Palm Beach County Defies National Slowdown with 15% Sales Jump Amid Shrinking Inventory

Housing Markets Around the Country are Slumping but one County in South Florida is Going in the Opposite Direction. Home sales in Palm Beach County for July 2026 rose 15% over the same period in 2025 to 2,250. This is the 11th straight month that the number of home sales in Palm Beach County has increased.

In terms of product, single-family home sales climbed 12.9% to 1,426 while condo sales soared 18.2% to 824. Luxury home sales (over $1 million) in particular skyrocketed 36.5%.

But the true housing supply numbers tell the far more dramatic tale. Countywide active inventory fell 21.1% from last July to 10,443 units. Single-family housing supply plummeted 23.3% to 3.7 months’ supply of inventory, far short of the balanced market marker of 6 months. Condo supply numbers fared slightly better, with an 19.3% drop in listings to 6.7 months’ supply of inventory.

The inventory of condos fell by over 19% to 10,443 units (6.7 months of supply) and is still distinctly down from the national average of relatively stable inventory levels. This further underlines the distinct market profile of the Palm Beach housing market.

Prices for homes in Palm Beach County reflect its status as a scarce commodity. The median price for single-family homes rose 7.85% over last July to $660,090. The median price for condos was up 3.92% to $312,500. Prices for homes in Palm Beach County have more than tripled over the last decade plus, making them one of the better long-term appreciation investments.

Buyers looking to purchase in Palm Beach County right now are almost all buying with cash, 47.7% of all sales in July were all cash transactions, a far higher percentage than is average nationally. It is also worth noting that many of these all-cash buyers are wealthy domestic buyers and also a healthy number of international buyers. In many ways these large wealth individuals are insulated from the impact that higher interest rates have on borrowing capability for other classes of buyers.

The sales growth in condos is not limited to the high end of the market. The largest gains in sales were in the $400,000-$500,000 price range which averages out to roughly $225 per square foot.

While Palm Beach County’s real estate market is fueled by many different buyer types, it is well known that sellers are receiving prices very close to their original asking price. For single-family homes, sellers are receiving 95% of their original list price on average, while condo sellers are receiving 92% on average. The days on market have also decreased with single-family homes decreasing by 5 days from the same time last year.

A particular aspect for the investor to observe is that the Palm Beach market is splitting. The single-family home market is absolutely tightest, but the condo market is relatively full with longer days to close and more choice.

Forced sales continue to be a minuscule portion of overall sales in Palm Beach County as distressed transactions comprised only 0.3% of July closings.

Looking forward, new construction in the form of pre-construction properties and condo conversions is key to watch. With almost half of new construction sales, comprising of single-family homes and condos, in Palm Beach being of international origin, demand from such sources needs to be factored into the overall housing market dynamics.

The local market reflects the characteristics of a market dominated by a limited supply of properties, high-end prices, and cash investors. For those interested in reviewing alternative markets comprised of high-end properties that are providing relatively stable returns in the midst of declining US housing prices, Palm Beach is certainly a market worth reviewing.

Practical Takeaways for Buyers & Investors:

1. Be mindful of the single-family inventory level. Currently at 3.7 months, this level is trending down and may present opportunities on a timely basis.
2. Condos priced between $400k-$500k are performing well in the market. This is an area where there are opportunities for those looking to get into the market while prices are continuing to rise.
3. Take the dominance of cash buyers into account when planning your strategy for buying a property. This type of buyer is less likely to have financing contingencies in place.
4. Note the high percentage of international buyers purchasing new construction in Florida (nearly 50%). This segment is a factor that needs to be considered by investors and buyers alike in terms of pricing as well as resale timing.

The Final Takeaway:

The housing market in Palm Beach is unique and this distinct market profile challenges much of the conventional wisdom regarding the housing market in the US today. While the national average of active housing listings continues to climb up from historic lows the exact opposite is happening in Palm Beach County as well as across the rest of the country’s most affluent communities. This is an emerging trend which offers much of value to off plan property investors in luxury housing markets in Dubai and elsewhere.