Year-End Luxury Market Update: Sarasota County's $1M+ Sales Are Surging

The most recent county report from the REALTOR Association of Sarasota and Manatee, covering July sales, shows luxury demand at its strongest point in years. One hundred twenty-one single-family homes sold for $1 million or more in July, up 39.1% from a year earlier, the county's most active luxury performance in this cycle. For buyers and sellers in the $750,000-plus segment, the story heading into the holidays is about tightening inventory, rising prices, and a genuinely competitive top end. Here is what the data shows and what it means for your next move.

The Latest Headline Numbers

Single-family home sales in Sarasota County totaled 744 closed transactions in July, up 2.9% from a year earlier. The median single-family price rose to $493,500, a 5.0% increase year over year, with the average sale price at roughly $764,300, up 11.6%. Active single-family listings fell 23.4% to 2,736, and months of supply came down to about 3.9, the tightest of any property segment in the county. That keeps the overall market firmly in seller-favorable territory, with homes priced well and staged thoughtfully still drawing strong attention in their first weeks.

The Luxury Segment Is Leading the Market

The most striking part of the report is the top end. One hundred twenty-one single-family homes sold for $1 million or more in July, up 39.1% year over year. That kind of activity tells you the buyers are out there and they are serious: these are not casual browsers. What they are not doing is settling for less. Homes that are priced honestly against recent sales, marketed with professional photography and presentation, and listed in prime condition are the ones moving. Homes that linger tend to have a price or condition story attached, which is true in any market and especially true at the luxury level.

The attached-home market is lively too. Condo and townhome sales jumped 33.1% year over year in the same report, a reminder that Sarasota County is really several markets at once. Different price points, property types, and neighborhoods move on different rhythms, which is exactly why I always encourage buyers to let me read the data for their specific corner of the county rather than relying on averages.

Why the Holiday Window Matters

Winter is one of the most honest seasons in Sarasota real estate. Season brings the county to life: snowbirds return, out-of-state buyers arrive for long visits, and the people who show up to look in November and December are almost always serious about buying. Homes that sat through the summer often get a fresh push of attention, and well-priced listings can move quickly while motivated sellers work with real negotiating room on properties that have lingered.

For buyers, the takeaway is to be ready before your visit. Get pre-approved, understand your insurance and tax budget, and know what you will compromise on and what you will not. The buyers who win in this market are the ones who can move when the right home appears, not the ones who need a week to decide. For sellers, the tightening inventory is good news, but discipline still wins. Overpricing simply hands your showings to the listing next door.

The Outlook for 2026 and Into 2027

Every fall and winter here rewards the prepared. Inventory is tight, luxury demand is strong, and the county's most active price point is the one I work in every day: the $750,000-plus segment. If you have been thinking about buying or selling, the window right now favors prepared buyers and fairly priced sellers alike, and the turn of the year is a natural moment to plan the next chapter.

I would love to walk you through what the latest data means for your neighborhood and price point, whether you are buying from out of state or selling a beloved coastal home. Send me a note or give me a call. I will work so hard for you, and you will still be talking about me in five years.