By: Key Crew Media 

Florida buyers who continue postponing purchases, hoping for significantly lower interest rates, may discover that waiting costs more than buying now, according to Loodmy Jacques of The Jacques Team, who reports that spring 2026 could represent the last opportunity to leverage current market advantages before rate cuts trigger increased competition and higher prices.

“If you wait until interest rates come down significantly before doing it, the prices will come up, and then you have missed the boat,” Jacques warns. “This is your last time to do something.”

The logic is straightforward: when rates drop meaningfully, the surge of buyers returning to the market will drive increased competition and higher prices. Any savings from lower financing costs could be eliminated—or exceeded—by higher purchase prices.

Market Momentum Building

South Florida’s real estate market has started 2026 with noticeably stronger activity compared to last year’s sluggish beginning, Jacques reports. Transaction volume has increased as buyers accept current interest rates around 6% and recognize that waiting indefinitely for optimal conditions may mean missing current advantages.

“The year started very well. A lot of activity compared to last year,” Jacques notes. “There’s been a lot of movement now.”

The increased activity reflects more than typical seasonal patterns as Florida’s peak selling season arrives. Buyers who postponed decisions throughout 2024—waiting for rate drops, election clarity, or market direction—are now committing to transactions.

“People just want to say, a new year, new me – this is going to be the time that I’m going to jump in and do something,” Jacques explains.

Current Buyer Advantages

Present market conditions provide selection and negotiating leverage that didn’t exist during the competitive 2021-2022 periods. Increased inventory allows buyers to evaluate options deliberately rather than rushing decisions. Traditional negotiation around repairs, closing costs, and price adjustments has returned to transaction dynamics.

“Buyers are getting the understanding that there is an opportunity for them where there is a lot of negotiation that they can do in terms of making offers,” Jacques notes.

This represents a fundamental shift from pandemic-era markets, where buyers submitted offers above asking price with waived contingencies simply to compete. Current conditions enable thoughtful evaluation and negotiation—advantages that will disappear when rates decline, and buyer competition intensifies.

Properties that sit on the market now will move quickly when rates drop. Sellers who currently negotiate will regain pricing power. The window for buyer-favorable conditions may close rapidly once external factors shift market dynamics.

Seller Psychology Shifts

Sellers are experiencing their own adjustment as they recognize that 2021-2022 pricing won’t return imminently.

“Sellers are realizing this is pretty much a new market norm, and they’re putting their house on the market,” Jacques observes.

This acceptance creates functional market conditions where transactions occur based on value assessment rather than fear of missing out or speculative appreciation expectations. Sellers who price realistically generate buyer interest. Buyers who recognize value can secure properties without competitive frenzy.

Jacques emphasizes that spring represents Florida’s strongest market period, making current positioning critical for both buyers and sellers.

Rate Acceptance Creates Action

Buyers’ attitudes toward interest rates have evolved substantially. While first-time buyers remain payment-sensitive and reactive to rate fluctuations, move-up buyers have largely accepted current rates as workable.

“The majority of buyers that I work with are okay with it now,” Jacques reports. “As long as they find a property that is move-in ready, that doesn’t need a lot of work, and it is in a great neighborhood, and they see themselves being there for a long time, we have no problem now with rates.”

This psychological shift removes a barrier that kept many buyers sidelined throughout 2024. Rather than fixating on rate levels and timing optimal financing conditions, buyers are recognizing that overall value – combining inventory selection, negotiating leverage, and reasonable pricing – may not persist.

Strategic Timing

For buyers considering 2026 transactions, Jacques delivers straightforward advice: execute rather than deliberate.

“Stop thinking about it, and just do it,” he says. “Spring is our best market here in Florida.”

The recommendation reflects market-timing logic: current conditions offer advantages before rates decline and competition returns. Waiting for perfect conditions means missing good conditions.

For first-time buyers sensitive to payment levels, some builders in markets like Port St. Lucie are offering aggressive incentives, including rates as low as 3.99% with paid closing costs. These offerings create opportunities to secure below-market financing for new construction.

Policy Considerations

Governor DeSantis’s proposal to eliminate property taxes on primary residences—potentially appearing on the November 2026 ballot—adds a policy dimension to market dynamics. However, Jacques cautions against waiting for potential policy changes to materialize.

“If you’re waiting for this to happen, then you’re going to miss out on that upswing of already having your own property,” he notes.

If the proposal passes, it will likely accelerate buyer activity and drive prices higher, eliminating any advantage from waiting. Buyers who act now position themselves to benefit from both current market conditions and potential future policy advantages.

Market Normalization

Current conditions represent what Jacques characterizes as market normalization—a return to traditional real estate dynamics after years of pandemic-driven anomalies.

Buyers have selection and negotiating leverage. Sellers who price correctly achieve sales within reasonable timeframes. Transactions occur based on value and need rather than speculation or competitive desperation.

This normalization creates opportunity, but the window may close when external factors – rate cuts, policy changes, or increased migration—shift dynamics again in sellers’ favor.

For Florida buyers who have postponed decisions throughout 2024, waiting for optimal conditions, spring 2026 may represent the best opportunity available before market dynamics shift decisively.

Loodmy Jacques leads The Jacques Team in Palm Beach County, serving buyers and sellers across residential price points from first-time purchases to luxury oceanfront estates.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the opinions and perspectives of Loodmy Jacques based on current market conditions. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or real estate advice. Real estate markets and interest rates are subject to change, and individual circumstances vary. Readers should consult qualified professionals before making purchasing or financing decisions.