2026 Real Estate Outlook: Why It’s Time to Move | BHHS EWM Realty

The Great Reawakening: BHHS EWM Realty Market Report 2025 vs. 2026

If 2025 was the year of the "standoff," 2026 is shaping up to be the year of the "release."

For buyers, sellers, and investors in the South Florida real estate market, the transition between these two years represents a fundamental shift in psychology and economics. Drawing from recent market data and the luxury landscape analysis often championed by industry leaders like BHHS EWM Realty, we are seeing a distinct change in the tide.

2025: The Year of the "Lock-In"

Looking back, 2025 was defined by friction. It was a year where the desire to move was high, but the financial logic often didn’t add up.

1. The Inventory Standoff

For much of 2025, the market was paralyzed by the "lock-in effect." Homeowners sitting on sub-4% mortgage rates were unwilling to sell and trade up to rates hovering near 7%. This created a unique scarcity:

Low Resale Inventory: Move-up buyers stayed put, capping the supply of existing single-family homes.

Price Stickiness: Despite fewer transactions, prices didn’t plummet. Sellers held firm on 2022-era valuations, leading to expanded "Days on Market" without significant price drops.

2. The "Wait-and-See" Buyer

Buyers in 2025 were exhausted. Faced with high borrowing costs and stubborn asking prices, many opted to rent or delay purchases.

Luxury Leverage: The high-end market was one of the few sectors where inventory crept up. By late 2025, luxury buyers in Miami and Fort Lauderdale began to see a window of opportunity, gaining negotiating power for the first time in years.

2026: The Year of the "Rebound"

As we move deeper into 2026, the data suggests the dam is breaking. The "frozen" market is thawing, driven by a convergence of easing rates and lifestyle urgency.

1. The Rate Release

While we haven't returned to the near-zero rates of the pandemic, 2026 has brought stabilization.

Psychological Acceptance: Buyers have adjusted to the "new normal" of rates in the high 5% to low 6% range.

The Math Works Again: With rates moderating, the monthly payment shock has lessened, bringing first-time buyers and investors back to the table. Early Q1 2026 data indicates a double-digit surge in sales volume across South Florida compared to the same time in 2025.

2. A Surge in "Pragmatic Luxury"

BHHS EWM Realty reports often highlight shifting definitions of wealth. In 2026, luxury is less about status symbols and more about "lifestyle infrastructure."

Wellness & Tech: Buyers are prioritizing homes with integrated wellness spaces (saunas, cold plunges) and smart-home ecosystems over sheer square footage.

The International Return: 2025 saw a lull in foreign capital, but 2026 is seeing a resurgence of buyers from Latin America and Europe, capitalizing on a slightly weaker dollar and the stability of Florida real estate.

3. Inventory: Quality Over Quantity

Inventory is rising, but not evenly.

Condo Market Correction: Unlike the tight single-family market, the condo sector (particularly older buildings) is seeing higher inventory due to new association reserve requirements. This is creating a "buyer's market" in specific condo corridors, offering deals that didn't exist in 2025.

The "Ron Shuffield" Perspective: Finding Balance

Ron Shuffield, CEO of BHHS EWM Realty, frequently emphasizes the importance of pricing accuracy in a shifting market.

In 2025: The advice was patience. Sellers had to be warned that 2021 pricing was gone.

In 2026: The advice is strategy. With more inventory coming online, "aspirational pricing" is the enemy. Homes priced correctly are selling fast, often with multiple offers, while overpriced listings are lingering. The market has returned to a healthy balance—neither a manic boom nor a bust, but a sustainable flow of commerce.

The real estate market is undergoing a significant transition from the stagnation of 2025 into a more active environment in 2026. While 2025 was defined by hesitation and a "wait and see" approach, the dominant sentiment for 2026 has shifted to action, with buyers feeling it is finally "time to move."

This change is largely driven by mortgage rates. In 2025, rates were volatile and peaked near 7%, which kept buyer power low and priced many participants out of the market. The outlook for 2026 shows rates stabilizing and trending toward the high 5% range, resulting in moderate buyer power, more choices, and better overall affordability.

Inventory dynamics are also flipping. 2025 saw historically low inventory due to the "lock-in effect," where homeowners were unwilling to sell and lose their low legacy rates. In contrast, 2026 inventory is rising, fueled by a combination of new construction and sellers finally "unlocking" their properties.

Finally, the types of properties in demand are changing. While the hot segments in 2025 were rentals and renovations, the focus in 2026 is shifting toward turnkey luxury properties and new developments, as buyers regain the confidence to invest in finished products.

If you spent 2025 on the sidelines, 2026 is your invitation to enter the game. The "lock-in" is breaking, liquidity is returning, and for the first time in nearly two years, the South Florida market feels functional rather than frenzied.

Whether you are looking to acquire a pre-construction condo in Miami or a single-family estate in Coral Gables, the data supports making a move before the pent-up demand of the last 12 months fully absorbs the new inventory.

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