Florida Land Prices: What Every Seller Needs to Know in 2025

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Martinez, an experienced Florida land buyer who has been tracking Florida land prices and market trends for over a decade.

Sarah breaks down the current state of Florida land prices, from rural counties to coastal areas, and explains what's driving the market shifts. We explore how recent economic changes are affecting what landowners can expect when they sell land in Florida, and why cash buyers for land are seeing increased opportunities.

We also dive into regional price variations across Florida, the impact of development pressure on land values, and insider tips on timing your sale for maximum profit. Plus, Sarah reveals how Florida land buyers evaluate properties in today's market and what sellers should know before listing.

Ready to discover what your Florida land is worth? Get your free land evaluation and see current market values in your area.

Episode Transcript

Emma (00:03):
Welcome to the Land Deal Podcast.
On this episode, we're going tobe diving into the September
2025 Florida land market andwhere buyers and sellers can
find opportunities.
The price gap between Floridaland is so extreme.
It's like comparing Manhattanto Montana.
In the Keys, you'll pay $1.25million per acre, while up in

(00:24):
Holmes County, that same acrecosts just $15,000.
Let's explore this wild realestate frontier.

Jake (00:31):
Those numbers are mind-blowing.
It really captures these twodifferent Floridas we rarely
talk about, the glamorouscoastal region and this whole
other rural world most peoplenever see.

Emma (00:41):
You know what makes this even more fascinating?
The way these prices shiftbased on size.
In Monroe County, the Keys, asmall lot under two acres costs
$1.25 million per acre.
But if you're looking at 20 to100 acres, that drops to about
$65,625 per acre.

Jake (01:01):
Hmm, it's like buying in bulk, but for million-dollar
real estate, though finding alarge parcel in the keys must be
nearly impossible nowadays.

Emma (01:09):
Right.
And look at how these metroareas create these price
bubbles.
Orlando's Orange Countycommands $175,000 per acre for
small lots.
That's the Disney effectrippling through the entire
region.

Jake (01:22):
So what do you think is driving these dramatic price
differences between regions?

Emma (01:27):
Well, it's this perfect storm of factors.
In South Florida, you've gotMiami Dade at $450,000 per acre,
Broward at $350,000, Palm Beachat $300,000.
It's like this gradient ofwealth moving north.
But up in the panhandle, youcould buy 30 acres for the price
of one acre in Miami.

Jake (01:47):
The contrast between coastal and inland prices is
just staggering.
It really makes you think aboutwhat people are actually paying
for.

Emma (01:55):
That's exactly it.
In the Keys, you're basicallypaying for bragging rights.
But up in Holmes County at$15,000 per acre, you could
actually have a working farm,raise livestock, build a real
homestead.
It's two completely differentvisions of what land means.

Jake (02:09):
And these middle-range counties tell such an
interesting story, too.
Like Alachua County withGainesville, $75,000 per acre
feels almost reasonable bycomparison.

Emma (02:19):
The university effect is fascinating there.
You've got this educatedpopulation, stable job market,
but you're not paying SouthFlorida prices.
And look at how dramaticallythe price drops.
That same Alachua County landgoes down to $16,875 per acre
when you're buying largerparcels.

Jake (02:40):
You know what really caught my attention?
How Pinellas County doesn'teven have data for larger
parcels because it's sodeveloped, there literally
aren't any big pieces left.

Emma (02:49):
That's like seeing Florida's future in a crystal
ball.
And speaking of the future,look at these emerging hotspots.
Walton County up in thepanhandle, commanding $175,000
per acre for small lots, same asLee County, where Fort Myers
is.
We're watching the next wave ofFlorida development in real
time.

Jake (03:08):
These numbers really tell a story about where people are
moving and why.
The panhandle used to beFlorida's best kept secret.

Emma (03:15):
And check out how the coastal premium plays out even
in less developed areas.
Franklin County, which ispretty rural, still commands
$75,000 per acre for small lotsbecause of that Gulf Coastline.
Meanwhile, just inland inLiberty County, you're looking
at $18,750 per acre.

Jake (03:35):
The way these patterns reflect different types of
development pressure isfascinating.
Urban density in South Florida,tourism in Central Florida, and
this emerging market for secondhomes in the panhandle.

Emma (03:47):
You know what's really keeping me up at night?
These patterns have hugeimplications for Florida's
future.
When you see places like St.
John's County near Jacksonvillecommanding $150,000 per acre
for small lots, you're watchingthe next major growth corridor
taking shape.
These prices are like economiccrystal balls.

Jake (04:08):
That's such a crucial point about the environmental
impact.
These aren't just numbers,they're driving decisions that
will shape Florida's landscapefor generations.

Emma (04:16):
And that's really the heart of it.
These price patterns aren'tjust about real estate, they're
about the future of one ofAmerica's fastest growing
states.
They tell us where people aremoving, where development is
heading, and how communities areevolving.
It's like watching the futureunfold through the lens of land
values.