Florida Investment Property: Where, How, and What to Buy

Thinking of investing in Florida real estate? The Sunshine State remains one of the best places to buy a rental property in 2026. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Florida real estate, including the top reasons to invest there, the best markets to own rental properties, and how to buy a Florida investment property, step by step!

Summary:

• Many real estate investors own property in Florida due to its strong population growth, rental demand, affordable markets, and other factors.

• Some of the best Florida markets to own real estate include Tampa, Sarasota, North Port, Orlando, Ocala, Gainesville, and Jacksonville.

• Turnkey rentals are a great option for new and/or remote investors, as they often come with property management and require less upkeep than other properties.

Browse turnkey Florida investment properties with tenants in place!

Why Invest in Florida (in 2026)?

Whether you’re a resident or a remote investor, there are several reasons to buy investment properties in Florida:

Strong Population Growth

Florida is the fastest-growing state in the U.S., and it’s unlikely to slow down any time soon. By 2030, its population could increase by another 1.4 million!

Steady Rental Demand

Florida boasts high rental demand due to a combination of rapid in-migration and housing unaffordability for its lower-income households. New construction has helped, but only to an extent, as prices still have not yet dipped far enough to make homeownership affordable for many Floridians.

Affordable Market Options

You don’t have to invest in a more expensive city like Miami to own a profitable rental property in Florida. Lehigh Acres’ average home price is around $283,000, Tallahassee’s is around $282,000, and Jacksonville’s is around $278,000—all well below the national median of $410,000 and national average of $357,000!

Average and median home prices as of February 2026.

Cash Flow STILL Exists!

While it can be challenging to get deals to pencil out in many areas of the country, there are still many cash-flow-rich areas of Florida. Even when buying in popular Florida markets, investors can achieve cash flow, especially with builder incentives. This property has an estimated cash flow of $560 per month!

Put only 5% down on your next Florida new-build investment property!

Worried About Hurricanes? Hear This

Hurricanes and rising landlord insurance costs are a major concern for many Florida investors, but you can curb these expenses by buying a new-build, (cinder) block home instead, as these homes are significantly better protected. Homeowners insurance on new homes is 53% cheaper than that of 10-year-old homes, and 30-year-old homes cost 75% more to insure than new homes.

Best Areas to Invest in Florida

Which specific areas of Florida should you invest in? There are great options statewide:

1. Southwest Florida: Tampa, Sarasota, North Port

Southwest Florida is home to world-class beaches, as well as many hospitals and care facilities, making it a great area to own long-term rentals, mid-term rentals, or short-term rentals. Much like Florida, the Tampa Bay region is growing and expects roughly 400,000-550,000 new residents by 2030. The area’s average home price of $365,000 is still around the national average, but its average rent of $2,575 is quite a bit higher than the national average of $2,222.

Average home and rent prices as of February 2026.

2. Central Florida: Orlando, Ocala, Gainesville

Orlando has long been one of the nation’s top tourist destinations and short-term rental markets. Its average home price of roughly $367,000 hovers around the national average, but investors who go slightly further north can find more affordable options in markets like Gainesville or Ocala—the nation’s fastest-growing metro area from 2023-2024. Central Florida is also more protected from hurricanes, which could lead to lower insurance costs than many other coastal markets.

Average home and rent prices as of February 2026.

3. Northeast Florida: Jacksonville

Like Tampa, Jacksonville boasts a strong healthcare industry, but it’s also home to three different military bases. Jacksonville’s average home price is around $278,000, which is much lower than the national average, and it has been slowly falling since 2022. This means you could buy the dip and potentially own a cash-flowing rental property that appreciates in the coming years!

Average home and rent prices as of February 2026.

Investing from Afar? Florida Turnkey Rentals Are For You

You don’t have to live in Florida, or anywhere near it, to invest in the Florida housing market. With turnkey rentals, which are either newly built or recently renovated, you can invest 100% remotely, thanks to the following:

Property Management In Place

When investing out of state, you’ll likely need a property manager to oversee your rental’s day-to-day, and turnkey rentals often come with property management already in place. This means you won’t have to worry about things like screening tenants, communicating with residents, or collecting rent payments.

5%-Down New Build Options

Other turnkey providers offer new builds, too, but Rent to Retirement offers rare 5%-down options. This means you could put significantly less money down than you normally would to buy something like this:

Pre-Screened Tenants

Not all turnkey rentals come with existing tenants in place, but many of them do! These are tenants that have been pre-screened by local property managers, doing all the background checks, income verifications, and reference phone calls for you! In any case, most turnkey properties are completely rent-ready, so you can find and place your tenant as soon as you close.

Low Repairs and Maintenance

Since they are either newly built or recently renovated, turnkey properties usually require very little upkeep compared to other properties. This means you’ll have fewer headaches and more cash flow!

Scalable for ANY Level of Investor

Whether you’re trying to learn the ropes of real estate investing or create more passive income, buying turnkey is an excellent option. You could buy multiple rental properties with as little as 5% down, even across several markets, and your portfolio would still be very manageable—with fewer headaches than most rental properties!

How to Buy Your First Florida Real Estate Investment

Ready to buy a Florida investment property? Follow these six steps:

1. Talk to a Turnkey Provider

Schedule a call with a turnkey provider and determine if these rental properties could be the right fit for your goals and investment strategy. Rent to Retirement is the top-rated turnkey company on BiggerPockets (5 stars) and holds an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB)!

2. Browse Properties and Estimated Returns

Look at listings and carefully run the numbers to determine if the property’s potential returns meet your criteria. You can also check out our turnkey rental properties for sale, which show you the property’s potential cash flow and return on investment (ROI).

3. Get Pre-Approved

Next, you’ll need to line up your financing and have your pre-approval ready so you can close as soon as possible once you have a property under contract. Rent to Retirement works with investor-friendly lenders to get you a great loan at a great rate!

4. Make Offers!

After narrowing down one or more properties you’d like to buy, you can start making offers. With Rent to Retirement, you can choose one of several new-build incentives, like a reduced purchase price, lower closing costs, cash back at closing, or a lower interest rate!

5. Get Inspections and Insurance Lined Up

Since they’re newly built or renovated, turnkey properties often have cleaner inspection reports than other types of rental properties. However, keep in mind that Florida insurers often require a wind mitigation report in addition to a regular home inspection.

6. Close, Manage, and Cash Flow!

Finally, close on your new property, hire a property manager, and find tenants so you can start generating rental income. If you buy a rental property with Rent to Retirement, you’ll already have a property manager in place when you close, allowing you to cash flow from day one!

Work with the Florida Investment Property Experts

Need a hand buying your first Florida investment property? Rent to Retirement has been operating in some of the best Florida markets for years, offering exclusive incentives and relationships with builders so you can invest in real estate for less. You could put as little as 5% down on a new build today and own a low-maintenance, professionally managed property from anywhere!

Florida Investment Property FAQs

Is Florida a Good Place to Invest in Rental Property?

Yes! Florida is one of the best states to invest in real estate due to strong population growth, rental demand, affordable markets, cash flow, and landlord-friendly rental laws.

What Are the Best Markets to Buy Rental Property in Florida?

There are many Florida markets where you can buy profitable rental properties. The southwest has Tampa, Sarasota, and North Port; Central Florida has Orlando, Ocala, and Gainesville; and the northeast has Jacksonville!

What is the 50% Rule in Rental Property Investing?

The 50% rule states that roughly half of a property’s rental income will be spent on operating expenses. These typically include maintenance, repairs, utilities, vacancies, taxes, and insurance.