Northeast Florida home prices edged higher in September even as sales slowed and homes took longer to sell. Buyers had more properties to consider, but affordability weakened across much of the six-county region. Nassau County recorded the sharpest monthly price increase and the region’s lowest affordability score, while conditions varied considerably by county.
Key takeaways
- The regional median single-family price rose 1.1% from August to $399,000, according to one NEFAR-based report.
- September closings fell about 8% to 9.5% from August, depending on the report and measure cited.
- The regional affordability index dropped to 81; a score below 100 indicates a median-income household cannot qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home under the index’s assumptions.
- Nassau County was the least affordable, while Clay County had the region’s highest affordability score.
The reports describe a market where prices have remained relatively steady while buyers take more time to compare homes. A News4JAX account focused on single-family homes reported 1,581 closed sales and 6,287 active listings; Florida Politics reported 1,608 closings and 6,348 listings. The figures differ, so they should be read as separate snapshots rather than treated as identical totals.
Prices and sales moved in different directions
The median single-family price in the six-county area reached $399,000 in the News4JAX report, up 1.1% from August. Florida Politics reported a regional median of $398,566, also 1.1% above August and 2.8% higher than a year earlier. The reports put the monthly decline in sales between roughly 8% and 9.5%; Florida Politics also found closings were down 7.7% year over year.
In the single-family snapshot, homes spent a median 36 days on the market. The region had 2,199 new listings and a four-month supply of active inventory. NEFAR President Kim Knapp said buyers had more choice and negotiating power, while sellers needed to price and present homes to match current buyer expectations.
County conditions were uneven
Nassau County’s median price jumped 9.3% month over month to $496,500, but sales fell 19.3% to 96. Its affordability index sank 7.5 points to 68.5, the region’s lowest reading. St. Johns remained the priciest county, with a median of $568,750 in the single-family report; its affordability score slipped to 77.5.
Duval’s median rose 3.6% to $345,000 in that report, while its affordability score fell to 82. Clay prices declined 4.1% to $355,000, but affordability improved to 89, the region’s strongest score. Putnam’s median increased 2.2% to $291,250 as its index fell to 74.5. Baker recorded 12 closings and a 6.7-month supply of homes, the region’s largest; its affordability score improved to 80.5.
What the figures mean for buyers and sellers
More inventory and slower sales can give buyers additional time to compare options and negotiate, but the affordability index shows that a median-priced home remains out of reach for a median-income family under its standard assumptions. Conditions differ sharply by location, so regional averages may not reflect a buyer’s or seller’s local market. Knapp said homes offering a strong combination of price, condition and value are better positioned to draw interest.