Central Florida Luxury Market Holds Steady as Cash and International Buyers Lead

Central Florida’s luxury real estate market has remained stable over the past year, even as rising interest rates and global uncertainty have slowed activity in lower price brackets. According to Bent Danholm, broker and co-owner of Danholm Collection, properties priced at $1.5 million and above, with an average sale price near $2 million, have seen little impact from recent economic and geopolitical turbulence. Danholm attributes this resilience to the purchasing habits of luxury buyers, who typically operate outside the constraints that affect most homebuyers.

“The people we deal with are not, if at all, affected by interest rates,” Danholm says. The luxury segment has not experienced the volatility seen in markets below $500,000, where mortgage rates and economic headlines have caused significant swings in buyer activity and transaction volume.

Danholm’s firm works exclusively with high-end Central Florida properties, serving a client base primarily composed of cash buyers. This insulates luxury transactions from the financing disruptions and lender scrutiny that have slowed sales at lower price points. While many agents report slowdowns and increased buyer hesitation in the broader market, Danholm says his business has remained consistent.

“Society has changed a lot. We’re now at war with Iran, and interest rates have gone up and down,” he says. “But for the people I deal with and the way they buy property, that hasn’t changed.”

International Buyers Remain Active

Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, international interest in Central Florida luxury real estate remains strong. Danholm reports an increase in Brazilian buyers over the past three to four months, contradicting expectations that global instability would dampen cross-border investment.

“We’re still seeing a lot of Brazilian buyers, and if anything, we’ve seen more in the last three or four months than we did 12 months ago,” he says.

Buyers from the United Kingdom have also stayed active. Danholm observes that most foreign clients are unconcerned with U.S. political fluctuations. In some cases, overseas buyers view the current U.S. environment as favorable for investment.

This sustained international demand highlights how Central Florida luxury real estate functions as a separate market, less influenced by domestic employment trends or financing conditions. Luxury transactions are driven by wealth preservation, lifestyle preferences, and currency factors that operate independently of mainstream economic cycles.

Cash Buyers Dominate Transactions

The dominance of cash in the luxury segment shapes both the pace and nature of transactions. Danholm says the vast majority of his clients pay cash, eliminating appraisal contingencies, mortgage delays, and interest rate exposure.

“Most of them are cash. Our clients are pretty affluent,” he says.

This financial strength allows for faster closings and reduces the uncertainty that can derail financed deals. Luxury buyers’ purchasing power is rooted in existing wealth, not current earnings, making them less vulnerable to job market shifts or income volatility.

The prevalence of cash also changes how deals are negotiated. Sellers working with cash buyers face fewer contingencies and lower risk, making them more willing to accept slightly lower offers for the certainty of closing. At the same time, desirable properties can still fetch premium prices when multiple cash buyers compete.

Pricing Determines How Fast Homes Sell

Danholm attributes the rise in luxury inventory to overpricing and weak marketing rather than falling demand. Properties listed at market value and presented well continue to attract serious buyers and sell quickly, often with multiple offers.

“If the home is priced right and it’s in good condition, you need to be really quick as a buyer,” he explains. He recalls a client who hesitated over two properties, only to see both go under contract before making an offer.

Inventory buildup is concentrated among overpriced or poorly marketed homes that linger, creating the impression of a slowdown. Danholm cites a property listed for 316 days as an example of how overpricing can stall a sale. His firm has not had a deal fall through in over a year, reinforcing that well-positioned properties continue to move efficiently.

A Boutique Strategy for Luxury

Danholm Collection, formerly Maxim Realty Orlando, is a boutique brokerage specializing in luxury properties. The small team includes a marketing director, marketing assistant, and transaction coordinator, while Danholm personally handles all client interactions. The average transaction price for the firm is about $2 million.

The brokerage’s strategy centers on identifying the ideal buyer profile for each property before launching tailored marketing efforts. Danholm says this approach has produced faster sales in communities where other agents struggle with longer market times.

Recession Risk on the Horizon

Danholm remains alert to global developments, especially the conflict with Iran and its potential effects on energy prices and the wider economy. While the luxury market has remained insulated so far, Danholm acknowledges that a prolonged conflict and resulting recession could eventually affect even high-net-worth buyers.

“If this continues and we go into a recession because of it, that’s what could be worrying,” he says.

For now, Central Florida’s luxury real estate market continues to function as a parallel economy, largely disconnected from the challenges facing the mainstream housing market. Whether this insulation can withstand deeper economic shocks remains to be seen. Current evidence suggests that luxury buyers, especially international ones, are well-positioned to weather volatility that would undermine lower-priced segments. Sellers who price and market their properties accurately continue to see strong results, while overpriced listings risk languishing as buyers remain discerning.