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cross Charlotte County, “For Rent” signs are becoming common as homeowners adapt to a cooling market. Cindy Marsh‑Tichy, president of Realtors of Punta Gorda‑Port Charlotte‑North Port‑DeSoto Inc., says many sellers are pulling homes off the sales list and renting them until prices rebound. She recalls a time when investors flooded the county, buying houses and turning them into rentals. Today, some communities require landlords to have lived in the property for a set period before renting. Vacant homes pose risks—flood damage, break‑ins, and the need for special vacant‑home insurance—so renting mitigates those concerns while protecting the asset.

    Realtors attribute the shift to “post‑pandemic conditions.” Libbie Scherer, property manager at Five Star Realty, explains that many Floridians who moved there during the pandemic—either buying or renting—have since returned north for in‑office jobs, leaving a surplus of available homes. During the pandemic, second‑home owners turned properties into Airbnbs, but later found it more practical to offer them as seasonal or long‑term rentals. This surge in inventory has made Scherer’s office busier than ever, the busiest in 17 years.

    Carla Nix of the Nix Team at Sunstar Realty observes that the market has tilted toward buyers, though a reversal could occur if sales strengthen later in the year. Realtors agree that six months of inventory marks the tipping point: above that, buyers dominate; below, sellers do. With interest rates expected to drop further by the end of 2025 and a quiet hurricane season, buying activity may rise, especially if state tax abatements materialize.

    Recent data from the Realtors Association shows subtle shifts. In August, sellers of single‑family homes received 91.1% of their listing price—up from 90.5% in July—while inventory tightened to 7.1 months from 7.5. The median sale price stayed at $345,000, and homes sold in 112 days versus 124 in July. Condo and townhome sellers faced more pressure: August sales hit 86.7% of listing price, down from 88.7% in July, with a median price of $182,500 versus $232,000 a month earlier. Yet properties moved faster, with a median time of 114 days compared to 134, and inventory fell to 9.9 months from 11.1.