Palm Beach County Market Report – February 2026

Palm Beach County Real Estate Market Update

As we move through the first quarter of the year, the real estate market across Palm Beach County continues to evolve. While national headlines often suggest a slowing housing market, South Florida remains unique due to continued migration, strong seasonal demand, and a large number of cash buyers.

Here’s what we’re seeing locally.

Florida Is Not Following National Trends

Nationally, existing home sales declined heading into 2026 as affordability challenges and higher mortgage rates slowed activity in many parts of the country.

Florida, however, has been performing differently.

Single-family home sales in Florida are up nearly 6% year-over-year, and condo sales have increased for five consecutive months. Pending sales have also risen for six straight months, showing that buyers remain active across the state.

Mortgage rates have stabilized and many buyers are beginning to adjust to what has become the new normalfor financing.

Palm Beach County Market Conditions

Palm Beach County has experienced a noticeable shift over the past couple of months.

At the start of the year, homes under $1 million were largely in a seller’s market, while higher price points were leaning toward a buyer’s market. As more inventory has entered the market, nearly all price ranges have moved toward a more balanced or buyer-leaning market.

This shift has been driven primarily by increased supply.

Many homeowners who pulled listings off the market last year when conditions became more challenging are now returning as activity picks up again this season.

At the same time, cash buyers represent roughly 50% of all transactions in Palm Beach County, continuing to support demand.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers

Today’s market is becoming more balanced.

For sellers, increased competition means pricing, presentation, and marketing strategy are more important than ever.

For buyers, the increase in inventory provides more choices and greater negotiating opportunities than we’ve seen over the past few years.

This represents a shift away from the urgency of the pandemic-era market and toward a more typical real estate environment.

Seasonal Trends and Looking Ahead

South Florida real estate is heavily influenced by seasonality.

Last year we experienced a very strong first quarter followed by a noticeable slowdown as we moved into the summer months. As we approach the end of this year’s seasonal peak, it remains to be seen whether that same pattern will repeat.

Several broader factors could influence the market in the months ahead, including global events, rising gas prices, and typical seasonal slowdowns. At the same time, continued migration to Florida, a strong snowbird season following a difficult northern winter, and a large number of cash buyers could continue to support demand.

The Bottom Line

The Palm Beach County real estate market is not declining — it is normalizing.

Buyers now have more options, sellers face more competition, and strategy matters more than it has in several years.