Who's Really Buying Up Miami in 2025? Let's Spill the Cafecito

Who's Really Buying Up Miami in 2025? Let's Spill the Cafecito

Hey, you. Yeah, you. Sitting there wondering why it feels like your favorite taco spot now has a line that wraps around the block twice. Spoiler alert: people are moving here. A lot of people. And before you start side-eyeing every out-of-town license plate, let's have a little cafecito-fueled chat about exactly who's snapping up Miami real estate this year. I promise to make it as fun as possible—no boring graphs, no econ professor vibes. Just you, me, and a whole lot of Miami magic.

Picture this: it's 2025. The sun is basically its own influencer now, the cafecito is so strong it could probably power a small spaceship, and the real estate market? Oh, it's hotter than an arepa left on the roof of a parked car in August.

First Up: Single-Family Homes (a.k.a. The "I Made It!" Move)

So who's buying single-family homes? Well, guess what? About 63.2% of the people signing those contracts are already living right here in Miami-Dade. Yup. They're just moving from one spot to another—kind of like musical chairs, but with better air conditioning.

And the rest? They're packing up their lives from all sorts of places, mainly:

• Other parts of Florida (12%) — Especially from Orlando, Tampa, and Naples. Apparently, "closer to the beach" is a lifestyle, not just a dream.

• New York (8%) — A lot from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island. They survived many a winter. Now they just want flip-flops year-round.

• New Jersey (5%) — Primarily from Hoboken, Jersey City, and the Montclair area. Still bringing strong opinions about pizza. We love them for it.

• California (4%) — Mostly from Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. Trading the Pacific for the Atlantic, and honestly, no judgment.

• Georgia (2%) — Mostly Atlanta and its suburbs. Sweet tea meets sweet beaches.

• Illinois (2%) — Chicago and surrounding suburbs like Naperville and Evanston. Because "Windy City" sounds way less fun when your face hurts from the cold.

(And hey, if you're from one of these places, I'm just teasing. Miami loves you. Pinky promise.)

Condos & Townhomes: The "I Want to Be Fancy But Also Practical" Move

Now, let's talk condos and townhomes. You know, those shiny towers and cute clusters of homes where you never have to mow a lawn (dreams do come true).

About 68.7% of condo buyers are locals, too. Maybe they're upgrading. Maybe they're downsizing. Maybe they just really, really hate weeding.

Here's where the newcomers are coming from:

• Florida (other counties): 9-10%, mainly from Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Sarasota.

• New York: 6%, with Manhattan, Queens, and Westchester County leading the way.

• New Jersey: 3%, mostly Hoboken, Princeton, and the coastal areas.

• California: 2%, with a good chunk from San Francisco, Orange County, and LA.

• Georgia: 1%, primarily Atlanta and a little sprinkle from Savannah.

• Illinois: 1%, largely from Chicago and North Shore suburbs.

Pretty much the same crew as the single-family scene. Different building, same dream: sunshine, smoothies, and a view that’ll make your friends jealous on Instagram.

The Big Kahuna: All Residential Real Estate (Cue the Drumroll)

When you toss it all together—single-family homes, condos, townhomes—about 66% of buyers are already Miami-Dade locals. The rest? They're rolling up their sleeves and diving into our city with wide eyes and high SPF.

Top places people are coming from?

• Florida (other counties): 11%, with Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, and Naples leading.

• New York: 7%, mainly Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island, and Westchester.

• New Jersey: 4%, particularly from Jersey City, Hoboken, Montclair, and Princeton.

• California: 3%, with Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco buyers looking for that tropical reset.

• Georgia: 2%, mostly Atlanta, with a few newcomers from Savannah.

• Illinois: 2%, mainly Chicago with side orders of Oak Park and Naperville.

So, Why Does This Matter (Besides Making You Crave a Guava Pastry)?

Because Miami isn't just growing. It's blooming, salsa dancing, and basically living its best life. Whether you're house hunting, people-watching, or just trying to score a cafecito without a 40-minute wait, it’s good to know who your new neighbors might be.

Some are locals switching up their scenery. Some are adventurers from New York, California, or even down the road in Boca Raton. But every single one of them is chasing the same thing: a piece of that Miami magic.

And if you’re sitting there thinking, "Well, that's nice, but I'm not buying anything anytime soon," that's cool, too. Just know: your favorite taco spot might need a reservation now. And your secret beach spot? You might have to share. (It's fine, though. More friends = more reasons to celebrate.)

Miami is changing, growing, and doing it all with an extra shot of espresso and a lot of heart. So welcome, bienvenidos, and grab yourself a pastelito—there's plenty of sunshine for all of us.

And hey, if you ever need someone to help you find your perfect corner of paradise—you know where to find me. I'll be the one double-fisting cafecito cups and talking about real estate like it's the latest telenovela plot twist.

P.S. If you're the type who loves charts, graphs, and all the juicy details neatly organized, don't worry—we thought of you too! We put together a beautiful chart and even recorded a quick podcast episode diving deeper into the numbers (with a few laughs, of course). Check them out when you're ready to go full Miami market expert mode. 🎓📻 Just contact me for it. My contact information is below.

 

Amit Bhuta

COMPASS

ALL IN Miami Group

Licensed Real Estate Agent

 

(305) 439-3031 Mobile

amit.bhuta@compass.com

ALLinMiami.com