‘New normal.’ Latest report says Manatee County’s housing market is changing
There were fewer home sales in Manatee County in January compared to last year, according to a recent report.
The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee’s latest housing market report indicated home sales in both the single-family and condo/townhome sectors had a year-over-year decline.
The median sale price for condos and townhouses fell, while single-family home prices were relatively flat.
According to the report, closed sales for single-family homes declined 10.8% to 444 for January 2026 compared to January 2025. The median sale price increased slightly by 0.1% to $480,495.
Inventory is at a 4.6-month supply with active listings dropping 2.2% to 2,843.
Homes stayed on the market longer, according to the report, with the median time to contract hitting 58 days and reaching 105 days to close.
“As buyers and sellers evaluate their value propositions, we are seeing the market finding more of a balance and a feeling of confidence that we have settled into a more stable or ‘new normal’ market compared to the swings we saw over the past few years,” RASM president David Crawford said in a news release. “This benefits all parties and can be seen in the data with the decrease in active inventory and the increase in pending sales as we move into the spring season.”
Manatee County condos and townhome sales dipped 1.7% to 169, with the median price falling 9.2% to $305,000 year-over-year. There is a 7.2-month supply of condos and townhomes in Manatee County, with inventory dropping 4.8% to 1,631 units.
According to the report, those inventory numbers favor buyers.
The median time to contract was 65 days and the median time to close was 110 days in January compared to the same month in 2025.
Sarasota County homes
In Sarasota County, single-family homes saw 523 closed sales, which equated to a 0.6% increase over the previous year. The median sale price dropped 7.5% to $490,000. Inventory is at a 5.0-monthly supply with 3,444 active listings.
The monthly supply is considered balanced, meaning “buyers have more choice but not enough to force dramatic price cuts,” according to a news release.
Homes spent a median time under contract of 48 days and took 96 days to close.
In Sarasota County’s condo and townhome segment, closed sales ticked up 9.1% from the prior year with 264 recorded sales in January.
The median price dipped 9.5% to $314,175. The monthly supply reached 8.9 months with 2,449 available units. The median days to contract and sale were 66 and 110 days, respectively.
