Florida often attracts real estate investors seeking affordable properties, but not all areas may be a wise choice. Some cities in Florida offer housing markets that may not support a high quality of life, making them less attractive options for prospective buyers.
To help identify the areas to approach with caution, GOBankingRates analyzed key indicators. They considered average single-family home values for December 2022 and December 2023, using data from the Zillow Home Value Index. Additionally, they reviewed average incomes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey and the livability index from AreaVibes. For a city to qualify as a “bad” housing market, it needed an average home value below the national average and a livability index under 75.
Here’s a list of the 10 Florida cities where real estate buyers may want to proceed carefully, presented in ascending order:
1. Madison, Florida
- December 2022 Home Value: $178,443
- December 2023 Home Value: $176,639
- Livability index: 65
2. Micco, Florida
- December 2022 Home Value: $259,122
- December 2023 Home Value: $243,192
- Livability index: 65
3. Laurel Hill, Florida
- December 2022 Home Value: $179,366
- December 2023 Home Value: $177,566
- Livability index: 65
4. Palatka, Florida
- December 2022 Home Value: $191,025
- December 2023 Home Value: $190,559
- Livability index: 65
5. Coleman, Florida
- December 2022 Home Value: $180,642
- December 2023 Home Value: $175,221
6. Westville, Florida
- December 2022 Home Value: $187,528
- December 2023 Home Value: $185,859
- Livability index: 65
7. Homeland, Florida
- December 2022 Home Value: $219,884
- December 2023 Home Value: $210,353
- Livability index: 65
8. Poinciana, Florida
- December 2022 Home Value: $310,752
- December 2023 Home Value: $303,975
- Livability index: 65
9. Campbellton, Florida
- December 2022 Home Value: $128,770
- December 2023 Home Value: $124,798
- Livability index: 65
10. Paxton, Florida
- December 2022 Home Value: $150,853
- December 2023 Home Value: $144,233
- Livability index: 65
These cities have shown stagnant or declining home values, which may not bode well for future investments. Potential buyers should consider alternative locations within Florida that promise better long-term prospects and higher livability scores.
