Direct answer: Florida homes are still selling, just more slowly than a year ago. In September 2026, statewide single-family closed sales were down 3.5% from the year before while the median price rose 1.2%, mortgage rates were higher than a year earlier, and buyers had more homes to choose from. Homes priced to recent sales and easy for buyers to understand tend to move; homes priced to last year’s expectations tend to sit.
I hear some version of this question almost every week: “Why isn’t anything selling?” Sometimes it comes from a seller whose home has been listed for a while. Sometimes it comes from a buyer who sees the same listings week after week. The short version is that the market hasn’t stopped, it has slowed down and become pickier. Below I walk through what the latest numbers show, the main reasons homes are sitting longer, and what tends to help a home sell. I’m a numbers person, so every figure here has its source and month next to it.
Are Florida Homes Really Not Selling? What the Numbers Show
Florida Realtors reported 20,537 single-family closed sales in September 2026, down 3.5% from September 2025. New pending sales, which show contracts signed during the month, fell by more than 7.5%. Condo and townhouse sales were essentially flat. Florida Realtors’ chief economist described it as a market that has lost some momentum but has not fallen apart, which matches what I see day to day.
| Florida measure | Latest figure | Change from a year earlier | Source and month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family closed sales | 20,537 | Down 3.5% | Florida Realtors, Sep 2026 |
| Single-family median sale price | $415,000 | Up 1.2% | Florida Realtors, Sep 2026 |
| Single-family new pending sales | — | Down more than 7.5% | Florida Realtors, Sep 2026 |
| Single-family months’ supply | 4.4 months | — | Florida Realtors via WRE News, Sep 2026 |
| Condo/townhouse closed sales | 7,179 | Down 0.1% | Florida Realtors, Sep 2026 |
| Condo/townhouse median sale price | $293,500 | Down 1.8% | Florida Realtors, Sep 2026 |
| Condo/townhouse months’ supply | 7.7 months | — | Florida Realtors via WRE News, Sep 2026 |
| 30-year fixed mortgage rate (average) | 7.24% | 6.17% a year earlier | Freddie Mac PMMS, Oct 29, 2026 |
So homes are closing every month. What has changed is the pace, and how much buyers expect a home to justify its price.
Reason 1: Higher Mortgage Rates Change the Monthly Math
Freddie Mac’s weekly survey put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.24% on October 29, 2026, compared with 6.17% a year earlier. Florida Realtors noted that rates have climbed through 2026, and that even a change that looks small on paper can be enough to slow sales. When rates rise, the same purchase price means a higher monthly payment, so many buyers go back and recheck their budget, shop a lower price range, or pause.
For sellers, that means the pool of buyers who can comfortably afford a given price may be smaller than it was last year. For buyers, it’s a good reason to sit down with a lender early and get real numbers for your own situation. This is general information, not lending advice; a licensed loan officer can walk you through your actual options.
Reason 2: Buyers Have More Homes to Choose From
Months’ supply estimates how long it would take to sell every listed home at the current sales pace. Statewide, Florida had 4.4 months’ supply of single-family homes and 7.7 months of condos and townhouses in September 2026, according to Florida Realtors data reported by WRE News. More supply gives buyers time to compare, ask for repairs or credits, and walk away from homes that don’t feel right.
Local numbers can look different from the statewide picture. In Hillsborough County, the latest county report I could confirm (July 2026, produced by Florida Realtors) showed 4,710 active single-family listings, down 7.6% from a year earlier, with 3.9 months’ supply. The median single-family sale price was $430,000, unchanged from a year earlier, and the median time to contract was 34 days. Sellers received a median of 96.7% of their original list price. If you are watching homes in Wimauma or Sun City Center real estate, the details of your specific community, price range and home type matter more than any statewide headline.
Reason 3: Some Homes Are Priced for Last Year’s Market
Realtor.com’s September 2026 report showed the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro with a median list price of $385,398, down 6.6% from a year earlier, and 27.5% of listings with a price reduction. Nationally, 20.8% of listings had a price cut. Those numbers tell me many sellers started higher than buyers were willing to pay and adjusted along the way.
Buyers today look at the same online data you do. When a home is listed well above similar homes that recently closed nearby, it often gets fewer showings, and the longer it sits, the more buyers wonder what’s wrong with it. I wrote more about how sellers can stand out when things are slower in how to sell a home in a slow market.
Reason 4: Insurance, HOA and Condo Costs Are Part of the Price
In Florida, buyers don’t just ask “What’s the price?” They ask “What will it cost to own each month?” The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s market overview lists an average homeowners premium of $3,736 (including wind coverage, for admitted insurers, not counting Citizens or surplus lines), as reported by Florida Realtors in September 2026. The same report noted that regulators have approved some rate decreases, so quotes can vary a lot from home to home.
Condos have their own layer. Florida Realtors’ economist pointed to the condo market still adjusting to reserve requirements and other regulations, and the higher condo months’ supply reflects that. When buyers can’t easily see the insurance, HOA or association picture, many simply move on to the next listing. For the bigger picture on why prices differ so much from place to place, see why home prices vary so much across Florida. For your own home, an insurance agent, the HOA or condo association, and FEMA’s flood maps are the right places to get specifics.
What Helps a Florida Home Sell Right Now
Every home and every seller’s situation is different, but these are the steps I see make the biggest difference in a slower market:
- Price from recent closed sales of similar nearby homes, not from last year’s peak or from other active list prices.
- Watch the first two to three weeks closely. Few showings usually point to price or presentation; showings without offers often point to condition or value.
- Take care of the repairs buyers will notice, such as leaks, stains, older systems or worn finishes, or price the home with them in mind.
- Have documents ready: roof age, any inspection or wind mitigation reports you already have, HOA or CDD fee details, and community rules.
- Invest in clear photos, a clean and bright home, and easy showing access.
- Talk through options with your agent before cutting price, such as closing-cost help or other terms that may matter more to today’s buyers.
If you’d like a starting point, my free home value guide is at reynoldsrealty.com/homevalue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Florida housing market crashing?
The September 2026 numbers don’t show that. Statewide single-family sales were down 3.5% and the median price was up 1.2% from a year earlier, according to Florida Realtors. That describes a slower market, not a collapse. I don’t predict prices, and conditions can differ a lot by county, neighborhood and property type.
How long does it take to sell a house in Hillsborough County?
In July 2026, the median single-family home in Hillsborough County went under contract in 34 days, and the median time from listing to closing was 74 days, according to the county report produced by Florida Realtors. Your own timeline depends on price, condition and location.
Should I wait to sell until mortgage rates drop?
No one can tell you for sure when rates will move. Waiting can make sense for some sellers and not for others, depending on your timeline, your next move and your finances. It helps to compare both paths with real numbers, and to check tax or lending questions with a CPA or lender.
Why are Florida condos taking longer to sell?
Florida had 7.7 months’ supply of condos and townhouses in September 2026, compared with 4.4 months for single-family homes, and the condo median price was down 1.8% from a year earlier. Florida Realtors’ economist pointed to the market adjusting to reserve requirements and other regulations. Buyers often want to see the association’s budget, reserves and any planned assessments before they commit, so having that information ready helps.
The Bottom Line
Florida homes are selling, but buyers are more careful, rates are higher than a year ago, and there is more to choose from. A home that is priced to today’s sales, shows well and makes its full monthly cost easy to understand still gets attention. If you’d like help with this, call or text me at 941-737-6562 or reach out through reynoldsrealty.com.
This article is general information, not legal, tax, lending or insurance advice.
Sources
- Florida Realtors: Florida housing market holds steady in September (Oct 2026)
- WRE News: Florida September 2026 home sales, prices and inventory (Florida Realtors data)
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (week of Oct 29, 2026)
- Hillsborough County Monthly Market Statistics, July 2026 (produced by Florida Realtors)
- Realtor.com September 2026 Monthly Housing Trends Report (press release)
- Florida Realtors: Florida approves more home insurance rate cuts (Sep 2026, citing Florida OIR)
Linda Reynolds | Reynolds Realty Gulf Coast
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