Five Florida markets rank among top 20 for 2027 real estate

Five Florida markets rank among the nation’s top 20 for overall real estate prospects in 2027, while four place in the top 25 for homebuilding, according to a new industry outlook.

The 2027 Emerging Trends in Real Estate report from PwC and the Urban Land Institute puts Miami at No. 3, followed by Tampa/St. Petersburg at No. 9, Orlando at No. 11, Palm Beach at No. 17 and Fort Lauderdale at No. 18 overall.

The overall ranking combines surveyed real estate professionals’ views on investment, development and homebuilding opportunities across commercial and residential real estate. A separate ranking focuses on homebuilding prospects.

Both reflect expectations for the year ahead. Insurance costs, competing properties and what buyers and renters can afford help determine where the opportunities pencil out.

How Florida’s markets stack up

Overall, southwest Florida posted the biggest improvement among Florida markets, climbing nine places, followed by Fort Lauderdale’s seven-place gain. Tallahassee, Gainesville and Tampa/St. Petersburg moved lower. Miami remains among the nation’s leading markets.

"Miami is increasingly separating itself from the broader Sun Belt, pairing recent population and employment growth with international capital, global tourism, and corporate investment to create one of the deepest and most resilient real estate demand stories in the country," the commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield wrote in the report.

The state's homebuilding picture

Fort Lauderdale leads Florida for homebuilding prospects at No. 5 nationally, followed by Tampa/St. Petersburg at No. 7, Orlando at No. 19 and Miami at No. 23.

A market can appeal to investors buying existing properties while posing challenges for builders trying to add new homes. Miami ranks third overall but 23rd for homebuilding; Fort Lauderdale ranks 18th overall but fifth for homebuilding.

The report says lengthy approvals and restrictive zoning can limit new construction while making existing properties more valuable. Affordability and the amount of housing already available also shape how builders and investors view a market.

The rankings reflect how surveyed real estate professionals view each market’s prospects, PwC and ULI said. Because the top markets received similar scores, even small changes in respondents’ opinions can move a market up or down the list.

In addition, insurance costs, nearby construction and the time it takes to get permits can all affect whether a deal makes sense, the report found. When approvals drag out, interest rates, building costs and demand can change before construction even starts.

Put affordability in the picture

The report also says affordability shapes the outlook. Markets where housing takes a smaller share of household income tend to have stronger occupancy, fewer tenant departures and more sustained rent growth.

© 2026 Florida Realtors®