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Florida condo market in “uncharted territory”

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Florida condo market in “uncharted territory”


Condo prices are plummeting across Florida as homeowners flood the market with new inventory in a last-ditch attempt to escape rising fees on their units, according to new Redfin data.

Eight out of the 10 U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest share of condos sold below their original list price in February were in the Sunshine State, a report showed, with Miami topping the list. A staggering 92.5 percent of condo owners in the South Florida city fetched less than they were hoping for when selling their units.

Why It Matters

Rising homeowners insurance costs and homeowner association (HOA) fees across the country have slowed down the condo market at the national level. In February, 68.4 percent of U.S. condos sold for less than their original asking price, up from 63.3 percent a year earlier.

The situation is particularly severe in Florida, where a new building safety law requiring regular inspections and reserve funds for repairs on aging condos three or more stories tall is bringing up fees beyond what many can afford.

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What To Know

Redfin analyzed 52 metros that had at least 100 condo sales in February and found that Miami had the highest share of homes sold below the original list price, at 92.5 percent. Condos in the city sold for 8.7 percent less than their original asking prices.

Six other Florida cities followed: Fort Lauderdale (92.1 percent), West Palm Beach (91.1 percent), Cape Coral (90.4 percent), Jacksonville (89.8 percent), North Port (87 percent) and Tampa (86.7 percent).

Dallas, Texas, had the eighth-highest share of condos selling for less than their original asking price, at 85.7 percent. It was followed by Orlando, Florida, at 84.8 percent and Houston, Texas, at 84.3 percent.

An aerial view of Miami on September 29, 2021.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

In almost all the Florida cities listed in the top 10, with the exception of Miami and Jacksonville, the median original list price of a home had dropped in February compared to a year earlier.

In Miami, the median original list price in February was $450,000, up 7.9 percent year over year. In Fort Lauderdale, it was $257,000, down 3 percent year over year. In West Palm Beach, it was $290,000, down 4.1 percent. In Cape Coral, it was $339,000, down 5.7 percent. In North Port, it was $341,997, down 11.2 percent. In Tampa, it was $249,000, down 6 percent. In Orlando, it was $238,710, down 0.5 percent.

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In Jacksonville, the median original list price of a condo was $287,900, up 3.2 percent from February 2024.

In Fort Lauderdale, condos sold for an average 11.3 percent less in February than a year earlier; in West Palm Beach, for 12.3 percent less; in Cape Coral, for 10.3 percent less; in Jacksonville, for 8.3 percent less; in North Port, for 9.4 percent less; in Tampa, for 10 percent less; and in Orlando, for 9.2 percent less.

What People Are Saying

Tim Harper, a Redfin Premier real estate agent in the Orlando metro area, said in a statement: “The Florida condo market is in uncharted territory. We’re seeing a massive influx of condo inventory because a lot of senior citizens on fixed incomes can no longer afford their monthly payments, and a lot of other condo owners just want to move because they’re tired of dealing with rising HOA fees and special assessments.”

Alison Williams, a Redfin Premier agent from Sacramento, California, said: “Oh condos. Poor condos. HOA dues are just going up and up and up, primarily because insurance costs for homeowners associations are going up. When you buy a $400,000 condo, it often means paying a $500 monthly HOA fee, so for many people, it’s not really that affordable anymore. Some buyers are looking to small single-family homes instead because there’s no HOA.”

Asad Khan, a Redfin senior economist, said: “The good news if you’re a prospective condo buyer is that sale prices are now falling in some areas, and sellers are offering up concessions, meaning you might be able to get a good deal. If you’ve been priced out of owning a condo, know that rents are hovering below their pandemic highs thanks to an apartment building boom, so renters may also find success asking for concessions.”

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What Happens Next

While the U.S. condo market is slowing down across the country because of growing inventory, elevated prices and stubbornly high mortgage rates are dampening demand, meaning Florida is facing something of a crisis.

Many of the units for sale on the market are struggling to find interested buyers, and inventory piling up on the market is forcing sellers to considerably slash prices. The crisis building in Florida threatens to destroy the state’s reputation as a haven for retirees and snowbirds.



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Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold named in Florida court filing

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Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold named in Florida court filing


Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was named in a Florida court order that is connected to a robbery and kidnapping case. Court records show that the robbery and kidnapping were allegedly orchestrated by 23-year-old Boakai Hilton, by an associate of Arnold, in retaliation for two robberies that happened at an Airbnb Arnold was renting in Largo.



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Video: Injured Florida manatee rescued by authorities, receiving medical care at ZooTampa

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Video: Injured Florida manatee rescued by authorities, receiving medical care at ZooTampa


An injured manatee and her calf are recovering after authorities on a boat rescued them from the Orange River near Fort Myers on Thursday.

What we know:

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The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said its Marine Unit, Advanced Technology Support Unit, drone pilots and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped in saving the pair after the mother was found hurt in the water and in need of medical attention.

READ: Missing Florida man found stuck in mud without food or water for days: PFD

Video shows authorities pulling the frantic manatees safely onto the boat in netting before taking them to shore.

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Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Office

Both animals will be taken to ZooTampa for evaluation and medical care.

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What we don’t know:

LCSO did not say the extent of the mother’s injuries.

By the numbers:

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As of Feb. 20, there have been 85 manatee deaths across Florida in 2026, according to the FWC. Last year reportedly saw a total of 632 manatee deaths.

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Earlier this month, the FWC began investigating a spike in manatee deaths, specifically in Lee County, where officials say 25 were found dead within a week.

READ: FWC investigating spike in manatee deaths over the past week

The FWC believes these manatee deaths could be from several factors: cold stress, a lack of seagrass and polluted waterways.

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The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FloridaManateesZooTampa



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Cuba says 4 killed after speedboat from Florida opened fire in Cuban waters

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Cuba says 4 killed after speedboat from Florida opened fire in Cuban waters


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HAVANA (Reuters) – Four people were killed and seven others were wounded on Feb. 25 after a speedboat from Florida entered Cuban waters and opened fire on Cuban forces, who returned fire, Cuba’s Interior Ministry said.

All four dead were aboard the Florida-based speedboat, and another six were injured, Cuba said. In addition, the Cuban commander of border patrol boat was wounded, Cuba said.

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The wounded foreign attackers were evacuated and received medical attention, Cuba said.

The incident took place amid heightened tension between Cuba and the United States, which has blocked virtually all oil shipments to the island, increasing pressure on the Communist-run government. American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Jan. 3, removing a key Cuban ally from power.

“Faced with the current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in safeguarding its sovereignty and stability in the region,” the Cuban statement said.

Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Havana.



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