These Florida Cities Made Zillow’s Hottest Markets For 2024
Unless you were living under a rock in 2023, you probably noticed that housing costs reached record highs. Whether you were renting or buying your first place, the cost of living skyrocketed in 2023, but some relief might be on the way. Zillow just released their predictions for the hottest housing markets of 2024. Two Florida cities are on Zillow’s Hottest Markets of 2024 list!
Tampa, FL and Orlando, FL made it on Zillow’s Hottest Markets of 2024 list. Tampa sits at #10 and Orlando sits at #9. It’s no secret that Florida has been one of the fastest growing states the last few years. We’re seeing new apartment complexes on every corner, road expansion projects and crazy traffic. Florida is known for it’s warm climate, job opportunities and the booming nightlife scene. Tampa is is just minutes away form the best beaches in the country and Orlando is home to many different theme parks and attractions.
Breaking down Zillow’s Hottest Markets List:
- Zillow determined the hottest markets in 2024 through analysis of forecasted home value growth, housing market velocity, projected changes in the labor sector, housing construction projects and the number of home owning households.
- Zillow says, “Baby boomers and millennials represent two enormous generations, and both are very active in the housing market. Baby boomers are hardly exiting the market as they age, a departure from previous generations at the same age, and millennials are aging into their prime home buying years as they hit their early and mid-thirties.”
- The Midwest, Great Lakes and South are no doubt some of 2024’s hottest markets thanks to their friendly inventory, mortgage rates, and prices as well as steady job growth.
Zillow’s Hottest Housing Markets of 2024:
- Buffalo, New York
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Columbus, Ohio
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Orlando, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
To learn more and see the full breakdown of Zillow’s Hottest Housing Markets of 2024, click here.
Realistic Advice For Moving To Tampa
Pack Some Patience
This is slightly a joke but also kind of serious because it really does take an hour to get anywhere in Tampa. If you plan on moving to Tampa be sure to bring some patience. Trust us, you’ll need it for driving on 275 or across the Howard Frankland during rush-hour (or any time of day really).
Get Your Insurance FAST
One of the biggest cons of moving to Florida/Tampa is the insurance rates. You have 10 days to title and register your car, boats, mobile home, etc. You’ll have 30 days to obtain a Florida driver license. If you don’t, you could see a hefty $500 fine. It’s also worth noting the cost of car insurance is 30% higher than the national average.
Also since Florida is constantly threatened by major hurricanes, expect to pay A LOT for home/flood insurance.
Learn Our Driving Habits
It’s something that even locals are guilty of doing. If you want to fit right in with the rest of Tampa, be sure to never use your blinker and let other drivers know your next move. Also, instead of making a u-turn, it’s Florida policy to cut over 3 lanes of traffic to correct your mistake. (For legal reasons, this is a joke).
If you go anything under the speed limit in the left lane, be prepared to be met with a lot of middle fingers from Tampa locals.
Don't Brag About Your Hometown
Seriously, you made the move. Now you’re a Floridian. We don’t care “how you did it in New York”. If you liked it so much, you could’ve stayed. Related note: Once you make the transfer to Tampa, leave behind your old team sports gear. You’re a Bucs/Rays/Lightning fan now.
Sunscreen, Bug Spray, and Allergy Medication Are Your New Best Friends
One thing you may not have realized in Florida is the bugs are INTENSE. Mosquitoes, fire ants, and palmetto bugs are extremely common. You also might want to get used to wearing sunscreen daily and have some allergy medication on hand. We have plants that bloom year-round which causes a lot of issues for people with bad allergies. Plus the ocean breeze can move pollen for miles.
Learn To Wait Out The Rain
If you’ve visited on vacation you probably experienced this. It’s a beautiful sunny day until around 4pm when we get our daily showers. If you’re at an amusement park like Busch Gardens, don’t worry about gathering your things and leaving (unless otherwise stated by the park). Majority of the time, you can wait out the storm in 30-60 minutes.
Do A Trial Run
Before making the move to Tampa, maybe consider doing a trial run during our “worst” months. It’s the hottest in July/August, hurricanes really pick up in September, traffic is TERRIBLE during spring break. If you plan a 2-3 week visit during any of these months, you’ll get a real taste of what it’s like living in Tampa.
