5 Reasons People Keep Buying in Southwest Florida

By Cory Lauer

Originally from central Ohio, Cory graduated from the University of Mount Union in 1999 and moved to Southwest Florida. In 2001, he launched his real estate career, earning “Rookie of the Year” at a top local firm before opening his own brokerage in 2004.

Why are people still buying homes in Florida? If you follow the national headlines, you might think the market is cooling everywhere. The reality here in Southwest Florida tells a very different story, though, and the reasons go a lot deeper than good weather and no state income tax.

I recently shared some data on the states people are leaving and where they’re headed, along with how strong international buyer activity has been here in Florida. I wanted to take it a step further this time and break down five reasons people keep choosing to buy here.

1. International buyers make up a huge share of Florida’s market. Nationally, only about 5% of all home sales involve international buyers. Here in Florida, we’re north of 50%. We are one of the largest destinations in the country for international real estate purchases, and demand continues to grow.

2. Foreign investors see Florida as a strong long-term play. International buyers aren’t just purchasing vacation homes. They’re investing for the long term, and they’re willing to pay for it. The median purchase price for a home in Florida hovers around $390,000, but international buyers are paying $60,000 to $70,000 above that. They see value here that goes beyond a place to visit.

3. Tourism drives the state’s economy in ways most people don’t realize. Florida welcomed over 158,000 out-of-state visitors in 2024, generating roughly $135 billion in tourism. And it’s not just hotels and restaurants benefiting from those numbers. The money moves through the entire economy, fueling the housing market, job growth, and infrastructure investment across the state.

4. Tourism tax revenue saves every Florida household money. Travel and tourism generated billions in state and local taxes in 2024. Without those dollars coming in, each Florida household would be responsible for an additional $2,500 in annual taxes. It’s one of the biggest reasons Florida remains so attractive to buyers from other states, and most people have no idea how much tourism actually offsets their cost of living.

5. All of this adds up to sustained demand. When you combine strong international buyer activity, long-term investment confidence, a record-setting tourism economy, and the financial benefits that flow to residents, the picture is clear. Florida’s market is being fueled by forces that aren’t going away anytime soon.

If you’ve been thinking about making a move, whether you’re buying your first home, selling a property, or exploring investment opportunities, the data says now is a great time to pay attention. Reach out to me anytime at 1-239-444-6100, email cory@thecorylauergroup.com, or visit my blog at blog.thecorylauergroup.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

And don’t forget, only the sunset covers Southwest Florida better.