An increasing number of “For Rent” signs are appearing across Charlotte County, Florida, as homeowners adapt to a cooling real estate market. Local real estate professionals report a clear trend of property owners pulling their homes from sale listings and offering them as rentals, a strategy to wait for more favorable selling conditions.
This shift is driven by post-pandemic employment changes and evolving rental strategies, creating a significant increase in the local rental inventory and altering the dynamics of the housing market.
Key Takeaways
- Homeowners in Charlotte County are increasingly renting out their properties instead of selling them in the current market.
- The trend is attributed to a cooling sales market, with owners waiting for prices to rebound.
- An exodus of remote workers who moved during the pandemic has increased the supply of available homes.
- Recent data shows mixed signals, with single-family homes showing some stability while the condo market faces more pressure.
A Strategic Shift from Selling to Renting
The decision for many Charlotte County homeowners to become landlords is a direct response to current market conditions. Rather than selling at a potential discount, property owners are choosing to generate rental income while preserving their investment's value for a future sale.
Cindy Marsh-Tichy, president of Realtors of Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port-DeSoto Inc., explained that many sellers are strategically removing their homes from the sales market. They are opting to lease them until property values recover to more desirable levels.
The Risks of Vacant Properties
Leaving a home empty is often not a viable option for owners. Marsh-Tichy noted that vacant properties are more susceptible to issues like flooding or break-ins. Furthermore, owners are frequently required to purchase specialized, and often more expensive, vacant-home insurance policies. Renting provides a practical solution to mitigate these risks.
This trend also follows a period where investors were actively purchasing homes in the county to convert into rentals. However, some communities have since implemented restrictions, requiring a landlord to have lived in the home for a specific period before it can be rented out, which has influenced the market dynamics.
Post-Pandemic Reversal Fuels Rental Supply
The current increase in rental availability is also linked to what real estate experts describe as “post-pandemic conditions.” Many individuals and families who relocated to Florida during the height of remote work are now returning to their home states as companies recall employees to in-office positions.
Libbie Scherer, a property manager for Five Star Realty, has observed this reversal firsthand. She stated that this migration back north has left a significant number of properties, both purchased and rented, available in the local market.
“It’s the busiest I’ve been in 17 years,” Scherer said, commenting on the surge in rental listings her office is managing.
Another factor is the shift away from short-term rentals. According to local realtors, many second-home owners who initially used their properties for Airbnb have found the constant turnover to be impractical. They are now transitioning to more stable seasonal or annual rental agreements, further boosting the long-term rental inventory.
Market Data Reveals a Mixed Picture
Recent sales data from the Realtors Association provides a detailed look at the current state of the Charlotte County market, showing different trends for single-family homes versus condominiums and townhomes.
Single-Family Home Market: August 2025
- Sale Price vs. List Price: Sellers received 91.1% of their asking price, a slight increase from 90.5% in July.
- Inventory: The supply of homes tightened to 7.1 months from 7.5 months in July.
- Median Sale Price: Remained steady at $345,000.
- Time to Sale: Homes sold faster, with a median of 112 days on the market compared to 124 days in July.
While the single-family home segment shows signs of resilience, the market for condos and townhomes is experiencing greater pressure. This divergence highlights the nuanced conditions sellers are facing.
Condo and Townhome Market Under Pressure
The data for condominiums and townhomes in August painted a more challenging picture for sellers. Owners in this segment received 86.7% of their listing price, down from 88.7% the previous month.
The median sale price saw a significant drop, falling to $182,500 in August from $232,000 in July. Despite the price pressure, these properties also sold more quickly, with the median time to sale decreasing to 114 days from 134. The inventory also shrank from 11.1 months to 9.9 months, indicating that some properties are still moving off the market.
Outlook for the Remainder of the Year
Real estate professionals are watching several factors that could influence the market through the end of 2025. Carla Nix of the Nix Team at Sunstar Realty described the current environment as a buyer's market, a situation that occurs when housing inventory exceeds six months of supply.
However, Nix expressed cautious optimism, noting that potential interest rate reductions could stimulate buyer activity. “With interest rates being reduced — and more cuts expected by the end of 2025 — I'm already starting to see buyers emerge,” she commented.
Other factors, such as a quiet hurricane season and discussions around potential statewide property tax abatements, could further encourage prospective buyers to enter the market. A strengthening sales market later in the year could potentially slow the trend of homeowners opting to rent rather than sell.
