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Weekly Update for Manatee and Sarasota Counties
Dated: August 10 2026
Views: 1
THE SUNCOAST MARKET JUST DID SOMETHING IT HASN’T DONE IN 5 WEEKS
If you’re waiting for the Sarasota and Manatee County real estate market to “pick a direction,” I have some news for you:
It already has. It’s just not the direction most people expected.
Both buyers AND sellers are active this summer.
LISTINGS: A SMALL REVERSAL THIS WEEK
- 483 new listings hit the Sarasota and Manatee County market last week, compared with 513 during the same week last year.
- That’s a 5.8% decrease and the first week in five weeks that new listings finished below last year.
- Year to date, listings remain approximately 7.5% below 2025.
- But look at the summer trend: Over the last 10 weeks, new listings are UP 7% compared with last year.
Bottom line: Inventory continues to replenish. Sellers are still bringing homes to market, giving Suncoast buyers fresh choices throughout the summer.
SALES: BUYERS ARE STILL BUYING
- We recorded 361 sales, compared with 311 last year, an increase of about 16%.
- Sales did fall sharply from the previous week, giving us our lowest weekly total since February.
- Year to date, sales are still up approximately 5.7%.
- Over the last 10 weeks, sales are up 10.3% compared with the same period last year.
Bottom line: This is not a frozen market. Homes are selling, and summer sales activity has actually outpaced last year.
SO... WHO HAS THE ADVANTAGE?
On paper, Sarasota and Manatee Counties are moving toward a more balanced real estate market.
But context matters.
The Florida Suncoast has historically favored sellers, so today's normalization feels very different. I would describe this summer as buyer-leaning.
Buyers have more choices, more negotiating opportunities, and less pressure to simply accept whatever hits the market.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU?
BUYERS: You have opportunity, but don't mistake opportunity for inactivity. Homes ARE selling. When the right house and the right deal come together, be prepared to move.
SELLERS: Buyers are out there, but they're comparing your home against plenty of alternatives. Price it for today's market and you can sell. Price it based on yesterday's market and buyers may walk right past your house to buy your neighbor's.
Bonus Items to Know
- Condition matters more in a choice-filled market. Buyers can be pickier when comparable homes are available.
- Micro-markets matter. Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, Venice and individual neighborhoods can behave differently from the two-county averages.
- Strategy matters more than headlines. Whether you're buying or selling, the numbers only become useful when we apply them to your price range, neighborhood and goals.
Thinking about buying, selling, or moving to Florida's Suncoast? You have questions, I have answers. Reach out and let's look at what the market means for YOU.
#SuncoastRealEstate #SarasotaRealEstate #ManateeCountyRealEstate
Jim Ahearn
Agent Jim: Making Real Estate Fun, Personal, and Stress-Free on the Suncoast Buying a home is a big deal. You wouldn’t hand your hard-earned cash to a stranger, so why work with an agent who doe....
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All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Updated on September 27, 2026 9:23 AM UTC
