Quarterly Market Snapshot - June 2025
- marketing23466
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Dear Valued Property Owner,
We are pleased to provide you with our Quarter 2- June 2025 Market Snapshot, offering insights into the current real estate landscape and future projections for Southwest Florida. This analysis, prepared by our Broker, David Malt, who has over 50 years of experience in the local market, highlights key economic and housing trends affecting property investors in SWFL.
For your convenience, we have included a summary breakdown of David Malt’s insights. Our goal is to keep you informed and prepared, whether you are considering leasing, selling, or holding your investment.
This comprehensive report covers:
Storm recovery and preparedness—how recent hurricanes have reshaped our region and spurred resilience.
Multifamily and single-family trends—including new construction, pricing shifts, and rental demand.
Lee County rental market highlights—with powerful data on rent levels, vacancy, and rent affordability.
Population and migration changes—tracking who’s moving in (and out) and why
Our goal is to empower you with accurate and timely insights, helping you make informed decisions about leasing, selling, or holding your investment. Please review the attached report and feel free to reach out to discuss how these developments impact your property and long-term strategy
2025 Southwest Florida Market Snapshot
Prepared by David Malt | Broker, Malt Realty
Weathering the Storms: A Look at Resilience and Recovery
As we enter another hurricane season, it's important to reflect on the challenges our region has faced—and the progress we've made. Since Hurricane Ian struck on September 28, 2022, with devastating winds and a 15-foot storm surge at Fort Myers Beach, two more storms have impacted our area:
Hurricane Helene (Sept. 26, 2024): winds of 80–140 mph
Hurricane Milton (Oct. 9, 2024): winds of 60–80 mph and a 10-foot surge at Manasota Key
Recovery from these storms is ongoing, but the region is adapting. Cities and counties are investing in stronger infrastructure, flood prevention, and elevated construction. These improvements are becoming the new normal—especially in coastal and flood-prone areas.
The state launched grant-funded initiatives like Florida Build Back Stronger and Elevate Florida, aimed at helping residents fortify their homes. For example, the Elevate Florida grant covered up to 75% of home elevation and wind mitigation costs, with homeowners paying the rest. These programs were fully funded through April 11, 2025, after distributing $400 million to eligible applicants.
Multifamily Market: Balancing Supply and Demand
The Fort Myers multifamily housing market is experiencing a supply-and-demand mismatch. Over the past year, 2,800 rental units were leased, a strong improvement—but 4,100 new units were completed during the same period.
This has pushed the vacancy rate up to 16.4%, a 3% increase from last year. With 5,000 more units under construction, Fort Myers now has one of the fastest-growing rental markets in Florida, expanding at 13.7%, or nearly five times the national average.
Unfortunately, this oversupply has resulted in lower rent prices. Asking rents in Fort Myers are down 4.2% year-over-year, and that downward trend is likely to continue in the short term.
Single-Family Homes: More Listings, Lower Prices
The single-family housing market is showing signs of a correction. As of May 2025:
Active listings in Southwest Florida rose to 28,040, a 40% increase since March
The median home price in Fort Myers was $373,000, down 1.3% from April 2024
The average time on the market is now 71 days, compared to 50 days a year ago
Sales volume fell from 191 homes in April 2024 to 164 in April 2025
In Lee County, the median price per square foot dropped to $162, down 12% from this time last year. Higher mortgage rates, insurance costs, and lingering storm repair expenses have made buyers more cautious and selective.
Population Growth: Slowing but Still Strong
After several years of explosive growth, Fort Myers is seeing a slowdown in new residents. From July 2022 to July 2023, the city added 12,200 residents, a sharp drop from 31,500 the year before. As a result, Fort Myers is no longer among the top 10 fastest-growing areas in Florida.
This slowdown may be partly due to the impact of Hurricane Ian. Still, the city remains a popular relocation destination:
Between February and April 2025, over 3,300 people from Miami searched for homes in Fort Myers—more than from any other metro
Other inbound markets include Chicago and New York
People leaving Fort Myers are mostly relocating to Sarasota, Knoxville (TN), and Greenville (SC)
Key Takeaway
Despite the challenges from multiple hurricanes and market shifts, Southwest Florida remains resilient and desirable. Growth is stabilizing, and both public and private sectors are working to future-proof the region. Owners should be prepared for a more competitive rental market and longer listing timelines, while keeping an eye on emerging incentives and infrastructure improvements that will continue to shape our local economy.
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