Who's Buying in Southwest Florida? The 51% Surge

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.

Who’s buying in Florida right now, and what does it mean for Southwest Florida?

I recently came across some data that I found really interesting, and I wanted to share it with everyone, not just my folks here in Florida but around the country. Some of these numbers surprised me, and if you’re a buyer or seller in Southwest Florida, they should matter to you, too.

Where are people moving? The top five states with the most population growth in 2025 were South Carolina at number one, followed by Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, which ran close together, and then Arkansas and Tennessee.

On the other side, North Carolina topped the list, and I think part of that has to do with the hurricanes they dealt with recently, but it also ties into rising property values and affordability concerns. California came in second, followed by New York, Massachusetts, and Kansas.

Florida saw a 7% increase in 2025. Not a mass exodus from the state, nor an explosion. A solid, steady increase that tells you people are still choosing Florida.

The international buyer surge. Here’s where it gets really interesting for us. International home purchases in Florida jumped 51% from 2024 to 2025. I’ve always known international demand is strong here, but a 51% increase in one year shocked even me.

So who’s buying? The top five countries purchasing homes in Florida are: Canada leads the way at 18% of all international purchases. Colombia comes in at 10%, Brazil at 7%, and Argentina and the United Kingdom are neck and neck at around 5.5% to 6%.

Now let’s talk about what those buyers are actually spending. Canadians invested just under $2 billion in Florida real estate in 2025, specifically $1.9 billion. Colombian buyers spent $925 million. Brazil and Argentina came in around $650 million each. And Mexico rounds out the list at $500 million.

Where in Florida are they buying? About 45% of all international purchases happened in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area, which probably isn’t a surprise. Orlando came in next at about 15%. The Cape Coral and Fort Myers market, one of the areas I serve, accounted for about 10% of all international purchases statewide. Tampa and St. Pete came in around 7%, the Marco Island and Naples area (another market I serve) at 5%, and the North Port, Sarasota, and Venice area rounded things out at about 3.5% to 4%.

What this means for sellers. If you’ve been feeling like the market is a little soft, I get it. But hopefully this data helps put things in perspective. There are buyers out there, and specifically international buyers, who are purchasing homes here at a rapid pace. The demand is real, and it’s growing.

What this means for buyers. If you’re sitting on the fence, here’s something to think about. While you’re waiting, international buyers are snapping up opportunities. With interest rates coming down and inventory still higher than normal for our area, there are some really great opportunities available right now, and it might be time to get off that fence.

Whether you’re looking to buy or sell in Southwest Florida, I’m here to help. Give me a call at 1-239-444-6100, email me at cory@thecorylauergroup.com, or visit my blog at blog.thecorylauergroup.com. And remember, only the sunset covers Southwest Florida better.