Miami Received F Grade in Housing Report Card
The city earned a total score of 29 out of 100 in the latest Realtor.com analysis of national housing markets.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Residential
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Miami residents navigating the local market saw the city receive an F grade in the 2026 Realtor.com Metro Report Cards. The assessment highlights a major disconnect between local earnings and the cost of homeownership.
Why it matters
The report underscores the persistent struggle of balancing land scarcity and high building costs against local income levels. These factors continue to create a divide where housing values are heavily influenced by demand that exists outside the reach of the median earner.
Miami earned an affordability score of 18.9 and a homebuilding score of 39.1, with median earners spending nearly 47% of their $74,274 annual income on mortgages. The median home price sits at $507,237, while new builds carry a 248% premium over resold homes.
The players
Realtor.com
The national real estate portal that produced the 2026 Metro Report Cards.
The details
The report points to geographic constraints between the Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean as a significant limiter for residential expansion. Developers have largely pivoted to luxury construction to offset high baseline costs, further driving up the price of new inventory. While Florida as a state maintained a B grade, high-performing cities like Jacksonville and Palm Bay fared significantly better than Miami.
Timeline
Realtor.com released the 2026 Metro Report Cards on September 29, 2026.
Beyond the 305
This performance follows a national trend established by the 2026 Realtor.com Metro Report Cards, which measure affordability and homebuilding metrics across major U.S. cities. The score places Miami near the bottom of the rankings, contrasting with cities like Des Moines and other Florida markets.
The data reflects a reality where the median earner spends nearly half their income on housing, highlighting the financial strain of the current market. These metrics show why entry-level homeownership remains elusive for many residents as new construction continues to target luxury price points.
The takeaway
The report serves as a stark reminder of the premium new construction currently demands in our land-constrained city. Monitor upcoming development commission meetings to see how local zoning policy attempts to address the housing gap for median-income families.
Further reading
For more on the local market landscape, see Residential.
Live Poll
Is homeownership becoming less attainable for average working families in your local community?
