By MIAMI REALTORS + RWorld Gay Cororaton
Key Takeaways
- South Florida single-family homeowners who purchased a home 15 years ago have over $500,000 in home equity compared to $333,700 nationally as of 2026 Q2. Price appreciation accounts for 80% of housing wealth gains.
- Despite recent price softness, South Florida condominium/townhome owners have over 80% home equity, enabling owners to absorb price adjustments.
- In 12 municipalities, single-family homeowners have over $1 million in home equity, led by Palm Beach ($12.3 million) and Miami Beach ($4.7 million).
Download the 2026 Q2 South Florida Housing Wealth Report HERE.
Robust home price appreciation in South Florida over the past 15 years has created significant housing wealth or home equity in South Florida.
As of 2026 Q2, single-family homeowners who purchased a home 15 years ago (2011 Q2) at the median sales price have accumulated over $500,000 in home equity at the current median sales prices in Miami-Dade County ($570,300), Palm Beach County ($552,400), Martin County ($517,300), and Broward County ($516,400). Nationally, the median home equity in single-family homes was $333,700.
Home equity is built up by both paying down the mortgage and through price appreciation, but robust price growth that has outpaced the nation has driven much of South Florida’s housing wealth accumulation. For example, in Miami-Dade County, of the $570,300 in home equity, the price gain component was $500,000, or 88% of the total equity gain!
St. Lucie County saw the strongest single-family price annual price growth over the past 15 years (9.7%), followed by Miami-Dade County (9.4%), Broward County (8.3%), Palm Beach County (8.3%), and Martin County (7.5%). Nationally, median single-family prices rose at an annual average pace of 6.5%.
Single-family homeowners have continued to build up home equity with home prices still rising year-over-year although at a more modest pace than in the past 15 years due to elevated mortgage rates and affordability constraining rapid price growth: Miami-Dade County (3.7%), Broward County (2.4%), Palm Beach County (11.8%), Martin County (1.1%), and St. Lucie County (2.3%). Nationally, the single-family median sales price increased 1.8% year-over-year.
Homeowners who have lived in their homes for 15 years are equity-rich with home equity at 80% or more of the median home value: Miami-Dade (84% home equity ratio), Broward County (82%), Palm Beach County (82%), Martin County (80%), and St. Lucie County (85%).
South Florida condo/townhome owners have significant housing wealth, at over 80% home equity
As of 2026 Q2, condominium/townhome owners who purchased their property years ago (2011 Q2) typically have home equity of over $200,000, led by Miami-Dade County ($352,500), Palm Beach County ($286,100), St. Lucie County ($227,600), Broward County ($216,800), and Martin County ($206,200). Miami-Dade and Palm Beach home equity outpaced the national level ($276,200).
Despite the recent price softness in the condo market, condo/townhome homeowners who purchased a home 15 years ago have seen annual price gains that have surpassed the nation: Palm Beach County (10.0%), Miami-Dade County (8.9%), Broward County (8.7%), Martin County (8.0%) and St. Lucie County (7.4%), all outpacing the national rate of annual price appreciation (5.6%).
The condominium market continues to adjust to the new condominium regulations that aim to strengthen associations financially, but which has also raised the maintenance and assessment costs borne by homeowners.
As of June 2026, the median condominium/townhome prices were down year-over-year in most South Florida counties: Miami-Dade County (-3.1%), Broward County (-1.8%), Palm Beach County (+3.2%), Martin County (-2.4%), and St. Lucie County (-6.6%). The condominium reforms improve the financial health of associations and the safety and structural integrity of buildings which should contribute to a rise in home values. Nationally, the median condominium/townhome sales price was up 1.6% year-over-year.
Despite the recent price softness homeowners who purchased a condominium/ townhomes 15 years have significant housing wealth, with home equity at 80% or more of the median home value in most counties: Miami-Dade (83%), Broward County (83%), Palm Beach County (85%), Martin County (81%), and St. Lucie County (79%). This huge equity provides significant cushion against a modest price slowdown.
Housing wealth is over $1 million in 12 South Florida municipalities
Robust home price appreciation in South Florida over the past 15 years has created significant housing wealth or home equity in South Florida. In 12 municipalities in South Florida, single-family and condo/townhome owners who purchased a home 15 years ago have at least $1 million or more in home equity:
Palm Beach ($12.3 million)
Miami Beach ($4.7 million)
North Palm Beach ($2.5 million)
Coral Gables ($2.2 million)
Pinecrest ($2.1 million)
Surfside ($2.0 million)
Southwest Ranches ($1.3 million)
Lighthouse Point ($1.2 million)
Boca Raton ($1.1 million)
South Miami ($1.0 million)
Miami Shores ($1.0 million)
Bal Harbour ($1.2 million, among condo/townhomes owners)
