Half of Florida’s vacant homes have no chance of being snapped up by buyers—they are sitting empty, waiting for seasonal visitors.
A recent analysis by Compare the Market that used U.S. Census Bureau data found that the Sunshine State has 1.48 million vacant homes, with 741,429 of those classified as seasonal or vacation properties, or about 50% of the state’s unused housing stock, according to Gulf Shore Business.
In June 2025, LendingTree (using U.S. Census Bureau data) reported that Florida had the fifth-highest vacancy rate in the country, with 1.53 million vacant homes, or a 15.19% vacancy rate.
Michael Overway, CEO of the SWFL Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, told Gulf Shore Business that homes sitting empty waiting for people who stay only a few months of the year is putting pressure on year-round residents hoping to buy or rent.
“We have fewer units for people who are looking here year-round, like teachers, nurses, police officers, restaurant staff, and service workers,” he told the outlet.
He says that his nonprofit has been “rehousing nurses at NCH, deputies at the sheriff’s department, and government employees at a higher rate in 2023 than we had ever done in our previous 30-year history.”
Are snowbirds taking away from year-rounders?
Experts in the local markets say that snowbirds and out-of-town investors snapping up seasonal abodes definitely takes inventory off the market for full-timers. That trend hit its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since slowed down dramatically due to higher interest rates and a general softening of the short-term rental market.
“A lot of owners are having to get creative to generate income,” Corcoran agent Steven Presson, who specializes in the Palm Beaches, tells Realtor.com®.
“I’ve even had a client out in West Palm Beach turn their property into a wedding/event-style destination just to keep it occupied—something they never would have considered a few years ago.”
Whether seasonable buyers keep inventory harmfully low for others, Presson says, “It really depends on the area. In coastal parts of Palm Beach County—especially places like Palm Beach where short-term rentals are more restricted—inventory has stayed tight and this hasn’t negatively affected primary homebuyers much.
“But in other parts of the market, particularly inland, the drop in rental income has actually pushed more investors to sell. So, in a way, it’s now creating more inventory for buyers looking for primary residences, which is helping balance things out a bit.”
Ponte Vedra Beach agent Cara Ameer says the percentage of her clients looking for seasonal abodes is “very small” compared to primary home buyers.
“That interest waned after the pandemic real estate boom, when money was cheap,” she said.
But with higher interest rates and soaring HOA and insurance costs, it has become much less profitable to lease to short-term renters.
She also notes the short-term rental restrictions in many Northeast Florida markets.
“Many people don’t want to be living in a property that’s their primary residence, and they are surrounded by a bunch of second-home owners or vacation rentals,” she says.
She notes there is “ample supply” for primary-home shoppers, though it will be tighter in the popular vacation beach towns like Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine, and Amelia Island.
One place still drawing waves of investor-buyers is Miami Beach. Pablo Alfaro of Compass says that the tourist magnet continues to attract a “significant number” of out-of-state and international buyers.
“For many, it’s a lifestyle investment. They want a presence in Miami but also the option to generate income when they’re not using the property,” he says. A whopping 35% to 45% of his clients fall into this category.
He pegs Miami Beach, Sunny Isles, Bal Harbour, and parts of Fort Lauderdale as the most popular areas for seasonal buyers.
“At the higher end of the market, seasonal ownership is expected and built into pricing,” he says. “The bigger constraints for full-time buyers tend to be affordability, insurance, and financing rather than seasonal vacancy alone.”
North in Vero Beach, Michael Merrill of Douglas Elliman says most out-of-state buyers are purchasing for personal use, not rental income.
He ticks off Palm Beach, Jupiter, and the Treasure Coast as the most popular areas for seasonal buyers.
“In a market like Vero Beach, seasonal ownership has always been part of how the area functions, so it’s not materially disrupting full-time buyers,” he tells Realtor.com.
“Many of these properties wouldn’t necessarily convert to full-time housing even if they weren’t used seasonally.”