Selling a Home in Fort Lauderdale 2025: 5 Expert Strategies for a Cooling Market

The South Florida single family home market is experiencing a noticeable cool-down in 2025. If you're a homeowner in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, or Pompano Beach, you may have seen the signs: homes are sitting on the market longer, prices aren't skyrocketing like they used to, and buyers are negotiating harder. It's a shift from the feverish years-long seller's market to what feels like more of a slightly balanced to full-on buyer's market. This post will walk you through the latest Fort Lauderdale area real estate trends - backed by data comparing May 2024's market to May 2025's - and then offer five actionable strategies to help you adapt and succeed in this new landscape.

Are you feeling anxious about selling a home in Fort Lauderdale in 2025? You're not alone. Many homeowners vividly remember the days of multiple offers, bidding wars, few contingencies and quick sales. So a slower market can be unsettling, to say the least. Homes are still selling in Broward County, but it might take a bit more time and strategy now. Let's start by looking at what's changing in our market and then talk about how to sell successfully in a cooler, more buyer-friendly environment.

2024-2025 Market Trends: A Cooling South Florida Market

Longer Days on Market (DOM). Houses are generally taking longer to sell across South Florida (there are some exceptions). For example, Fort Lauderdale single family homes for sale averaged about 68 days on market in May 2025, up from 62 days in May 2024. Smaller cities are seeing even bigger jumps: Wilton Manors' average DOM spiked from 56 days to 95 days, and Oakland Park's from 42 to 67 days year-over-year. This means that sellers should expect a longer timeline before the right buyer comes along.

Slight Dip in Single Family Home Prices. After years of rapid appreciation, prices have softened slightly in several areas. According to recent Wilton Manors real estate trends, the median sale price slipped from about $920,000 in May 2024 to $865,000 in May 2025. Similarly, Oakland Park's median fell from roughly $569,500 to $534,950, and Pompano Beach's median went from $560,000 to about $529,700. Fort Lauderdale was a noticeable exception - its median price actually rose from $564,500 to $639,000 over the year. However, even in Fort Lauderdale the rate of increase has slowed, and higher-priced listings are facing some headwinds and buyer resistance. The overall trend is a market leveling off or small price declines in 2025, which can feel a bit like a shock to the system for sellers who expected ever-rising values.

Tightening Sale-to-List Price Ratios. Buyers have a bit more bargaining power than they did a year ago. Homes are selling a little closer to (or below) their asking prices. Most sellers in these markets are getting about 95%-97% of their list price on average, versus last year when many were getting closer to 98% or more. For instance, Oakland Park's median sale-to-list ratio dipped from 98% in May 2024 to 97.3% in May 2025. In Wilton Manors, the median went from about 96.5% down to 95%. This slight shift means buyers are negotiating discounts - not drastic, but still noticeable. Buyers are feeling less pressure to bid aggressively over asking.

Inventory and Competition. Inventory is stacking up (statewide) and is considerably higher than pre-pandemic levels. Buyers have way more homes to choose from in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas, which naturally eases the upward pressure on prices. While our focus here is single family homes, similar patterns are being observed in condos and townhomes in South Florida (actually even more pronounced). The power dynamic is shifting: buyers are gaining leverage and being more selective, and sellers must now work a bit harder to attract offers.

What's the good news about selling a home in Fort Lauderdale in 2025?

If you're trying to sell your house now, you might be asking, "Why isn't my house selling in 3 weeks like my neighbor's did last year?" Higher interest rates, insurance, taxes, affordability and an unsettled economy have definitely put some chill on demand (at least in South Florida). Translation...today's buyers are more cautious and cost-conscious. It's normal to feel frustrated or anxious if your home is on the market longer than expected or if you're not getting the price you hoped for. Remember: it's not that your home suddenly lost its appeal - the market has just lost some steam. Market conditions have changed around you.

The good news is South Florida is still a very desirable place to live, and well-prepared homes are finding buyers. It simply requires patience, realistic expectations, and smart strategy. In the next section, we'll focus on exactly that: creative, proactive strategies to help your property stand out and get sold, even in a cooler market.

5 Strategies for Selling in a Buyer's Market

Selling in a cooling market means you need to think like an expert and a buyer at the same time. Here are five proven strategies to help Fort Lauderdale-area sellers succeed in a buyer's market:

1. Price Realistically with Local Comparables. The #1 factor in whether your home sells now is making sure that it's priced right. In a sizzling market, you might get away with an aspirational high price; in 2025's cooler market, overpricing will backfire. Look at what recent homes in your neighborhood sold for in the last 30-60 days - and be honest with yourself about how your home compares. Work with a knowledgeable agent to analyze the data. Resist the urge to "see what you can get", because an overpriced home that sits on the market for months without any offers, will have no other choice but to follow the market down with deep price cuts. Right-pricing from the start will attract more interest and could spark a quicker sale. Today's buyers won't even bite with an obviously overpriced listing. By setting a realistic price based on data, you show buyers and their agents that you're a reasonable seller - which encourages solid offers.

2. Elevate Property Presentation. In a buyer's market, presentation isn't just important-it's your competitive edge. When buyers have more options and can take their time comparing properties, your home needs to stand out from the minute they see it online or pull up to the curb. Outside, clean landscaping, freshly painted entry doors, power-washed driveways and sidewalks, clean windows and thoughtful details create a powerful first impression that sets the tone for the rest of the showing. Inside, staging helps buyers emotionally connect with the space. A well-staged, decluttered home feels more inviting, giving buyers the opportunity to envision themselves living there. You don't need to spend a fortune-just highlight your home's strengths and remove distractions. Make your home feel move-in ready, so it rises to the top of every buyer's list.

3. Offer Buyer Incentives & Flexibility. In 2021 and 2022 when the market was ultra-hot, sellers could stick to their terms. Now, a little bit of seller flexibility could make all the difference. One trend that we're seeing more is seller concessions where the seller agrees to pay for certain costs or provide credits for mortgage rate buy-downs. The key takeaway here is that offering incentives or flexibility with terms can make your listing stand out and show buyers that you're willing to work with them. Sometimes, offering a concession can even net you more than a big price drop.

4. Emphasize Value in Marketing Materials. You want to convince buyers that your property is the best bang for their buck. This means highlighting the value your home offers at its price point. Work with your agent to craft a compelling listing description and create high-quality marketing materials. Use professional photography to make your home look its absolute best online. You want to answer the buyer's question: "Why is this home worth it?" Focus on benefits, not just features. An exercise that we like to do is every time we list a feature, we ask the question, "so what?", at the end. This way we're framing features as benefits-appealing to the buyer's emotions and practical needs. The more clearly you can demonstrate value, the more likely buyers will choose your property over the competition.

5. Work with a Hyper-Local, Experienced Agent. When the market was hot, some homes practically “sold themselves.” In a cooling market, however, the expertise of a seasoned real estate agent is invaluable. Real estate is local, and South Florida is no exception. Trends can vary neighborhood by neighborhood. So, hire an agent who truly knows your local market and has a track record in red hot markets, balanced markets and cooler ones like we're experiencing now. A good agent will help you implement all the strategies above effectively. They often have an inside scoop on Wilton Manors real estate trends or the latest buyer preferences in Oakland Park, which helps in positioning your home competitively. They can recommend the best small improvements for ROI, connect you with stagers or contractors, and push your marketing to the widest audience. Perhaps most importantly, an experienced agent shines when it comes to negotiation – in a buyer’s market, you want a skilled negotiator on your side. They’ll advocate for your price, but also know when to be flexible to keep a deal together. A savvy agent uses their knowledge of contracts and creative deal-making to get your sale to the finish line. Another benefit of a hyper-local agent is their network, especially in a place like South Florida. Often, experienced, savvy agents know other agents with interested buyers, and they can get the word out through the community about your listing. When interviewing agents, don’t hesitate to ask about their experience in adjusting strategy during slower markets – you want someone proactive and up-to-date. This is not the market for a part-timer or a yes-man. You need honest advice and a partner who will roll up their sleeves with you. Working with the right agent gives you a competitive edge and peace of mind that an expert is handling the details.

Tying It All Together

Selling a home in Fort Lauderdale in 2025 may be more challenging in this cooler market than the seller’s market highs of the past, but with the right approach, you can still achieve a successful sale. It’s all about adapting to the new normal: understanding the current Fort Lauderdale and Broward County market trends, setting realistic goals, and leveraging expert strategies to make your home stand out. Homes are still selling, and buyers are very much out there – they’re just more selective. By pricing your home competitively, presenting it beautifully, offering thoughtful incentives, marketing its value, and partnering with a great local agent, you’ll position yourself to win even in a buyer’s market.

Feeling unsure about your next step? We’re here to help. 😊 Contact us today for a personalized strategy session tailored to your situation. We’ll happily discuss your home’s value, recent Oakland Park, Wilton Manors or Fort Lauderdale real estate trends, and how to navigate the current market to get the best outcome. Whether you’re months away from listing or need to sell as soon as possible, we can create a game plan that fits your timeline and goals. Don’t let the shifting market intimidate you – with the right guidance, you can turn these challenges into opportunities. Give us a call, DM us or send an email, and let’s start turning your home-selling worries into a confident action plan. We look forward to helping you sell your South Florida home successfully in 2025!