Florida Emerges as Second-Most Valuable U.S. Housing Market, Overtaking New York

In a recent study conducted by Zillow, it has been revealed that Florida has surpassed New York to claim the position of the second most valuable housing market in the United States. This significant shift reflects the changing dynamics of the U.S. real estate landscape.

Over the past year, the total value of the U.S. housing market has witnessed remarkable growth, surpassing $2.6 trillion. This robust expansion defied earlier predictions of a prolonged downturn, which some anticipated due to the impact of higher borrowing costs. The unexpected resilience in housing values can be attributed to various factors, including a persistent low supply of homes and the lock-in effect, which has led existing mortgage borrowers to hold onto their low-cost loans. These factors, in combination, have propelled national home prices to reach new historic highs.

However, it’s important to note that these gains have not been uniformly distributed across the country. For instance, California, which constitutes approximately one-fifth of the U.S. housing market, has witnessed price declines since June 2022. In contrast, Florida has experienced a notable increase in the total value of residential properties, amounting to $160 billion during the same period. This surge has propelled the Sunshine State ahead of New York in the national rankings.

Orphe Divounguy, a senior economist at Zillow, commented on this phenomenon, stating, “Despite the presence of higher mortgage rates, which deterred some home shoppers and kept many existing homeowners on the sidelines, enough buyers remained to keep the market moving.”

The real estate boom in Florida has also had a significant impact on the ranking of metropolitan housing markets. Miami, in particular, has seen remarkable growth, ascending to the fifth-largest metropolitan housing market. This climb represents a significant jump from its ninth position in May 2021, surpassing cities such as Washington, D.C. and others.

Furthermore, the study identifies eight U.S. metropolitan areas where the combined valuation of housing stock exceeds $1 trillion. Miami, in particular, has witnessed a staggering increase of more than 80% in home values since the onset of the pandemic. This trend is not limited to Miami alone; cities like Tampa and Jacksonville have also experienced property value surges of over 80%, while Orlando has recorded an increase of more than 70%. Zillow attributes this rapid price growth in Florida to substantial population growth within the state, a trend that has fueled the demand for housing and driven up property values.