,368 in New York
Lower prices than other major markets - The average home value is:
- $392,000 in Florida
- $450,000 in New York
- $744,000 in California
Accessible to first-time homeowners:
- 67% of Floridians are homeowners
- Compared with 54% of New Yorkers
- And 55% of Californians
Changes with quality of life
Temperate weather:
- 57°F in January (average low)
- 83°F in August (average high)
- Average daily temperature of 72°F
No state income tax - If you make $2,100 per paycheck, after taxes you get:
- $1,676 in the Tampa Bay area
- $1,582 per paycheck in San Francisco
- $1,512 per paycheck in New York City
Lower cost of living - Compared to the national average:
- Florida: 102%
- New York: 127%
- California: 140%
What To Know Before You Go
Before you pack your bags and head to the Sunshine State, you should carefully consider what you need, want, and can afford.
“You need to meet someone in Florida’s biggest hot spots to give advice and details about living in the community.”
Connect with residents in your favorite neighborhoods, including local:
- Real estate agents
- Business owners
- Homeowners
“Check daily interest rates and mortgage loan types before picking the right fit for your needs.”
Options include:
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Conventional Loans: Loans from private lenders, now with 1% down payments in FL.
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DPA Loans: Government programs with 3.5 and 5% down payment assistance.
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Zero Down VA Loans: Zero down for veterans (so long as appraisal isn’t lower than the sales price).
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Zero Down USDA Loans: Available for rural properties (typically agricultural zones).
- Jumbo Loans: For properties too expensive for conventional loans ($750,000+).
“You should survey your mortgage and closing cost options to make more informed decisions.”
The Hometown Heroes Program could help you:
- Pay no origination points.
- Cover up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount.
- Find a 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage.
With Make Florida Your Home, you can also:
- Get a 1% closing credit when you buy - Up to $15,000.
- Get a 1% cashback rebate when you sell - Up to $15,000.
- Or get both if you buy and sell - Up to $30,000.
“You must educate yourself with relevant news and resources to streamline the home-buying experience.”
Make Florida Your Home offers education on:
- Loan options
- Down payment assistance
- Rebates from real estate commissions
Highly rated by customers:
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“My Florida Home Buyers is the most professional, thorough, courteous real estate business I have ever had the satisfaction of dealing with!” - Carolyn V., Ocala
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“Matt and his ‘people’ made the whole ordeal as easy as possible. They were awesome.” - Nancy J, St. Cloud
- “There were no hidden fees and I feel like we got the best price for our home.” - Crystal T., Sanford
Take advantage of Make Florida Your Home and make your home-buying journey more straightforward and cost-effective.
