Following a notable surge in pending sales at the end of December 2025, January saw a robust start, marking the highest number of contracts signed for any January since 2022. The inventory of homes available in the Sarasota Real Estate Market declined by 9% compared to January 2025. With the busiest closing months approaching, these figures suggest that the housing market is set for an energetic season ahead.
Early indications for February 2026 also show a significant increase in pending sales and easing of new listings, leading us to believe that despite recent macro-economic and geopolitical disruptions, those buyers, many of whom sat on the sidelines after last year’s hurricane events, are moving forward with their plans to purchase.
Showings of listings in the upper segment of the market, where most of my sales happen, have been strong. Buyers who have contacted me over the past few years are now ready to take action – whether moving into our region, local residents seeking updated homes or condos, or people adjusting their lifestyle by choosing a new community or type of property. Confidence among high-net-worth buyers and sellers remains positive, as these individuals generally consider real estate a long-term capital strategy, less affected by short-term economic fluctuations.
One significant change is that purchasers are becoming increasingly more analytical, pressing sellers to defend their pricing. Sellers, unused to this dynamic for years, must now approach their expectations with greater care and realism, bringing them more in line with the views of buyers.
Short-term speculations led to increased volatility and significant market changes during 2024 and 2025. This year, market experts anticipate a more balanced, intentional, and disciplined approach to real estate decisions. The several new luxury condominiums under construction in our area are expected to boost both sales and average prices in this segment through next year.
A significant change emerging amongst high-end buyers is their age. Not long ago, nearly all of my high-end clients were retired or close to retirement. Now, there are more younger buyers who have inherited large estates and are choosing to downsize their main residences, while investing in second or third homes. This trend is supported by financial experts discussing the “Great Wealth Transfer,” where baby boomers are passing on assets – often real estate – to their heirs. New remote work opportunities are enabling greater flexibility for family lifestyles, which are also influencing home ownership decisions.
Younger wealthy buyers are said to be seeking communities and homes that support health, productivity, personal expression and creativity, entrepreneurial ventures, privacy but not seclusion. With these priorities, Sarasota is well positioned to welcome these younger affluent consumers.
As this next generation of buyers will be shaping markets for years to come, including the trend in homeowners staying put for 12 years – double 20 years ago – is expected to also change, leading to more transactions at virtually all price points.
In the moderate segment between $300-600,000, the Sarasota Real Estate Market had strong sales in January. The pace of new listings fell behind prior year, but as discussed in last month’s report, I remain hopeful that this much needed price point for first-time homeowners and our professional workforce remains steady. Last month mortgage rates fell below 6% for the first time since September 2022, helping aspiring buyers move forward with their plans to purchase a home.
In today’s ever-fluid real estate market, the value of partnering with a highly experienced, locally as well as globally connected agent/broker, and skilled advocate cannot be overstated.
Having served clients in The Sarasota Real Estate Market for over 40 years and carefully analyzing our business conditions, I have developed essential insight to assist both buyers and sellers in achieving their objectives.
Please reach out if you are considering selling your property or buying another – it would be my pleasure to meet with you to discuss your plans. With an understanding of the realities, the ability to evaluate and guide client expectations, and expert management in negotiating the purchase or sale of a home or condo, I ensure that your objectives are realized.
Below is a snapshot using data compiled by the Florida Association of Realtors showing January 2026 existing market activity for properties over $1 Million compared to prior year
And now for my statistical report on the January 2026 Sarasota Real Estate Market activity:
Sales
- Total market dollar volume in January was $509.8 million which decreased by $60 million from a year ago.
- The number of properties sold was 787, which was 25 more than a year ago. The monthly average for properties sold last year was 1,006, in 2024 it was 912, and in 2023 it was 953.
- Florida’s single-family sales increased 5.9% from last year, and condo sales were 5.1% above last year.
- U.S. sales of single-family homes declined 4.3% and condos were down 5.0%.
- Of the closed sales in January 104 were over $1,000,000. Six of those properties were sold for over $5,000,000. Last year the monthly average was 116, in 2024 it was 124, and during 2023 the average was 126 sales. As noted in my report, with the delivery of several large luxury condo developments this year and next, I expect closed sales in the upper tiers to grow.
- Florida homes sold for more than $1 million were 15.4% higher than January 2025 and condos closed at over $1 million rose 44.4%.
- In January 1,194 listings went to a pending contract, an increase of 277 transactions from a year ago. 2025 averaged 961 pending sales per month. There was an average of 860 monthly pending transactions in 2024 and 1,159 per month in 2023.
- Florida’s single-family pending sales increased 15.2% and condominiums rose 16.9% compared to last year.
- U.S. pending sales in January were 1.2% behind a year ago.
Prices
- Single-family homes were sold at a median price of $490,000. The average monthly median price for houses sold last year was $473,000. The average monthly median price for 2024 was $505,500 and in 2023 it was $510,000.
- In January, Florida median price for single-family homes was $405,000, a decrease of 1.2% from last year.
- The national median price for existing homes grew 0.6% to $400,300.
- The condominium median sale price in Sarasota was $314,000. In 2025 the average monthly median price for condos sold was $510,000. The average monthly median price for condominiums sold in 2024 was 382,000 and in 2023 it was $387,400.
- The median price for a Florida condominium in January was $517,574, a 5.2% increase over prior year.
- U.S. median condominium price grew 3.8% to $364,600.
- Sarasota houses sold on average for $724,000 for the month. The annual monthly average was $684,000 last year, $695,000 in 2023 and 2022 $683,000.
- Condominiums sold for an average price of $496,000 last month. The annual monthly average was $510,000 in 2025, $622,500 in 2023 and in 2022 $563,000.
Inventory
- At the end of January there were 5,893 properties for sale in Sarasota – 582 fewer than prior year. At the beginning of 2025 there were 5,442 listings for sale, 4,426 in 2024 and 2,431 in 2023.
- The Sarasota market had 1,919 new listings in January, 382 fewer than January 2025. The market averaged 1,131 new listings monthly last year, 1,391 in 2024 and 1,318 in 2023.
- Inventory at the end of January resulted in 5 months of single-family homes for sale in Sarasota and 8.9 months of supply of condominiums.
- Florida currently has 5.2 months of single-family inventory and 9.7 months’ supply of condominiums.
- U.S. inventory of existing single-family homes has grown 7.8% compared to last year, and condominium inventory is down 24.2.
