I recently stumbled upon some vintage ads from the 1950s and ’60s about living and retiring in Florida. “We’ve found the recipe for happier living,” read one. Another was selling a 1,226-square-foot, three-bedroom home for just $70 a month. Another promoted Space Age Homes for only $2.18 a day.
At those prices, it’s easy to see why Florida was sold as the “Best Place Under the Sun.”
A lot has changed over the years, but I think that description still holds true. Last year, Florida was the fastest-growing state in the nation for the first time since 1957.
According to Zillow, Florida has surpassed New York as the second-most-valuable real estate market in the country. Big cities like Miami and Tampa have seen the most dramatic housing price increases, but statewide home prices have gone up every year since 1946. Today, the median sales price for single-family existing homes is about $415,000, a 2% increase from last year.
There is a lot of talk about billionaires buying up property and pushing home prices higher. Which in turn is pushing the middle class out of the state in search of fewer costs and people.
But our beautiful state is not just for the rich. There are still parts of the state where median home prices are in the $150,000 range. Small towns like Clewiston, Palatka, Port St. Lucie and Lakeland are garnering a lot of national attention for their charm and affordability.
As the state evolves, there is room for improvement to ensure it can be enjoyed by all. There’s been no shortage of conversation around the need for more affordable housing, higher wages and lower home insurance rates.
And, to keep our state great, we can’t lose sight of the importance of thoughtful development with an eye toward preserving critical agricultural land and protecting our coastal regions.
Long-term, successful growth in Florida requires that we protect and preserve land ownership both for those who have lived here for decades and those who are new to the Sunshine State. That’s how we maintain the fundamentals of what this state represents and how it entices others to move here.
Things change, but I look forward to seeing more ads about Florida still being the Best Place Under the Sun for the next generation too — recognizing they might be in digital format this time.
Brandon Tucker is the executive director of the Florida Landowners Association.
