7 Things 2024 Taught Us About Moving to Florida

Welcome to the Sunshine State Company! If you’re considering buying, selling, or investing in Florida real estate, 2024 gave us valuable insights that can help you make smarter decisions. In this post, we’ll recap seven key lessons from this past year that will shape how buyers, sellers, and investors approach Florida’s real estate market in 2025 and beyond.

1. The Year of Choices in Real Estate

2024 was a pivotal year for buyers in Florida, with an unprecedented range of options compared to previous years. Not long ago, popular communities dominated the scene with few alternatives. Now, buyers can compare multiple neighborhoods within the same area, giving them more leverage and reducing the feeling of compromise.

• Example: In Sarasota, the golf-centric communities were once limited to places like Esplanade Azario and Lakewood National. Now, buyers can also consider Lakewood Ranch’s new generation neighborhood like Calusa Country Club, Wellen Park Golf & Country Club, Sarasota's Soleta and more!
• This growth in options means that buyers can more easily find the right home, not just settle for what’s available.

2. The Shift to Inland Migration

One significant trend in 2024 was the increasing number of people choosing inland suburbs over coastal living. The reasons for this shift vary, from concerns over hurricane impacts to the rising costs of beachfront homes.

• Instead of settling near the coast, more people are choosing communities further inland, such as Parrish, Lakewood Ranch, Wellen Park, Babcock Ranch, etc.
• Suburbs offer larger homes, modern amenities, and lower price points without sacrificing proximity to key attractions. In condensed areas like Sarasota-Manatee County, it's difficult to be more than 30 minutes away from everything that matters.

For buyers, this trend highlights the potential for greater affordability and home appreciation in emerging suburban areas that haven’t yet reached peak popularity.

3. Amenities Over Everything

New construction neighborhoods in Florida have raised the bar by offering resort-style amenities that make it easy to live a “vacation lifestyle” right at home.

• Communities now feature everything from on-site restaurants and lifestyle directors to gyms, spas, and shared pools.
• This trend has flipped the narrative for some buyers who once avoided HOA fees. Many are now viewing these fees as worthwhile because they eliminate the need to build private pools or maintain large yards.
• For those relocating from colder climates, having access to 300+ days of sunshine makes outdoor community amenities even more attractive.

If amenities are important to you, there’s never been a better time to find a community that checks all your boxes.

4. Investors Thrive in Volatility

Unfortunately, extreme weather events like hurricanes have created volatility in certain Florida markets, leading to an uptick in investor activity.

• After events like major storms, many homeowners face the difficult decision of whether to rebuild or relocate. Investors often step in with cash offers, purchase damaged homes, renovate them, and resell at higher price points.
• This cycle of investment and flipping has driven up home prices in highly sought-after areas like Siesta Key and Longboat Key, where single-family homes under $1.5 million are becoming increasingly rare.

For buyers hoping to secure a home in these premium coastal markets, understanding how investor activity impacts pricing is crucial.

5. Inventory Swings Create Balance

Despite challenges like higher interest rates and storm disruptions, 2024 saw a gradual increase in housing inventory, creating a more balanced market.

• By mid-2024, inventory levels in many Florida markets reached 4–6 months of supply, a significant improvement from the rapid turnover of past years.
• This increase in inventory means that buyers no longer have to rush to secure the first home they see. Sellers, in turn, must price their homes competitively to attract offers.

This balance between supply and demand provides buyers with more time to make thoughtful decisions and fosters healthier competition among listings.

6. A Glimpse of Market Normalcy

In recent years, Florida’s real estate market has felt anything but “normal.” However, 2024 provided a glimpse of what balance could look like moving forward.

• Median home prices began to stabilize, and buyers gained more negotiation power.
• Builders competed with resales by offering incentives such as rate buy-downs, design credits, and closing cost assistance.

While Florida’s coastal cities will likely always remain in high demand, this return to balance may lead to more reasonable prices and smoother transactions for buyers and sellers alike.

7. There Is No "Perfect" Time to Move

One of the biggest takeaways from 2024 is that trying to time the real estate market perfectly can lead to missed opportunities.

• Many buyers who waited in 2023 found themselves still waiting in 2024, hoping for interest rates or prices to drop significantly.
• External factors—like weather events or economic shifts—make it nearly impossible to predict the market with certainty.
• For many, the desire to escape harsh winters, political environments, or school-related concerns outweighed concerns about timing.

In many cases, the long-term benefits of improving your quality of life far outweigh minor fluctuations in home prices or interest rates.

Final Thoughts

2024 taught us that the Florida real estate market is evolving, offering more choices, better amenities, and a greater sense of balance. Whether you're planning to buy now or in the next few years, staying informed about market trends and understanding your goals will help you make confident decisions.

If you’d like personalized advice or want to chat with someone from our team about your next steps, don’t hesitate to reach out. And if you haven't subscribed to our 30-day email updates, it’s a great way to stay in the know about new construction developments, market insights, and more—all delivered to your inbox once a month with zero spam.

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