How to Price and Prepare Your South Florida Home to Sell: What Six Local Markets Show in September 2026

The fastest way to lose money selling a South Florida home is to price it for a market that no longer exists. Redfin's September 2026 data for six local cities show homes selling below list, many price cuts and a large gap between the homes that sell fast and the ones that do not. Here is how to use those numbers.

The gap between fast and slow

In every city below, Redfin reports two timelines. The average home goes pending in one period, and the hottest homes go pending in about half that time or less. In Miami Beach, the average is around 143 days and the hottest homes go pending in around 66. In Aventura it is 134 days against 67.

In Davie the average is around 65 days against 40 for hot homes. In Weston it is 87 against 50, in Plantation 75 against 45, and in Fort Lauderdale 106 against 48. The difference is rarely luck. It usually comes down to price, condition and presentation.

What sellers actually received

Redfin's sale to list price ratio for September 2026 was 93.2 percent in Miami Beach, 93.1 percent in Aventura, 96.4 percent in Davie, 95.8 percent in Weston, 96.6 percent in Plantation and 94.7 percent in Fort Lauderdale. The average home in Miami Beach and Aventura sold about 7 percent below list. In Plantation it was about 3 percent.

The share of homes with a price drop was 25.2 percent in Miami Beach, 31.4 percent in Aventura, 31.6 percent in Davie, 35.2 percent in Weston, 32.3 percent in Plantation and 30.8 percent in Fort Lauderdale. In other words, roughly a quarter to over a third of sellers had to cut.

Price against the last 90 days

Ask your agent for sales of similar homes in your neighborhood or building from the last 90 days, and price to those, not to a citywide median. Redfin's own data show how wide the range is. In Weston, recent sales ran from a $188,000 condo to a $2,895,000 home, so the city median describes almost no single property.

A realistic first price protects you from the longer path. One Aventura condo that Redfin lists closed on October 21, 2026 after 379 days on the market at 3 percent under its list price. Months of fees, taxes and insurance are real costs of a price that was too ambitious.

Prepare the paperwork

If you are selling a condo, gather your association documents before you list. A guide by REALTOR Mary Gallo, published October 19, 2026, says a completed milestone inspection with clean results is a selling point, while pending assessments or an unfunded reserve study can affect pricing and negotiations. Her advice is to be transparent upfront, because buyers will find issues in due diligence anyway.

For a house, collect permits, roof and air conditioning records and any warranties. A buyer who sees complete records is more willing to pay close to your price, and an inspector has less to surprise them with.

Prepare the home

Handle the visible items first: paint, lighting, landscaping, minor repairs and a deep clean. Stage the main rooms so that buyers can picture living there, and make the entry and the outdoor space look tidy. Good photos matter, since most buyers see the home online before they ever visit.

Plan for the offer stage

Decide in advance what matters to you besides price, such as closing date, repairs and rent back time. Expect buyers to ask for credits in markets where the typical sale closes below list. Respond with data, not emotion, and let your agent compare each offer on net proceeds.

Mortgage costs are part of your buyer's decision. Freddie Mac's survey of October 15, 2026 put the 30 year fixed rate at 7.40 percent, unchanged from the week before and above the 6.27 percent of a year earlier, as reported by Bridge Point Business and Real Estate Advisors. Price with that backdrop in mind.

Source: Redfin housing market pages for Miami Beach, Aventura, Davie, Weston, Plantation and Fort Lauderdale, September 2026. Mary Gallo, REALTOR, October 19, 2026. Bridge Point, October 15, 2026 Freddie Mac summary. Viewed October 21, 2026.

If you're looking to buy, sell, or invest in South Florida, Dean's the one for all your real estate needs.

Dean Isenberg, call 305-929-DEAN (305-929-3326), toll-free 833-ONE-DEAN (833-663-3326), or visit ONEDean.com