Why Now Can Be a Good Time to Buy in South Florida: Sellers Are Taking 3 to 7 Percent Below Asking
Mortgage rates are high, and yet this can be one of the better times in recent years to negotiate a purchase. The reason is simple. In many South Florida cities, sellers are accepting less than their asking price and many are cutting price. Here is what Redfin's data for September 2026 show, city by city.
Sellers are taking less than they ask
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. In Miami Beach and Aventura, Redfin says the average home sold about 7 percent below list. In Fort Lauderdale it was about 5 percent, in Davie and Weston about 4 percent, and in Plantation about 3 percent.
Price drops are common
Redfin reports that 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. When a quarter to a third of sellers have cut their price, a buyer has a reason to ask for the same.
Time on the market gives you leverage
Median time on the market was 129 days in Miami Beach, 137 in Aventura, 68 in Davie, 81 in Weston, 66 in Plantation and 104 in Fort Lauderdale. In Miami Beach, Redfin lists recent sales that closed after 84 to 328 days. A home that has been listed for months is a home whose seller may be ready to talk.
Competition varies by city
Redfin scores Miami Beach, Aventura and Fort Lauderdale as not very competitive, with multiple offers rare. Davie, Weston and Plantation are scored as somewhat competitive, with some homes drawing multiple offers. That means your strategy should change by city. In a slower market you can take time to compare. In a faster one you need to be ready.
The best homes still move quickly
Redfin also reports how fast the hottest homes sell. In Davie it is around 40 days, in Plantation around 45, in Weston around 50, in Fort Lauderdale around 48, and in Miami Beach around 66. If you find a home that is priced right, do not wait too long, since the good ones are the ones that go fast.
How to use the room to negotiate
Ask your agent for recent sales of similar homes and for the list price history of the home you like. Offer based on comparable sales and not on the asking price alone. Consider asking for repairs, a closing cost credit or an extended closing date instead of only a lower price.
For condos, request the association documents and ask about reserve funding before you offer. A guide by REALTOR Mary Gallo, published October 19, 2026, says missing paperwork or unfunded reserves can be reasons to renegotiate or walk away.
Keep the rate in view
Freddie Mac's survey of October 15, 2026 put the 30 year fixed rate at 7.40 percent, as reported by Bridge Point Business and Real Estate Advisors. Get a written quote and choose a payment that you can carry today. Buying below asking helps, since a lower price means a lower loan amount and a lower payment.
None of this is a promise about what prices or rates will do next. It is a description of the negotiating position that the data show right now, and a reminder that preparation is what turns that position into savings.
Source: Redfin housing market pages for Miami Beach, Aventura, Davie, Weston, Plantation and Fort Lauderdale, September 2026. Bridge Point Business and Real Estate Advisors, October 15, 2026. Mary Gallo, REALTOR, October 19, 2026. 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
