Orlando’s luxury real estate market is experiencing a fundamental shift in buyer behavior, with affluent house hunters now taking weeks rather than days to make purchase decisions, according to veteran local agent Alexis Bress of eXp Realty.
“Buyers are definitely being more strategic,” says Bress, who specializes in million-dollar-plus properties. “They’re being careful with where they’re placing their money and also determining if they need the size that million-dollar property is giving them.”
This marks a dramatic change from the pandemic-era frenzy when properties would receive multiple offers within hours of listing. According to Bress, luxury buyers are now conducting multiple property visits and carefully evaluating amenities they may have impulsively purchased during the boom.
“Some people have realized that they just don’t need it,” Bress notes. “We’re seeing buyers just be more selective with what they’re looking for and also expecting more out of those luxury properties, higher-end finishes, and just expecting more for their money than they might have been a few years ago.”
While headlines might suggest a market downturn, Bress argues the reality on the ground is more nuanced. “I think it’s probably a little dramatic on the news where we’re not feeling it as much in person,” she says. “At the end of the day, people are still buying selling, and the area is growing like crazy.”
However, the pace of transactions has normalized. Properties that might have sold in days now often take weeks to find the right buyer, particularly unique luxury homes that require a specific type of purchaser. Bress indicates this extended timeline is becoming accepted by sellers who understand the value of waiting for the right match.
“A lot of times that luxury market in Orlando is a more unique property that’s looking for the right buyer, so it’s taking a few extra weeks to find the right buyer. And that’s okay for a lot of sellers,” Bress explains.
In response to these market shifts, Bress says both buyers and sellers are getting more creative with deal structures. “We have seen seller concessions much more common in most offers,” she notes. “Most people are looking for their closing costs to be covered partially or almost completely, because they need some more cash in their pocket and can use that towards their interest rate buy down.”
Additionally, Bress reports seeing more sophisticated financing arrangements, including bridge loans and equity-based solutions, as buyers adapt to the current environment. “We’re starting to see people pull equity out of different places in order to purchase a home,” she explains. “Maybe that’s from their other property, and they’re trying to bridge it and do a bridge loan so that they can move slowly.”
This more measured approach to luxury real estate represents what Bress believes could be a lasting change in the market. While the fundamentals remain strong, the days of rushed decisions and multiple blind offers may be giving way to a more sustainable model of careful consideration and strategic negotiation.
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