May 5 Year Market Trend

Hi Neighbor,

Every year, the month of May tends to give us one of the clearest pictures of where the Florida housing market is heading.

And if you’ve been wondering whether now is a good time to buy, sell, or simply stay informed — history actually gives us some helpful clues.

Over the past 5 years, May has consistently been one of the busiest and most important months in real estate across Florida. But what’s interesting is how dramatically the market has changed from 2021 to 2026.

Here’s the simple breakdown 👇

🏡 May 2021: The Frenzy Market

Florida experienced one of the hottest housing markets in modern history.

• Mortgage rates were extremely low
• Buyers flooded the market
• Homes often received multiple offers within days
• Inventory hit record lows

In many Florida cities, home prices jumped over 20% year-over-year during this period.

Buyers were waiving inspections, bidding far over asking price, and competing aggressively just to get under contract.

📈 May 2022: Rates Changed Everything

As mortgage rates started rising quickly, affordability became a major concern.

Even though buyer demand remained strong:
• Monthly payments increased sharply
• Some buyers paused their search
• Competition slowly began cooling

Florida prices were still rising, but the market started shifting away from the “anything goes” environment of 2021.

⚖️ May 2023: The Market Began Normalizing

By 2023, buyers became much more payment-conscious.

Florida inventory started improving in many areas, especially:
• Condos
• Coastal communities
• Higher-priced markets

Homes stayed on the market longer compared to the frenzy years, and negotiations slowly returned.

This is when financing strategy started mattering more than simply chasing the lowest rate.

🏘️ May 2024: More Balance Returned

In 2024, Florida saw:
• More active listings
• Increased seller concessions
• More price reductions
• Longer average days on market

Some areas of Florida began looking much more balanced between buyers and sellers.

At the same time, strong demand still remained for:
✅ Move-in-ready homes
✅ Affordable price points
✅ Well-located single-family homes

📊 May 2025–2026: A More Strategic Market

The Florida market today looks very different than it did in 2021.

We’re seeing:
• Higher inventory levels in many counties
• Buyers negotiating closing costs and rate buydowns
• Slower price appreciation
• More selective buyer behavior

In some Florida condo markets, inventory has risen significantly due to:
• HOA reserve requirements
• Insurance increases
• Rising ownership costs

Meanwhile, many single-family neighborhoods continue to hold value relatively well because Florida still has long-term population growth and housing demand.

💡 So What Does History Tell Us About May?

Historically, May is still one of the strongest housing months of the year in Florida because:
• More homes hit the market
• Families move before the school year
• Buyer activity peaks during spring and early summer

But today’s market is no longer driven by panic buying.

It’s being driven by strategy.

And that’s important.

The buyers who tend to do best right now are the ones who:
✔ Understand their true monthly payment
✔ Structure financing correctly
✔ Negotiate strategically
✔ Prepare before making offers

Not necessarily the buyers chasing the absolute lowest interest rate.

If you’ve been thinking about buying, refinancing, investing, or simply wanting to understand your options in today’s Florida market, I’d be happy to help walk you through what makes sense for your situation.

Education first. Strategy always.

Delilah Goodman
Mortgage Loan Officer | NMLS #2733702
O: (434) 623-9286
C: (786) 431-8139
[email protected]
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