Florida Is Still Attracting New Residents in 2026
Florida Newcomers Bring a Stronger Homebuying Profile
Florida’s migration boom may have cooled from its pandemic-era peak, but the people continuing to move to the state could have a stronger position in the housing market.
According to the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2026 Florida Business & Economic Mid-Year Report, people relocating to Florida from other states tend to earn more, are older and are more likely to already own a home than those leaving the state.
That creates an important dynamic for Florida real estate: slower migration does not necessarily mean weaker housing demand.
Newcomers Show Stronger Financial Profiles
The differences between people moving into and out of Florida are notable.
Among domestic newcomers:
- 53% were homeowners, compared with 42% of people leaving Florida.
- Average income was $41,038, compared with $37,198 among those moving out.
- 47% held at least a bachelor’s degree.
These characteristics suggest that some of the people continuing to choose Florida may have greater purchasing power and existing experience with homeownership.
For real estate professionals, understanding who is moving to Florida—not just how many people are moving— can provide valuable insight into future buyer demand.
Florida Housing Is Moving Into a Gradual Recovery
The migration data comes as Florida’s single-family housing market shows signs of improvement.
Florida Realtors data cited by the report showed single-family home sales increased year over year for 10 consecutive months through June.
Florida Realtors Chief Economist Brad O’Connor described the market as having moved from normalization into a “gradual recovery,” characterized by slow and sustainable improvement.
This is important because Florida’s housing market has been navigating affordability pressures, elevated borrowing costs and changing migration patterns.
Rather than a sudden boom, the current environment appears to be developing through gradual improvements in sales and buyer activity.
International Migration Is Now Driving Most Growth
One of the biggest changes in Florida’s migration story is where new residents are coming from.
Florida gained a net 551 residents per day in 2025, the second-highest total in the country behind Texas. However, that figure was considerably below the state’s 2022 peak of 1,640 residents per day.
More importantly, international migration accounted for 89% of Florida’s net migration in 2025, while domestic migration represented only 11%.
That marks a major shift from the earlier pandemic-era period when domestic migration was a much larger contributor to Florida’s population growth.
For Florida Real Estate
International buyers and relocating households can bring different purchasing motivations to the market, including:
Primary residences and relocation
Second homes and vacation properties
Investment opportunities
Condos and urban properties
Long-term wealth-building opportunitiesFor Florida agents, this makes international and relocation marketing increasingly important.
Migration Trends Vary Significantly Across Florida
Florida’s statewide numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Some counties continue to experience strong population gains, while others are seeing population losses.
Polk County gained a net 62 residents per day in 2025, followed by Pasco County at 55 and Marion County at 47.
Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County lost a net 49 residents per day, as domestic population losses outweighed international gains.
This reinforces an important real estate lesson:
Florida is not one single housing market.
Migration, inventory, pricing and buyer demand can look very different from one county—or even one neighborhood—to another.
What This Means for South Florida Buyers and Sellers
For South Florida, the migration story is particularly nuanced.
Miami-Dade may be experiencing domestic population losses, but international migration continues to contribute to the area’s population growth. At the same time, the broader Florida housing market is showing improving sales activity.
For buyers, this means opportunities can exist even in a market where demand isn’t uniform.
For sellers, understanding where buyers are coming from, what they can afford and what motivates their move can help create a more effective marketing strategy.
For Sellers, Local Expertise Matters
A successful listing strategy should consider:
Local inventory and comparable sales
Domestic and international buyer demand
Property type and price point
Neighborhood-level migration trends
Digital marketing that reaches relocating buyersThis is particularly relevant for properties positioned toward buyers relocating to South Florida from other states or countries.
The Bigger Picture
Florida’s migration story is changing—but it isn’t disappearing.
The state’s population growth has slowed significantly from the extraordinary levels seen during 2020–2022. Yet the people who continue choosing Florida may have stronger incomes, higher rates of existing homeownership and significant purchasing experience.
At the same time, international migration has become the dominant source of Florida’s net population growth.
That combination could continue influencing the state’s housing market, particularly in areas with strong employment, lifestyle amenities and international appeal.
For South Florida buyers and sellers, Laura Graves Real Estate can provide local market insight and help connect migration trends with real opportunities across Miami-Dade and the surrounding market.
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