Florida leads nation in empty lots for sale
America’s housing affordability crisis is largely a supply problem, with the country currently being 4.7 million homes short of what is needed. If one home were built on every empty lot listed for sale, that shortage would shrink by more than 6%, new Zillow research finds. More than 300,000 empty lots that are five acres or smaller were listed for sale on Zillow in June, making up 17.4% of all for-sale listings. The five states with the most empty lots listed are Florida (42,601), Texas (40,907), California (18,508), North Carolina (14,226) and Georgia (10,334). [Source: Florida Trend]
These areas of Florida have seen the highest spikes in property taxes
Property taxes have gone up across Florida — but some places have seen much bigger jumps than others. In its most recent report, Florida TaxWatch compared property tax levy growth with population growth/inflation from 2014 to 2024. In several counties, property tax growth was much higher than population growth and inflation over the same time. [Source: Click Orlando]
Why are Florida home insurance costs finally falling?
Florida accounted for approximately 72% of the nation's homeowners claim-related litigation in 2023 despite representing only about 10% of U.S. homeowners claims. Since reforms took effect, however, homeowners’ insurance litigation has fallen nearly half in 18 months. As a result, 20 insurers have entered Florida's property insurance market, bringing new capital and greater competition. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
AI creating uneven real estate demand
Artificial intelligence is not pushing every commercial real estate market in the same direction, creating new opportunities in some cities and industries while weakening demand in others, according to new research from JLL. The report found that AI is affecting employment through three forces: helping workers perform existing jobs, replacing selected positions and creating new types of work. The balance varies by industry and location, meaning AI could reduce the office space needs in one market while supporting leasing growth in another. [Source: Florida Realtors]
Florida’s migration boom is cooling — 5 ways younger homebuyers are feeling the pinch
Sure, home prices have cooled slightly in Florida over the last year. But that doesn’t make it easy or affordable for young homebuyers to live there. “Net migration to Florida has fallen by roughly 93% from its 2022 peak, but affordability remains stretched because all the other costs of ownership have skyrocketed,” said Jon Brooks, housing analyst with Momentum Realty. One of the major reasons inbound migration slowed from a flood to a trickle is, of course, these affordability challenges. [Source: AOL]
$16.5 million
At the halfway point of 2026, Northeast Florida racked up some significant luxury home sales, starting with the sale of a 12-acre estate belonging to the heirs of Winn-Dixie's founders. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
› South Florida just added a new luxury housing market. Here’s what it means
South Florida’s housing markets are increasingly doing business as one big region. The latest evidence is Miami Realtors’ merger with Martin County Realtors on the Treasure Coast, whose members serve luxury properties on Jupiter Island, Sewall’s Point and the Stuart waterfront. The agreement creates a single multiple listing service, or MLS, stretching from Miami-Dade to Martin County and underscores a broader trend: South Florida is increasingly being marketed as one interconnected real estate market rather than a collection of county-by-county markets.
› Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Orlando metro area
The real estate frenzy spurred by the coronavirus pandemic continues, though at a slower pace. Buyers are still competing for a limited supply of housing, driving up prices for affordable properties. The typical home value in the United States was $372,057 in June, 1.1% higher than the year before. Increasing mortgage rates have slowed growth, with prices even declining in some places. But some areas are still seeing price jumps compared to the year before.
› 3 Sarasota-area communities crack national top four rankings
Three Sarasota-area master-planned communities ranked among the nation's top four for home sales in RCLCO's midyear 2026 report. Since 1994, RCLCO, a real estate consulting firm, has conducted a survey identifying top-selling master-planned communities in the country. Its mid-year update ranks the top 50 to show the current trends and rankings.
› St. Augustine undeveloped land sells for $6.5 million
A Boston-based real estate investment, development and management firm recently bought three undeveloped parcels totaling 40.25 acres in north St. Augustine for $6.5 million. The Davis Cos., through DIV WDG JAX Owner LLC, finalized the purchase July 29 of the vacant property from Atlantic Beach-based SJC Acquisition LLC, which has ties to American Management Group of North Florida LLC, a multifamily real estate developer.