SWFL Real Estate: Third Quarter 2026 Report
September 08, 2026 / RERI Research Team
Southwest Florida Real Estate Third Quarter 2026 Report
During the second quarter of 2026, the residential market in Southwest Florida continued to adjust in the post-pandemic and post-hurricane environment. Single-family home sales increased 14 percent compared to one year earlier, rising to 5,600 sales, while condominium sales increased 17 percent year-over-year to 1,320 sales. Real median prices continued to soften across major residential categories, with single-family home prices falling 4 percent and condominium prices declining 8 percent in Q2 2026 compared to Q2 2025. The percentage of total housing units listed as active across Southwest Florida was estimated at 2.72 percent in Q2 2026, down from 3.03 percent in the previous quarter and down from 3.38 percent one year earlier.
Housing affordability remained mixed in Q2 2026 as measured by the Housing Affordability Index. All residential HAI values remained above 1.0 in the three coastal counties and increased from last year, with Collier at 1.08, Lee at 1.35, and Charlotte at 1.49. However, first-time homebuyer affordability remained below 1.0 in each coastal county. Single-family home affordability also saw modest year-over-year improvements, although Collier’s single-family HAI remained below 1.0 at 0.87, compared with 1.30 in Lee and 1.32 in Charlotte. Real median rents continued to decline year-over-year across the three coastal counties in Q2 2026, falling 7 percent in Charlotte, 6 percent in Collier, and 9 percent in Lee.
In the commercial sector, sales volume was mixed by property type in Q2 2026. Retail property sales increased 22 percent from one year earlier, while office sales declined 6 percent, and entertainment transactions increased by 40 percent. At the regional level, real median prices per square foot increased year-over-year for retail and office properties, rising 18 percent and 16 percent, respectively, while entertainment property prices declined 18 percent.
Other findings from the latest report include:
- In Q2 2026, single-family home sales increased 14 percent year-over-year to 5,600 sales, while condominium sales increased 17 percent to 1,320 sales.
- Real median prices in Southwest Florida continued to decline in Q2 2026, with single-family home prices falling 4 percent and condominium prices declining 8 percent from Q2 2025.
- The Housing Affordability Index (HAI) for all residential properties showed year-over-year gains across all three coastal counties in Q2 2026, with improvements ranging between 4 and 21 percent over Q2 2025.
- In the second quarter of 2026, retail property sales increased 22 percent, office sales declined 6 percent, and entertainment property transactions increased 40 percent compared to Q2 2025.
Downloads:
Southwest Florida Real Estate Third Quarter 2026 Report
Acknowledgments:
This report is the product of a collaborative effort between the Regional Economic Research Institute and the Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development and Finance. We would like to thank the various property appraiser offices for providing the data that made this analysis possible.
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