Florida’s real estate ‘gold rush’ draws the super-rich as rising costs push others out

There’s a “gold rush” in South Florida as ultra-wealthy buyers snap up mega-mansions and luxuriously appointed condos as soon as they hit the market. Yet alongside the boom, there are rumblings of a more troubling parallel reality. Undoubtedly, the billionaire class is helping to pump even more dollars into an already thriving Florida economy. But as prices rise and the less affluent find everything from housing and insurance to gas and groceries increasingly expensive, many are considering doing something about it.[Source: The Guardian]

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» The ultrawealthy don’t house hunt anymore. They subscribe

Seasonal homes strain the state's housing supply

In Florida, half of all vacant homes are not waiting for renters or buyers. They’re waiting for vacationers to return to these part-time abodes. A recent analysis by Compare the Market using U.S. Census data found that Florida has 1.48 million vacant homes, with 741,429 classified as seasonal or vacation properties — about 50% of the state’s unused housing stock, the report revealed. That share may help explain why full-time residents are struggling to find affordable places to live. [Source: Gulfshore Business]

New condo concept blends real estate and wellness. The goal? Staying young

The national craze to prevent health issues and live longer is extending into condo life in South Florida. Buildings are rising with living spaces connected to hospitals, clinics, and wellness centers that combine a high-end lifestyle with easy access to healthcare focused on preventive aging. Developers say they see an opportunity to cater to a growing population in Florida that’s increasingly older, affluent, health-conscious — and smitten with the idea of “anti-aging,” “healthy aging” or “longevity.” [Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel]

Softening home prices, rising foreclosures underscore vulnerable Florida markets

Southern counties, especially in Florida, topped a list of local housing markets most vulnerable to declines from economic shocks at the end of 2025, conditions created by a matrix of intertwined factors like softening home equity levels and unstable job market conditions. A new housing risk report from Attom paints a picture of persistent affordability challenges impacting current and prospective homeowners — even as home price gains have cooled and median new mortgage payments were around $135 lower than a year ago in January. [Source: Scotsman Guide]

2 Gulf Coast metros among top for migrating house hunters

Cape Coral-Fort Myers and North Port-Sarasota are among the top five regions in the country where house hunters are looking to relocate, according to a new report from Redfin. The top origin for those searching homes in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers and North Port-Sarasota areas was the same: Chicago, according to Redfin. Overall, Florida was the most popular state for relocating house hunters in the fourth quarter, attracting double the number of Redfin home searchers compared with South Carolina and Arizona. [Source: Business Observer]

STAT OF THE WEEK
$400,000
A $400,000 home budget stretches very differently across Florida’s housing markets, with buyers able to purchase significantly more space in some cities than others, according to a new national analysis of the country’s largest housing markets. [Source: Florida Realtors]

ALSO TRENDING:

› Pompano Beach luring some big fish: Developers transforming skyline with ultra-luxury towers [South Florida Sun Sentinel]
After decades of living in the shadow of boomtowns like Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Pompano is now the darling of developers willing to build seriously upscale projects along its beach. We’re talking five-star luxury projects like The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waldorf Astoria Residences and W Pompano Beach Hotel & Residences. The metamorphosis — cultivated by the city and fueled by developers — is bringing dramatic change to the Pompano skyline, generating buzz locally and beyond.

› $38M affordable housing complex breaks ground in Tampa [Business Observer]
Developers broke ground Thursday on a $38 million affordable housing complex in Tampa’s Palm River-Clair Mel area. Hillsborough County officials gathered to celebrate Blue Sky Communities’ new Rio Palma Apartments — a 90-unit community dedicated to housing the county’s most vulnerable residents, a release from the county says.

› Nearly 40% of Jacksonville families qualify for affordable housing. Nonprofit leader addresses the ‘stigma’ [News 4 Jax]
Nearly 40% of families in Jacksonville qualify for most affordable housing programs, according to city data — a reality local housing leaders say highlights just how widespread the affordability crisis has become. Reggie Fullwood, the new CEO of Ability Housing, says the numbers show affordable housing is not limited to the lowest-income residents. Instead, he says many working families are struggling to keep up with rising housing costs. “Most families, even two-income families, are struggling to afford housing right now,” Fullwood said.

› Orlando real estate market's international buyer opportunity [Orlando Business Journal]
Of all international buyers purchasing homes in the U.S., about one in five will buy in Florida, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. This makes the Sunshine State far and away the most popular place for these buyers to invest — and while Miami has the largest share of these transactions, Orlando is the second-most popular destination in Florida for international buyers.

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