In a stark turn of events, Florida's retail property market experienced a substantial downturn in 2023, witnessing a staggering 65% plummet in sales volume compared to the previous year. Major metropolitan areas saw transaction volumes dwindle to just $1.0 billion across 28 sales, marking a stark contrast to the record-breaking $3.0 billion in sales seen in 2022.
Notably, prices in 2023 tumbled by 12% compared to the previous year. The average capitalization rate paid in 2023 stood at 6.75%, signaling a significant 20% decrease in value for asset sales over $15 million. Amid these challenging circumstances, investors like Woolbright anticipate a turnaround in 2024, with hopes pinned on the Federal Reserve's potential interest rate cuts to reignite the retail property market.