Florida Realtors has put together the infographic below with questions you should consider asking your home builder before making the decision.
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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.
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Buyer Insights
Florida Realtors has put together the infographic below showing insights from buyers on what they are looking for in homes.
The December 2025 single-family home market in Sarasota County shows mixed signals: closed sales rose 18% year-over-year to 711, while the median sale price fell 8.3% to $485,000, indicating more activity at the lower end of the market. Active inventory decreased 5.7% to 3,211, and new listings dropped sharply 19% to 748, even as new pending sales inched up 1.6% to 524. Cash sales declined to 38.7% of closed transactions from 44.0% a year earlier.
The December 2025 single-family home market in Manatee County shows modest cooling compared with a year earlier. Closed sales fell to 612, a 5.6% decline year-over-year, while median sale price remained essentially flat.
Supply and market composition shifted slightly toward more choices for buyers. Active inventory rose to 2,687, up 6.7%, and new listings dipped marginally to 724 (down 1.5%), indicating more homes were available overall even as fresh supply slowed a touch. Cash sales made up 30.2% of closed transactions, a small decline from 31.5% a year ago, and new pending sales edged down 1.6% to 493, pointing to slightly softer buyer urgency.