Florida’s real estate market faces uncertainty. While prices rose significantly during the pandemic, fueled by migration and low interest rates, experts predict a potential slowdown. Inventory remains low in many areas, but rising mortgage rates are impacting affordability and demand.

Key Facts & Figures:

* Median home prices in Florida increased substantially from 2020-2023.
* Rising interest rates (above 7% as of late 2023) are cooling buyer demand.
* Inventory levels are still below pre-pandemic norms, but are increasing in some markets.
* Property insurance costs are a significant concern, deterring some buyers.
* Migration to Florida, while still positive, has slowed compared to peak pandemic years.
* Some experts predict price stabilization or modest corrections in specific areas, while others forecast continued, albeit slower, growth.
* Affordability is a major challenge, especially for first-time homebuyers.

I don’t know where April went, but we’re at the end of it, and 2025 is 1/3 over. The future sure quickly becomes the past. In the book “1984” George Orwell observed, “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” What does that have to with today, or with residential lending? There’s no problem if there’s no one to research it, report on it in the news, or write about it, right? Of course, weather, which is related to the world’s climate, impacts servicers, insurance companies, and lenders. In this case, the Trump Administration has fired the entire U.S. climate panel: What it means for future research? The recent decision of the Trump administration to dismiss 400 authors of the National Climate Assessment will impact climate research and sideline people from knowing the impacts of climate change. Don’t forget that, a few months ago, hundreds of federal NOAA employees, including weather forecasters, were fired as part of DOGE cuts, as reported by Fox. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week is sponsored by CreditXpert, the credit optimization platform that helps today’s top mortgage originators and more than 60,000 mortgage professionals qualify more applicants, make more competitive offers, reduce LLPA premiums and close more loans. Hear an interview with LendingTree’s Matt Schulz on the most attractive states for out-of-state home shoppers.) Software, Products, and Services for Lenders and Brokers