Updated November 2026. Where to invest in Florida: four places investors keep asking about, checked against fresh public data: home values, rents, population and the Florida taxes that hit investment property.
Where to invest in Florida depends on your goal. As of November 2026, four places stand out in public data: Aventura for rent (about a 7.1% gross yield), Homestead for entry price, Miami Lakes for holding value (+1.1% in a year) and Winter Garden for Orlando-area demand. Typical values run from $423,500 to $652,700 (Zillow, September 2026).
Jump to: 📍 The 4 places · 🤝 By goal · 🏠 City by city · 💲 Florida taxes · 🪜 How to invest · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- Miami Lakes grew 8.6% and Homestead 6.8% from April 2020 to July 2025, per Census estimates. Aventura shrank 0.9%.
- Values were flat to down over the year to September 2026 in three of the four: Winter Garden −0.5%, Homestead −3.0%, Aventura −4.2%; Miami Lakes rose 1.1% (Zillow).
- Florida levies no personal income tax under its constitution, but investors pay documentary stamp tax of $0.70 per $100 ($0.60 in Miami-Dade) when buying or selling.
- An investment home gets no homestead exemption. Its assessed value can still rise up to 10% a year for non-school taxes, under section 193.1555.
“Best place to invest in Florida” has no single answer. It depends on whether you want rent, growth or a home to retire into later. What we can do is put four well-known spots side by side with the same public data, so you can see the trade-offs before you call a lender.
What are the best places to invest in real estate in Florida?
There’s no single winner, so here are four well-known spots side by side on the same data.
| Place (county) | Typical home value, Sept 2026 | 1-year change | Median gross rent, 2020–2024 | Rough gross rent yield | Population, July 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Garden (Orange) | $568,900 | −0.5% | $1,963 | About 4.1% | 48,063 |
| Miami Lakes (Miami-Dade) | $652,700 | +1.1% | $2,120 | About 3.9% | 33,067 |
| Homestead (Miami-Dade) | $437,200 | −3.0% | $1,674 | About 4.6% | 86,242 |
| Aventura (Miami-Dade) | $423,500 | −4.2% | $2,513 | About 7.1% | 39,880 |
Values come from the Zillow Home Value Index (all homes, September 2026). Rents and population come from Census QuickFacts, read October 26, 2026. The yield is twelve months of median rent divided by the typical value. It’s a quick screen, not a forecast. It leaves out taxes, insurance, HOA fees, empty months and repairs. And the rent is a 2020–2024 figure.
For context, Florida’s statewide typical value was $375,400 in September 2026, down 0.9% over the year, per Zillow. Nationally, NAR counted individual investors and second-home buyers at 20% of existing-home sales that month.
Which place fits which investment goal?
| If your goal is | Look first at | Why, in one line | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent | Aventura | Highest median rent of the four, $2,513 | Condo fees and special assessments |
| Lower entry price for a house | Homestead | $437,200 typical value, a renters’ town | Lower incomes, tenant screening |
| Holding value | Miami Lakes | Only one of the four up over the year (+1.1%) | Thin yield, about 3.9% |
| Growth near jobs and parks | Winter Garden | Grew from 34,568 people in 2010 to 48,063 in 2025 | Growth has slowed since 2020 |
Is 2026 a good year to invest in Florida? Prices are flat to soft in three of these four places, which gives buyers room to negotiate. The catch is carrying cost. Get insurance and HOA numbers before you trust any yield.
What makes each place worth a look?
Winter Garden: growth west of Orlando
Winter Garden sits in Orange County, about 14 miles west of downtown Orlando, close to the theme parks. It grew fast in the 2010s: from 34,568 people in the 2010 Census to 46,964 in 2020. Growth has slowed since, to 48,063 in mid-2025.
It’s a family market. The median household income was $106,495 in 2020–2024. About 66% of homes are lived in by their owners. That helps resale. But rents are modest next to prices, so the yield is middling. Investors here tend to bet on value over time, not monthly cash.
Miami Lakes: steady, owner-heavy and pricey
Miami Lakes is a planned town in Miami-Dade County, developed from the early 1960s. It has the highest typical value of the four, $652,700, and the strongest recent population growth at 8.6% since 2020. It was also the only one of the four with a value gain over the past year.
High prices keep the rent yield low, about 3.9%. It suits investors who want a calm, well-kept area and can live with less cash each month.
Homestead: the most room to grow
Homestead, in south Miami-Dade, is one of the larger cities on this list at 86,242 people, up from 60,512 in 2010. It’s the gateway to Everglades and Biscayne national parks and home to the Homestead-Miami Speedway.
It’s the lowest-priced of the three Miami-Dade picks for houses. Values fell 3.0% over the year, so buyers may get better terms. Incomes are lower, a median of $65,423. Fewer than half of homes are lived in by their owners, so it’s a renters’ town. That’s good for demand. Still, screen tenants and budget for upkeep.
Aventura: condos and the highest rents
Aventura, in northeast Miami-Dade near the Broward line, is a planned city full of high-rise condos. Its median rent, $2,513, is the highest of the four, and its typical value is the lowest because so much of the stock is condos. That’s what pushes its yield screen to about 7.1%.
Look closely before you buy. Condo fees and special assessments can eat a big share of that rent. Values fell 4.2% over the year. Ask for the HOA budget, reserve study and recent minutes. About a quarter of residents (25.8%) are 65 or older, which shapes what units rent best.
What Florida taxes and costs should investors know?
No personal income tax
Florida’s constitution bars a state tax on the income of residents, beyond what the federal credit allows (Florida Constitution, Article VII, Section 5). Rental income still counts for federal tax.
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Buy a home →Documentary stamp tax
Per the Florida Department of Revenue, deeds are taxed at 70 cents per $100 of price in every county except Miami-Dade, where the rate is 60 cents. Miami-Dade adds a 45-cent surtax, but not on a deed that transfers only a single-family home.
| Example | Price | Rate | Doc stamp tax on the deed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Garden home | $568,900 | $0.70 per $100 | $3,982 |
| Homestead single-family home | $437,200 | $0.60 per $100 | $2,623 |
| Aventura condo | $423,500 | $0.60 per $100, plus $0.45 surtax if not a single-family home | $2,541 plus about $1,906 surtax |
Who pays the deed tax is negotiable and set in the contract. Mortgages have their own doc stamp and intangible taxes.
Property tax on investment homes
The homestead exemption, worth up to $50,000 off taxable value, and the Save Our Homes cap apply only to your permanent residence, per the Department of Revenue. A rental doesn’t get them. Instead, under section 193.1555, its assessed value can’t rise more than 10% a year for levies other than school taxes. When you buy, the value resets to market. Check the county property appraiser’s estimate before you run your numbers. Our guide to finding a Florida property tax number shows where to look.
How do you invest in Florida real estate wisely?
- Pick your goal first: rent now, growth later, or a future home.
- Run real numbers: rent minus taxes, insurance, HOA, repairs and some vacancy.
- Get an insurance quote before you offer. In coastal Miami-Dade it can change the math.
- For condos, read the budget, reserves and minutes, and ask about assessments.
- Learn the landlord rules. Our guide to Florida landlords’ rights and duties covers deposits, notices and repairs.
- Decide how you’ll hold title. Our guide on buying property with an LLC weighs liability against harder financing.
Plan the exit too. A rental doesn’t get the home-sale exclusion, but a 1031 exchange can defer the gain; see how capital gains tax works when you sell a house.
Buying a home listed by an agent? The Beycome buyer program has no upfront fee: Beycome keeps 1% of the price (minimum $1,499) and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission at closing, with lender approval. It’s open to every buyer on homes listed by other agents; the credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most FSBO homes, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers. For the closing, Beycome Title charges a $99 prepaid settlement fee in Florida. Before you buy, read six things to know before buying a house in Florida.
When it’s time to sell, a Beycome flat fee MLS listing puts the property on Stellar MLS, Miami MLS or the other Florida MLSs Beycome reaches, for $99 with $0 due to Beycome at closing. Timing matters too: see the top months to sell for speed and value, and why people keep moving to Florida.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to invest in real estate in Florida?
It depends on your goal. Among these four, Aventura screens highest on rent to value (about 7.1%) and Miami Lakes held value best over the past year (+1.1%, Zillow, September 2026).
Is Florida a good state for real estate investment?
It has no personal income tax and a large rental market. But statewide values fell 0.9% over the year to September 2026, per Zillow, and insurance costs need careful checking.
Do investors get the Florida homestead exemption?
No. It’s only for your permanent residence. Non-homestead residential property can still see its assessed value rise no more than 10% a year for non-school taxes.
How much is the doc stamp tax on a Florida home?
70 cents per $100 of price in most counties, or $3,982 on a $568,900 home. Miami-Dade charges 60 cents, plus a 45-cent surtax unless the deed transfers only a single-family home.
Where is the best place to buy an investment condo in Florida?
Areas with strong rents relative to prices, like Aventura on this list. Always check the HOA budget, reserves and any special assessments first.
Can I sell a Florida rental property without an agent?
Yes, it’s your choice. Owners can list on the MLS through a flat fee broker and close with a title company. Tenant rights under the lease still apply during the sale.
What are the best investments in Florida real estate?
Long-term rentals in renter-heavy cities like Homestead, condos where rents are high next to prices like Aventura, and owner-heavy towns like Miami Lakes for steadier values. Run the costs on each before you buy.
Is 2026 a good time to invest in Florida?
Prices gave buyers more room: Florida’s typical value fell 0.9% in the year to September 2026 (Zillow). Insurance and HOA costs decide whether a deal works, so price them first.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index, all homes, September 2026 snapshot. Population, rent, income and housing figures: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Vintage 2025 estimates; 2020–2024 ACS), read October 26, 2026. Rough gross yield = 12 × median gross rent ÷ typical value; it excludes all costs and isn’t a forecast. Tax rules from the Florida Constitution, Florida Statutes and the Department of Revenue, read October 26, 2026. General information, not investment, tax or legal advice.
Beycome prices as of November 2026; “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing (taxes, title and any agreed buyer-agent compensation still apply). Buyer credit: minimum $1,499 kept by Beycome, lender approval, not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers. Beycome Title: Florida, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.
Sources
- Zillow Research, ZHVI, September 2026 snapshot.
- U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts for Winter Garden, Miami Lakes, Homestead and Aventura, read October 26, 2026.
- Florida Department of Revenue, documentary stamp tax, read October 26, 2026.
- Florida Department of Revenue, property tax exemptions, read October 26, 2026.
- Florida Statutes, section 193.1555 and Florida Constitution, Article VII, Section 5.
- NAR, existing-home sales, September 2026.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
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