Facts and Figures | Estero Real Estate | Estero Florida 2022

What does the typical Florida home buyer or seller look like?

Each year, the National Association of Realtors does a deep dive into who’s buying and selling homes. The facts and figures about buyers and sellers in Florida included in the report offer insights into the Sunshine State’s unique housing market.

Here are some highlights from the latest report from 2021:

Characteristics of Florida homebuyers

• First-time buyers made up 21 percent of Florida home buyers, compared to 34 percent across the country.
• The typical buyer was 57 years old and had a median income of $95,900.
• Sixty-five percent of recent buyers were married couples, 18 percent were single females, eight percent were single males, and seven percent were unmarried couples.
• Eight percent of home buyers purchased a multi-generational home, to take care of aging parents, because of children over the age of 18 moving back home, for cost savings, and to spend more time with aging parents.
• Eighty-seven percent of recent home buyers identified as heterosexual, three percent as gay or lesbian, and one percent as bisexual.
• Twenty percent of recent home buyers are veterans and three percent are active-duty service members in Florida.
• At 24 percent, the primary reason for purchasing a home was the desire to own a home of their own.

Characteristics of Florida homes purchased

• Buyers of new homes made up 23 percent and buyers of previously owned homes made up 77 percent. Only 15 percent of buyers across the U.S. purchased new homes.
• In Florida, 33 percent of new home buyers were looking to avoid renovations and problems with plumbing or electricity and another 33 percent wanted the ability to choose and customize design features. Forty-four percent of previously owned homes were looking for a better overall value.
• Detached single-family homes continue to be the most common home type for recent buyers at 80 percent, followed by eight percent of buyers choosing townhomes or row houses.
• Twenty percent of Florida buyers bought senior related homes.
• There was a median of 41 miles between the homes that recent buyers purchased and the homes that they moved from. Across the U.S., it was 15 miles.
• Home prices increased significantly this year to a median of $310,000 among Florida buyers. Buyers typically purchased their homes for 100 percent of the asking price.
• The typical home that was recently purchased was 2,110 square feet, had three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and was built in 2002.
• Overall, buyers expect to live in their homes for a median of 15 years, while 42 percent say that they plan to live in their homes for 16 or more years.

The home search process

• For 43 percent of recent buyers, the first step that they took in the home buying process was to look online at properties for sale, while 20 percent of buyers first contacted a real estate agent.
• Recent buyers found their real estate agent to be the most useful information source, with 75 percent citing them as very useful, followed by mobile or tablet search devices at 54 percent.
• Buyers typically searched for eight weeks and looked at a median of eight homes, two of which were viewed solely online.
• In Florida, those who searched via desktop/laptop looked at 10 homes over eight weeks; those who searched via mobile devices looked at eight homes over eight weeks.
• Among buyers who used the internet during their home search, 80 percent of buyers found photos, and 80 percent also found detailed information about properties for sale very useful.
• Sixty-four percent of recent Florida buyers were very satisfied with their recent home buying process, with an additional 30 percent being satisfied.

Home buying and real estate professionals

• Eighty-seven percent of buyers recently purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker, and 10 percent purchased directly from a builder or builder’s agent.
• Having an agent to help them find the right home was what buyers wanted most when choosing an agent at 58 percent.
• Forty percent of buyers used an agent that was referred to them by a friend, neighbor, or relative and 12 percent used an agent that they had worked with in the past to buy or sell a home.
• Seventy-three percent of buyers interviewed only one real estate agent during their home search.
• Eighty-eight percent of buyers would use their agent again or recommend their agent to others.

Financing the home purchase

• Eighty percent of recent buyers in Florida financed their home purchase. Those who financed their home purchase typically financed 85 percent.
• First-time buyers who financed their home typically financed 94 percent of their home compared to repeat buyers at 81 percent.
• For 55 percent of buyers, the source of the downpayment came from their savings. Forty-two percent of buyers cited using the proceeds from the sale of a primary residence, which was the next most commonly reported way of securing a downpayment.
• Ten percent of buyers said saving for a downpayment was the most difficult step.
• In Florida, 27 percent had credit card debt, 19 percent cited high rent/current mortgage payment, and 18 percent reported having student loan debt.
• Buyers continue to see purchasing a home as a good financial investment. Eighty-nine percent reported they view a home purchase as a good investment.

Home sellers and their selling experience

• The typical home seller was 63 years old, with a median household income of $105,000.
• For all sellers, the most commonly cited reason for selling their home was the desire to move closer to friends and family (16 percent), followed by moving due to retirement (14 percent).
• Sellers typically lived in their home for eight years before selling.
• Eighty-eight percent of Florida home sellers worked with a real estate agent to sell their home.
• For recently sold homes, the final sales price was a median 100 percent of the final listing price.
• Recently sold homes were on the market for a median of two weeks.
• Twenty-four percent of all sellers offered incentives to attract buyers in Florida.
• This year, Florida home sellers cited that they sold their homes for a median of $87,500 more than they purchased it.
• Seventy-four percent of sellers were very satisfied with the selling process.

Home selling and real estate professionals

• Sixty-six percent of sellers found their agent through a referral from a friend, neighbor, or relative or used an agent they had worked with before to buy or sell a home.
• Seventy-seven percent of recent sellers contacted only one agent before finding the right agent they worked with to sell their home.
• Eighty-nine percent of sellers in Florida listed their homes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is the number one source for sellers to list their home.
• Eighty-three percent of sellers reported that they provided the agent’s compensation.
• The typical Florida seller has recommended their agent twice since selling their home. Forty percent of sellers recommended their agent three or more times since selling their home.
• Eighty-five percent said that they would definitely (73 percent) or probably (12 percent) recommend their agent for future services.

Click the blue button below to download the full report. If you are visually impaired and need assistance reading the report, please contact Erica Plemmons at 407.438.1400.