When prospective buyers browse online or drive by in person, the first thing they notice is your home’s curb appeal. It immediately signals how well the property has been maintained and shapes their expectations before they ever step inside. That’s why investing in thoughtful outdoor updates before listing is essential. Here are five impactful improvements to prioritize.
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.
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.
Florida Realtors has put together the infographic below with questions you should consider asking your home builder before making the decision.
Florida Realtors has put together the infographic below showing insights from buyers on what they are looking for in homes.
