Market Report · Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County Housing Market Report — February 2026
Palm Beach County had a strong February — and the luxury segment in particular is on fire. Sales are up, prices are climbing, and nearly half of all transactions are cash. Here's the full breakdown of what's happening in the single-family home market across Palm Beach County.
February 2026 Snapshot — Single-Family Homes
Median Price
$675,000
+4.3% YoY
Closed Sales
1,089
+7.9% YoY
Active Listings
5,749
-8.6% YoY
Months Supply
4.9
-14.0% YoY
The Big Picture: Sales Climbing, Prices Moving Up
February saw 1,089 closed sales across Palm Beach County, up 7.9% from the 1,009 sales a year ago. That's a healthy jump and continues the positive momentum that started building in late 2025. Year-to-date, 2,026 homes have closed — up 9.0% compared to the first two months of last year.
The median sale price came in at $675,000, up 4.3% from $647,000 a year ago. That makes Palm Beach the priciest of the three South Florida counties we track, and prices here are showing more upward momentum than either Broward or St. Lucie. The average sale price tells an even bigger story — $1,453,078, up 14.9% year-over-year. That gap between median and average is driven by Palm Beach's massive luxury segment, which had an exceptional month.
Price & Volume Breakdown
Dollar Volume
$1.6B
+24.0% vs Feb 2025
Avg Sale Price
$1,453,078
+14.9% vs Feb 2025
Med. % of List Price
94.4%
+0.5% vs Feb 2025
Nearly Half of All Sales Are Cash
This is what makes Palm Beach different from almost any other market in the country. In February, 512 of 1,089 closed sales were all-cash transactions — that's 47.0% of the entire market. Up from 44.6% a year ago. When almost half the buyers in a county don't need a mortgage, you're dealing with a fundamentaly different dynamic than most housing markets.
The high cash percentage reflects Palm Beach's position as a destination for wealthy buyers — seasonal residents, retirees, and investors who can write a check. For financed buyers, this means you're frequently competing against offers with no financing contingency. It doesn't make it impossible to buy with a mortgage, but it does mean your offer needs to be clean and competetive.
Time on Market: Slightly Longer, But Not by Much
The median time to contract was 53 days, up from 50 days a year ago (+6.0%). The median time to sale was 91 days, up from 89 days (+2.2%). These are modest increases — homes are taking a few extra days compared to last year, but we're not seeing the kind of slowdown that suggests sellers are in trouble.
Time on Market — February 2026 vs. February 2025
Median Time to Contract
53 Days
vs. 50 Days (Feb 2025)
Median Time to Sale
91 Days
vs. 89 Days (Feb 2025)
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Inventory Is Tightening Up
Active listings dropped to 5,749, down 8.6% from 6,292 a year ago. New listings also pulled back — 1,708 in February, down 8.9% from 1,874. Meanwhile, new pending sales rose 5.0% to 1,441. The trend is clear: supply is contracting while demand is expanding.
The months supply of inventory now sits at 4.9 months, down from 5.7 a year ago — a 14.0% decline. That puts Palm Beach County firmly in seller's market territory (below the 5.5-month balanced benchmark). After spending most of 2025 building inventory and flirting with buyer's market conditions, the pendulum has swung back. Sellers have regained some leverage, particularly in the sub-$700K range where supply is dropping fastest.
Where the Action Is: Sales by Price Range
The most active price segment was the $500K–$599K range with 135 sales, followed by $400K–$499K with 129 sales. But the real headline is the $1M+ category, which saw a whopping 317 closed sales — up 18.3% year-over-year. When nearly 30% of all sales in a county are above $1 million, you know you're in Palm Beach.
Closed Sales by Price Range — February 2026
| Price Range | Sales | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Under $200K | 28 | +21.7% |
| $200K – $299K | 62 | +19.2% |
| $300K – $399K | 109 | +21.1% |
| $400K – $499K | 129 | -2.3% |
| $500K – $599K | 135 | -3.6% |
| $600K – $699K | 115 | -5.7% |
| $700K – $799K | 86 | +13.2% |
| $800K – $899K | 68 | +3.0% |
| $900K – $999K | 40 | 0.0% |
| $1M+ | 317 | +18.3% |
Million-Dollar Spotlight
Palm Beach's luxury market was exceptionally active in February. Among homes selling for $1 million or more:
$1M – $1.25M
67 sales · +1.5% YoY
$1.25M – $1.5M
42 sales · -10.6% YoY
$1.5M – $2M
60 sales · +33.3% YoY
$2M – $3M
50 sales · +8.7% YoY
$3M – $5M
41 sales · +64.0% YoY
$5M – $10M
37 sales · +54.2% YoY
$10M+
20 sales · +33.3% YoY
The $3M–$5M bracket surged 64%, the $5M–$10M range was up 54.2%, and there were 20 sales above $10 million (up 33.3%). This is a market where serious wealth is actively buying. The combination of no state income tax, world-class amenities, and coastal lifestyle continues to pull high-net-worth buyers from the Northeast and internationally.
Distressed Sales: Virtually Zero
Of 1,089 closed sales, 1,087 were traditional transactions. Just 1 was a foreclosure and 1 was a short sale. The distressed market in Palm Beach County is nonexistent. Given the wealth profile of buyers and the overall financial health of homeowners here, that's not surprising — but it's worth noting for anyone still hoping to find a deal through distressed channels.
So What Does All This Mean for You?
If You're a Buyer
Inventory is tightening and prices are moving up. At 4.9 months supply, Palm Beach is in seller's territory. If you're financing, know that 47% of your competition is paying cash. Homes are getting 94.4% of list price — actually slightly higher than a year ago — so don't expect deep discounts. The best strategy is to move decisively on well-priced properties. Waiting for prices to drop doesn't look like a winning bet based on current trends.
If You're a Seller
This is your market right now. Sales are up, inventory is shrinking, and the months supply has dropped below 5.0. The median time to contract is 53 days, which means a well-priced home should go under contract in under two months. The luxury segment is especially active — if you're sitting on a $1M+ property, the buyer pool is deeper and more active than it's been in over a year. Price it fairly and let the market come to you.
If You're an Investor
The entry-level brackets (under $400K) are seeing strong sales growth — up 19–22% year-over-year. Dollar volume hit $1.6 billion in a single month, up 24%. Palm Beach isn't cheap, but the appreciation trajectory and rental demand in the sub-$500K segment still present opportunities. With months supply at 4.9 and dropping, the market dynamics favor holding rather than flipping.
Closed Sales & Median Price — 12-Month Trend
| Month | Closed Sales | YoY | Median Price | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | 1,089 | +7.9% | $675,000 | +4.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 937 | +10.2% | $700,000 | +7.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 1,269 | +23.0% | $632,500 | +1.6% |
| Nov 2025 | 1,001 | +19.0% | $605,000 | +0.8% |
| Oct 2025 | 1,253 | +19.1% | $643,000 | +3.5% |
| Sep 2025 | 1,163 | +24.8% | $615,000 | 0.0% |
| Aug 2025 | 1,135 | +0.8% | $630,000 | +2.4% |
| Jul 2025 | 1,185 | +0.9% | $613,250 | -4.8% |
| Jun 2025 | 1,187 | -6.4% | $626,000 | -4.8% |
| May 2025 | 1,334 | -7.2% | $640,000 | -1.2% |
| Apr 2025 | 1,328 | -5.1% | $645,000 | -0.8% |
| Mar 2025 | 1,255 | +2.4% | $625,000 | -2.3% |
Data source: Florida Realtors, compiled from MLS feeds on the 10th day of the following month. Data released March 16, 2026. Next release: April 17, 2026.
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