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.
In August 2026, Sarasota County’s single-family home market held roughly steady from a year earlier, according to Florida Realtors data. There were 646 closed sales, up just 0.8% from August 2025, or about five more homes. New pending sales rose 1.1% to 665. That’s small growth, but it shows buyer activity is keeping pace with last year and not slowing heading into the fall.
In August 2026, Manatee County’s single-family home market grew over the prior year, according to Florida Realtors data. There were 687 closed sales, up 5.7% from August 2025. New pending sales, which show contracts signed during the month, rose 4.4% to 665. That points to steady buyer demand heading into the fall, since those contracts will close in the months ahead.
Not all home improvements are guaranteed to improve your home’s value by more than what you are investing. Here are some that Florida Realtors has identified as producing mixed returns.
