Palm Beach County Real Estate Market Update: What the 2026 Numbers Actually Show

What is the Palm Beach County real estate market doing right now?

Palm Beach County's median single family sale price reached $650,000 in August 2026, up 3.17% from $630,000 a year earlier. The bigger story is supply: single family listings fell 23.8% year over year to 4,345 homes, leaving 3.5 months of inventory. Fewer homes are selling than last year, but far more money is moving, because the top of the market is carrying the county.

If you have been reading headlines about Palm Beach County and coming away confused, you are not imagining it. Sales counts are falling and prices are rising at the same time. That sounds like a contradiction until you look at what is actually selling.

Here is what the August numbers show, and what they mean depending on where you sit.

Why are prices up while sales are down?

Total home sales across the county came in at 1,899 transactions in August, down 4.5% from a year ago. Single family sales fell 2%, from 1,135 to 1,112. Condo sales dropped 6.71% to 765.

Now look at the money. Total dollar volume rose 19.47% to $1.7 billion. Single family dollar volume alone climbed 24.89% to $1.4 billion while the number of single family sales went down.

Fewer homes changed hands. Considerably more money moved. That happens when the upper tier does the heavy lifting.

Palm Beach County recorded 170 sales above $10 million through August, already past the previous full year record of 169, with the year projected to finish near 255. The luxury market is not simply healthy here, it is setting records.

Which is why "how is the market" is the wrong question. A $600,000 home in Boynton Beach and a $6 million waterfront property in Jupiter are not in the same market and are not behaving the same way.

How much inventory is on the market in Palm Beach County?

Active single family listings dropped from 5,702 to 4,345, a 23.80% decline in one year. Condo listings fell 17.09% to 5,770. Across all property types, active listings are down 20.1%, from 12,661 to 10,115.

At 3.5 months of supply, single family homes sit firmly in seller territory. Condos, at 6.7 months, are closer to balanced, and in some buildings the advantage has moved to the buyer.

That split matters more than any county wide headline. Condo supply has been building as insurance and assessment costs reshape what buyers will pay, while single family inventory keeps tightening. Two segments, two different conversations.

Pace tells a similar story. Single family homes are going under contract in 40 days and closing in 81. Condos take 69 days to contract and 108 to close.

And cash continues to shape outcomes. 48.1% of all closed sales in the county were cash, rising to 57.2% for condos and 41.8% for single family homes. In much of Palm Beach County, a financed offer is competing against cash roughly half the time.

What do these numbers mean for your next move?

Selling a single family home. You have leverage, but pricing still decides the result. With 3.5 months of supply, a well priced home sells and an overpriced one sits, reduces, and sells for less than it would have. Leverage is not the same as room for error.

Selling a condo. Different market, different plan. At 6.7 months of supply, preparation and pricing carry far more weight, and your building's specifics matter as much as the unit itself.

Buying. There are 2,546 fewer homes to choose from than a year ago. Less inventory means less time to think it over when the right one appears. Financing arranged before you start looking is no longer optional.

Buying above $1 million. You are in the most competitive part of the county, where records are being set and cash is your competition much of the time. Preparation is the whole game.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home price in Palm Beach County right now?

The median single family sale price was $650,000 in August 2026, up 3.17% from $630,000 in August 2025. The median condominium price was $300,000, up 5.26% from $285,000.

Is Palm Beach County a buyer's market or a seller's market?

It depends on the property type. Single family homes have 3.5 months of supply, which favors sellers. Condominiums have 6.7 months, which is closer to balanced and in some buildings favors buyers. There is no single answer for the county as a whole.

Why are Palm Beach County home sales down but prices up?

Sales volume fell 4.5% year over year in August 2026 while total dollar volume rose 19.47%. Fewer homes sold, but a larger share of them were high value properties. The county passed its annual record for $10 million plus sales before August ended.

How long does it take to sell a home in Palm Beach County?

Single family homes went under contract in a median of 40 days in August 2026 and closed in 81 days. Condominiums took 69 days to contract and 108 days to close.

How much of the Palm Beach County market is cash buyers?

Cash accounted for 48.1% of all closed sales in August 2026, including 57.2% of condominium sales and 41.8% of single family sales.

Want to know what your home is worth in this market? Start with a free home value estimate, or book a time to talk it through. Call or text Lisa Treu at 561-352-3056.

Source: MIAMI Association of Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report, published September 16, 2026.

About Lisa Treu: CEO of Treu Group Real Estate, helping buyers and sellers across Palm Beach County since 1989. FL License SL484511 | 2000 PGA Blvd, Ste 4440, North Palm Beach, FL 33408 | 561-352-3056