Martin County recorded 181 single-family home sales in August 2026, down from 204 a year earlier. If you were looking for a house in Stuart or Palm City, you might have expected that slowdown to give you more time to make an offer. Yet among the homes that sold, the median time from listing to contract fell from 77 days to 56. Buyers and sellers were reaching agreements three weeks sooner.
What caught my attention was how much the selection had changed. Martin County ended August with 644 single-family homes for sale, down from 823 the previous August. So while fewer sales closed, buyers also had nearly 22% fewer homes to choose from. That puts the sales number in a different light, especially if you’re looking in one neighborhood and have a firm price limit.
In this episode of Florida Explained, I look at what happened in Martin County, how it compared with Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties, and what I’d consider if you’re planning to buy or sell on Florida’s Treasure Coast.
How much did Martin County home prices rise?
The median sale price for a single-family home in Martin County reached $656,900 in August 2026, up 12.8% from $582,500 a year earlier. If you own a home here, I’d hold off on adding 13% to what you think it’s worth. The median is the midpoint of the homes that closed that month, and it can move when a different mix of homes sells. To price your property, I’d start with recent sales of homes a buyer would reasonably consider alongside yours.
Across Florida, the change was more modest. The statewide median for existing single-family homes rose 1.2% to $415,000, while closed sales fell 1.4%. Florida Realtors Chief Economist Brad O’Connor pointed to higher mortgage rates as one reason sales growth slowed after nearly a year of gains.
How did Martin County compare with Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties?
Here’s the number that surprised me. Martin County’s median single-family sale price was $6,900 higher than Palm Beach County’s in August. If you’re looking north of Palm Beach because you expect your housing budget to go considerably further, it’s worth comparing the actual homes on your list before ruling an area in or out.
| August 2026 single-family home market | Median sale price | Change in homes for sale from August 2025 | Months of supply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin County | $656,900 | Down 21.8% | 3.4 |
| Palm Beach County | $650,000 | Down 23.8% | 3.5 |
| St. Lucie County | $402,500 | Down 3.5% | 4.9 |
St. Lucie County’s median was close to where it had been a year earlier, and buyers had more homes available relative to the pace of sales. For someone deciding between Palm City and Port St. Lucie, that’s a reason to look at how many homes meet your needs in each place. The county line alone won’t tell you what your budget buys.
What do the August numbers mean if you’re buying or selling?
If you’re buying, I’d start with the homes you would actually make an offer on. There may be hundreds of listings across Martin County, but if only a few meet your needs in Hobe Sound or Jensen Beach, it matters how long those homes are taking to go under contract. A property that has been sitting at an ambitious asking price may leave room to negotiate. A well-priced home in a neighborhood where little else is available calls for a different conversation.
If you’re selling, buyers in Martin County paid a median of 94% of the original asking price for single-family homes in August, compared with 91.5% a year earlier. Sellers got closer to their asking prices, but buyers still paid attention to value. Before we set a price, I’d want to see what comparable homes sold for, which ones are under contract and what a buyer could tour the same afternoon they come to see yours.
Heading into the winter season, I’ll be watching whether more homes come on the market as seasonal buyers arrive. If buyers show up and inventory stays tight, the homes they’re competing for could go under contract more quickly. For a seller in Sewall’s Point or a buyer in Stuart, I’d pay closer attention to new listings and accepted offers in that particular price range than to a prediction about bidding wars across South Florida.
If you’re considering a move on the Treasure Coast, tell me where you’re looking, what kind of home you have in mind and the price range you’re working with. We can look at the sales that matter to your decision. Contact Maria Wells at Lifestyle Realty Group.
I cover condos and townhouses in a separate August market update, including what buyers should know about association fees, reserves and assessments. You can find more of my local market reports and neighborhood tours on Florida Explained on YouTube.