Can you afford a home in Florida? Latest market insights

Florida’s housing market is becoming more expensive and hard to access, especially in major cities like Miami. Living wage requirements keep rising, with singles in Miami-Dade needing $24.77 per hour just to cover basic costs. Many single mothers and working families find the math doesn’t add up, especially with rent and childcare eating up incomes.

Some new solutions are emerging, such as the Astoria on 9th community in Bradenton, which offers affordable housing options for seniors at rates well below local averages. While some county officials are taking action to expand housing and prevent displacement, many people across Florida still face tough economic choices when it comes to finding an affordable home.

Marina C., 30, lives in a one-bedroom apartment in South Miami-Dade with her husband and four children. They struggle with high rent and low wages, leaving them with limited funds for essentials like furniture, a larger apartment, baby items, clothing, food and a computer for their children. Marina reflects on seeking a better life while caring for her two-month-old son, Anthony J., on Dec. 18, 2024, in a Miami Herald Wish Book story. By Carl Juste

NO. 1: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR LIVING WAGE NEED TO BE TO MAKE IT IN MIAMI? HINT: IT’S GOING UP

Here are 2025 Living Wage figures for Miami-Dade and Florida. | Published March 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen

El proceso de selección para entrar en la lista de espera de vivienda asequible en el condado Miami-Dade se extendió hasta el 11 de noviembre. By Pedro Portal

NO. 2: COST OF LIVING IN MIAMI-DADE: SINGLE MOMS CAN’T AFFORD IT | OPINION

The affordability crisis in Miami-Dade is dragging women down | Opinion | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anna Hochkammer

Astoria on 9th, a senior affordable housing community, is open at 2244 Ninth Street West, shown here on May 7, 2025. By Tiffany Tompkins

NO. 3: AFFORDABLE HOUSING FROM HEAT’S ALONZO MOURNING AND MIAMI FIRM OPENS IN FLORIDA

A basketball legend is one of the collaborators behind the project. | Published May 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jason Dill

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.