April 2026 Real Estate Market Report: Trends in Sarasota and Manatee Counties

SARASOTA, Fla. (May 15, 2026) – The REALTOR® Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM) has released its April 2026 real‑estate market report. According to data from Florida Realtors®, buyer activity strengthened across both counties in April 2026, as closed sales and pending sales increased in both the single-family and townhouse/condo markets. The condo and townhouse market in Sarasota County posted particularly strong gains. Active inventory declined across all four major segments, marking a shift from the inventory growth seen over the past year. Despite stronger demand and shrinking supply, prices remained mostly stable, pointing to a market that is gaining activity while still offering buyers room to negotiate.

Key Trends in Sarasota/Manatee April 2026:

• Sales Activity Strengthened: Closed sales increased across all four major market segments, while pending sales also rose year-over-year. This points to continued buyer demand across Sarasota and Manatee counties, with activity improving in both single-family homes and the townhouse/condo market.
• Inventory Tightened: Active listings declined across all four property segments, reversing the recent trend of inventory growth. The drop appears to be driven by stronger buyer activity, along with fewer new listings coming onto the market in several segments.
• Prices Remained Steady: Despite rising sales and declining inventory, prices remained relatively stable, with some segments seeing modest year-over-year gains. Since prices often respond more slowly to changes in supply and demand, this will be an important trend to watch in the coming months if inventory continues to shrink. Buyers still appear to have room to negotiate, as shown by the median percent of original list price received.
• Luxury Market Activity Remained Strong: Single-family sales increased in the $1 million-plus category in both Sarasota and Manatee counties. This shift toward higher-priced transactions is reflected in the increase in average sale prices, showing that activity at the upper end of the market played a larger role in April’s overall sales picture.

Single-Family

In Sarasota County, April recorded 824 closed single-family sales, an increase of 0.9 percent compared to the same month last year. The median sale price increased 4.3 percent to $490,000. The average sale price climbed 24.6 percent to $814,685, reflecting strong activity at the upper end of the market. Cash buyers accounted for 43.9 percent of transactions, with 362 cash sales recorded during the month. Sellers received a median of 94.3 percent of their original list price. New pending sales rose 17.0 percent year-over-year, suggesting continued momentum heading into the summer.

Inventory levels declined, with active listings falling 26.8 percent to 3,258 homes. This represents a 4.7-month supply of inventory. Homes spent a median of 46 days on the market before going under contract and took about 86 days to close.

In Manatee County, single-family home sales rose 4.8 percent year-over-year, reaching 704 closed sales in April. The median sale price increased 6.1 percent to $492,500 year-over-year. Cash transactions accounted for 231 sales, or about 32.8 percent of sales. Sellers received a median of 94.6 percent of their original list price. New pending sales rose 4.6 percent compared to last year.

Active inventory declined 9.9 percent to 2,929 listings. This represents a 4.6-month supply of homes. Properties spent a median of 44 days on the market before going under contract and approximately 88 days to close.

Townhomes and Condos

The condo and townhome market in Sarasota County continued to show strong growth in April, with closed sales increasing 18.7 percent year-over-year to 445 transactions. New pending sales surged 35.1 percent compared to a year ago, the largest year-over-year gain in any segment this month. The median sale price held nearly flat, slipping 0.6 percent to $337,500. Cash transactions remained dominant, representing 70.1 percent of sales with 312 cash purchases. Sellers received a median of 91.1 percent of their original asking price.

Active inventory decreased by 13.3 percent to 2,300 units, representing a 7.7-month supply of inventory. Properties spent a median of 67 days on the market before going under contract and about 103 days to close.

In Manatee County, condo and townhome sales increased by 12.5 percent year-over-year, totaling 307 closed transactions. The median sale price increased 6.6 percent to $320,000. Cash buyers accounted for 58.6 percent of purchases, or 180 transactions. Sellers received a median of 93.2 percent of their original list price. New pending sales rose 14.6 percent year-over-year.

Active inventory declined 12.9 percent to 1,582 units, equal to a 6.9-month supply of homes. Properties spent a median of 60 days on the market before going under contract and about 103 days to close.

Summary

April’s data points to a market that is becoming more active but not overheated. Sales are rising, inventory is tightening, and prices are holding steady across much of the region. If these trends continue, the Sarasota-Manatee market could see increased competition in certain segments, making local expertise especially important for buyers and sellers navigating the months ahead. Consumers should work with a REALTOR® to understand current conditions, evaluate pricing strategies, and make informed decisions in today’s market.

Monthly reports are provided by Florida Realtors® with data compiled from Stellar MLS. For comprehensive statistics dating back to 2015, visit www.MyRASM.com/statistics.