Are home prices dropping in Jacksonville, FL?

Yes, home prices are on the decline in Jacksonville. The median sale price was down by 4.7 percent this June compared to the previous year, according to Redfin data.

Is Jacksonville a buyer’s market?

Not exactly. Realtor.com calls it a balanced market, with supply and demand about the same, and Redfin says homes on the market here typically get two offers. However, buyers do have some leverage: With a median price tag of $302,250 as of June 2023, Jacksonville’s real estate market is much more affordable than the national median, and homes are taking much longer to sell this year than they did last year, per Redfin data. Plus, nearly a third of homes sold in June had to drop their price to close the deal.

Jacksonville, FL housing market: Everything you need to know

Written by

Ruben Caginalp,

Edited by

Michele Petry

Published on July 26, 2023 | 4 min read

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View of the modern architecture of downtown Jacksonville,Florida

It’s no surprise that Jacksonville, at the northern border of the Sunshine State’s Atlantic coast, is a hotspot for golf and beaches. But it’s also the most populous city in Florida. Yes, Jacksonville is much bigger than Miami, with a much lower cost of living, too — in fact, it ranked as one of Bankrate’s best places to live in Florida for 2023. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell here, read on to learn the ins and outs of the Jacksonville housing market.

Jacksonville housing market overview

Florida’s housing market has been hot for quite a while — which makes sense, as it was the most moved-to state in the country between 2020 and 2022, according to Census data. And Jacksonville home prices today are much higher than they were before the pandemic. The city’s median home price in June was $302,250, according to Redfin data, whereas in January 2020 it was a full $100,000 less: $202,293.

However, the local market is not immune to the higher mortgage rates and economic uncertainty affecting the entire country. Prices are beginning to decline: The median of $302,250 is actually a 4.7 percent decline compared to the previous year, and homes are taking much longer to sell.

Jacksonville housing trends & stats

Median home price: $302,250, per Redfin. That’s well below the nationwide median price of $410,200.
Sale-to-list price: 97.9 percent in June, meaning homes typically sold for slightly under their list price. In June of last year, they were selling for just over list price.
Median days on market: 36 as of June — 15 days longer than homes took to sell in June 2022.
Closing costs: About 2.3 percent of a home’s purchase price, according to data from ClosingCorp. On a median-priced $302,250 home, that comes to $6,952.

Should you buy or sell in the Jacksonville housing market?

If you’re a home seller

Home prices in Jacksonville are beginning to decline, dropping 4.7 percent in June compared to June of the previous year, and once homes go on the market they are taking considerably longer to sell. So if you’re thinking of selling a property here, it’s all the more important to understand just how much your home is worth. You want to price it correctly for the market so that you don’t wind up having to drop your price to seal a deal, as 31.2 percent of homes that sold in June did. One great way to get a firm idea of what price your home can command is to review comps — details about nearby homes similar to yours that have sold recently — with a local real estate agent.

If you’re a homebuyer

As a homebuyer in Jacksonville, you’ll be able to take advantage of the city’s relatively affordable market — the median price here is more $100,000 below the nationwide median. Be sure to get preapproved for a mortgage before you start shopping: A preapproval tells you what you will be able to afford so you can budget accordingly. In addition, it shows any seller that you’re a qualified buyer, which can help them take your offer more seriously than others. This is especially useful in a fairly competitive market like Jacksonville, where Redfin data shows that homes typically receive more than one offer.

Jacksonville housing market predictions

Despite speculation about a potential housing market crash, experts say a crash is extremely unlikely. In Jacksonville, the market may be cooling but it’s not crashing and burning. In fact, Realtor.com’s 2023 Housing Forecast predicts that the market’s home prices will actually rise 4.6 percent year-over-year.

Find a Jacksonville real estate agent

Whether you’re buying or selling, it’s smart to enlist the help of a local real estate agent. Agents are licensed professionals who know their local market and can help get you the best deal, whether that means negotiating a great price on a home in your desired neighborhood or finding you a qualified buyer within your desired time frame.

Before you commit to working with one particular agent, interview a few candidates. You want to find someone who you feel comfortable with, and who has experience in your specific neighborhood. Don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions.

Important note about Florida homeowners insurance

The home insurance market in Florida is in crisis. Since 2017, many insurance carriers have left the state, gone insolvent or tightened their underwriting restrictions, making it difficult for homeowners to find coverage. Many of the companies that remain have chosen not to renew existing policies, leaving owners in the lurch.
Fraudulent roofing claims are mostly to blame, and the devastating effects of Hurricane Ian in September 2022 complicated the issue further. According to a report from the governor’s office, Florida accounts for 79 percent of the country’s home insurance lawsuits.
New insurance-reform laws went into effect in 2022 to try to stabilize the situation, but it may be some time before these laws produce meaningful results, and homeowners could see premiums that exceed several thousand dollars a year. Before you buy a Florida home, consult closely with your real estate agent, and possibly a local attorney, to determine whether the property will be insurable at a cost you can afford.

FAQs

Yes, home prices are on the decline in Jacksonville. The median sale price was down by 4.7 percent this June compared to the previous year, according to Redfin data.
Not exactly. Realtor.com calls it a balanced market, with supply and demand about the same, and Redfin says homes on the market here typically get two offers. However, buyers do have some leverage: With a median price tag of $302,250 as of June 2023, Jacksonville’s real estate market is much more affordable than the national median, and homes are taking much longer to sell this year than they did last year, per Redfin data. Plus, nearly a third of homes sold in June had to drop their price to close the deal.