Manatee County’s single-family market cooled slightly in sales activity in September 2026 while prices kept rising. Closed sales fell 3.9% from a year earlier to 636 homes. New pending sales, homes that went under contract during the month, dropped 3.6% to 559, which suggests closings may stay a bit below last year’s pace in the months ahead. Even so, the median sale price rose 3.2% year over year to $485,000, a sign that demand remains solid enough to support prices.
When buyers ask where to find lasting value on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Lakewood Ranch keeps rising to the top of the list, and the national numbers back that up. By mid-2026, the community had recorded 1,035 home sales, according to real estate consultancy RCLCO. That made it the top-selling multigenerational master-planned community in the country for the eighth consecutive year. It’s not hard to see why. Located just east of I-75 between Sarasota and Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch offers easy access to world-famous Gulf beaches, Sarasota’s arts and dining scene, and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. You also get the space, newer construction, and thoughtful planning that older coastal neighborhoods often can’t match.
Maximizing your opportunity to sell your home is important in today’s market. Don’t forget about the way music can influence a person’s mood when they are in your home. Florida Realtors has put together the infographic below with some ideas to have your home sound just right.
Mortgage interest rates rose materially over the past 30 days. As of this week, the average U.S. rate for a 30‑year fixed mortgage is 7.4%, compared with 6.71% a month ago. That’s a jump of about $46 per $100,000 borrowed in monthly payments. We are getting closer to the long-term average rate of 7.68% than we have been in recent memory.
Relative to the long‑term average of 7.68%, today’s rates still offer some savings, roughly $19 less per month for every $100,000 borrowed. Rates are significantly higher than they were a year ago. Over the past 12 months, the average monthly payment on a $100,000 30‑year fixed mortgage has increased by about $80. For a borrower taking out the 2026 maximum conventional loan of $832,750, today’s payment would be approximately $680 more than it would have been in October 2025.
A backyard pool can feel like a private vacation spot, and in warm climates it’s often near the top of buyers’ wish lists. But a pool is also one of the biggest ongoing responsibilities a homeowner can take on. Whether you’re buying a home with a pool, thinking about adding one, or getting ready to sell, it helps to know what comes with the territory before you dive in.