Categories
Home Buying Home Selling Real Estate

Sarasota County Single-Family Home Market Update

Sarasota County’s single‑family home market in January 2026 showed mixed activity: closed sales were essentially flat, rising 0.6% to 523 transactions, while new pending sales jumped 16% to 803, suggesting renewed buyer interest coming prior to the end of our busy season. At the same time, new listings fell sharply 20% to 1,166 and active inventory declined 14% to 3,444, indicating fewer homes coming to market and tighter available supply. The share of cash sales eased to 45.5% from 49.4% a year earlier, pointing to a modest reduction in all‑cash purchases.

Pricing dynamics diverged from activity: the median sale price slipped 7.5% year over year to $490,000, a notable softening that contrasts with the uptick in pending transactions. Taken together, the data paint a market with constrained supply and fewer new listings, some renewed buyer momentum as shown by pending sales, but downward pressure on prices, conditions that could give buyers more negotiating room even as demand shows signs of recovery. The infographic below from Florida Realtors contains more.

Categories
Home Buying Home Selling Real Estate

Manatee County Single-Family Home Market Update

Manatee County’s single‑family home market softened in January 2026, with several key indicators pointing to reduced activity compared to the previous year. Closed sales fell 11% to 444 transactions, and new listings dropped 9.2%, suggesting fewer homeowners are bringing properties to market. Active inventory also edged down 2.2%, indicating that supply remains relatively tight despite slower sales. Cash purchases made up 32.4% of all closings, slightly lower than last year’s 33.9%, showing a modest shift away from cash‑heavy buying.

Despite the cooling in sales volume, pricing remained essentially stable. The median sale price in January was $480,495, a slight 0.1% increase year over year, signaling that demand is still strong enough to support current price levels. One standout metric was new pending sales, which rose 17%, hinting at a potential rebound in buyer activity prior to the end of our busy season. Overall, the market reflects a mix of constrained supply, steady pricing, and early signs of renewed buyer engagement. The infographic below from Florida Realtors contains more.

Categories
Home Buying Mortgages Real Estate

Financing News

Home buyers are increasingly searching for ways to reduce their borrowing costs as existing‑home prices continue to climb, reaching a record national median of $396,800 in January. With affordability stretched (especially for first‑time buyers) many are turning to alternative lending structures that can offer initial rate relief.

Categories
Home Buying New Construction Real Estate

Thinking About Building?

Florida Realtors has put together the infographic below with questions you should consider asking your home builder before making the decision.

Categories
Home Buying Home Prices Home Selling Real Estate

The 2026 Market

Many economists expect the housing market to improve in 2026, though not enough to constitute a full rebound, but a new survey indicates that a growing number of real estate professionals are feeling more confident about what’s ahead. According to The Real Brokerage’s latest agent survey, conducted through January 9, agent optimism rose sharply at the end of 2025. Affordability remains the biggest obstacle, yet there are early signs that pressure is beginning to ease. That shift is essential for a broader recovery to take shape in 2026.