History Shows the Sarasota & Lakewood Ranch Housing Market Always Recovers
Darren Dowling
Darren Dowling
The housing market in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and the surrounding Manatee and Charlotte counties is experiencing a cooling phase. Many homeowners who listed their properties with high expectations are now reconsidering, with data from Realtor.com showing a 38% increase in homeowners removing their listings since the start of the year, and a 48% rise compared to last June. For every 100 new listings in June, about 21 were pulled off the market.
If you’re among those who decided to wait, frustration is understandable. But history proves one thing: housing markets always recover, especially in thriving regions like Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch.
The housing market has weathered many slowdowns before:
1980s: Mortgage rates soared past 18%, halting buyers in their tracks. Yet, as rates decreased, sales rebounded and the market stabilized.
2008: The Great Financial Crisis caused one of the most severe housing downturns in history. But sales bounced back as the economy improved.
2020: COVID-19 temporarily froze the market. However, once restrictions lifted, buyer activity surged beyond expectations.
The lesson? Every slowdown has been followed by a period of renewed activity.
Over the past few years, home sales across Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte counties have been slower, largely due to affordability challenges. Rapidly rising mortgage rates in 2022, combined with increasing home prices, kept many buyers on the sidelines.
Projections suggest that sales will gain momentum again moving into 2026.
According to recent forecasts from Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and the National Association of Realtors (NAR):
Approximately 4 million homes sold nationwide last year (gray in graph).
2025 is tracking similarly (blue in graph).
By 2026, sales are expected to reach around 4.6 million (green in graph).
One key factor? Expected declines in mortgage rates, which will help bring more buyers back into the Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch markets.
If you’ve paused your selling plans, your decision was based on the current market reality. But remember: history shows the market doesn’t stay down for long.
This is where your trusted Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch real estate agent plays a crucial role. They monitor trends closely and can guide you on when to re-enter the market, ensuring your property is positioned to attract the next wave of buyers.
Housing slowdowns are temporary. Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and the surrounding Manatee and Charlotte county markets are resilient and always find their rhythm again.
Now is the time to start planning your next move. Will you be ready when the rebound begins?
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You’ve got questions and we can’t wait to answer them.