Two of BoardroomPR’s longtime real estate clients took center stage recently at the South Florida Business Journal’s “South Florida Housing 2026” panel event, offering expert perspectives on one of the region’s most pressing and complex conversations. Christina Pappas, President of The Keyes Company, and John Carter, Senior Vice President at Minto Communities, joined fellow industry leaders to unpack the forces reshaping housing across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. 

The event brought together some of South Florida’s most influential voices in real estate to examine a market defined by striking contrasts and mounting challenges. Panelists made clear that South Florida’s housing market is being pulled in sharply opposite directions. On one end, luxury home sales and new development continue to surge as wealthy individuals and businesses pour into the region. On the other end, first-time local buyers and owners of vintage condominiums are navigating one of the nation’s most severe cost-of-living crises, leaving a widening divide in a tri-county market where sellers vastly outnumber buyers. 

As Pappas put it during the discussion, “You’re seeing ultra-high-net-worth individuals purchasing properties at record prices, and then you’re having this affordability conversation among those who live and work here.”

Pappas and Carter both spoke to the demographic shifts continuing to reshape demand across the region. South Florida emerged as one of the pandemic’s biggest real estate winners, drawing a wave of new arrivals attracted by the area’s quality of life, warm climate, absence of a state income tax and business-friendly environment. Carter noted that this ongoing influx represents a meaningful evolution in who is driving the market. “It’s a shift in the overall market from what we’ve historically seen as a hub for Latin America,” he said, pointing to the broadening base of buyers and residents now calling South Florida home.

When the conversation turned to solutions, panelists largely agreed that the most straightforward path forward is increasing housing supply. Fellow panelist Peter Zalewski raised the prospect of a market correction following the post-pandemic price spike, suggesting that prices have climbed beyond what the broader population can sustain and that an eventual correction could help restore some balance. The consensus among industry insiders, however, was that meaningful affordability improvements will require new construction at scale, addressing the supply-and-demand imbalance that underlies much of the region’s housing strain.

As for where new housing gets built, panelists pointed to two primary avenues in a market where developable land is increasingly scarce. Carter highlighted the growing opportunity in Martin and St. Lucie counties to the north, where land availability and lower price points offer a viable alternative for buyers priced out of the core tri-county market. Other panelists echoed that view, noting the appeal of those areas for buyers seeking access to a more suburban or rural lifestyle alongside strong school options. 

The discussion reinforced a theme that has become central to South Florida’s housing future: the region’s growth story is far from over, but where and how that growth unfolds will define the market for years to come.

BoardroomPR’s Public Relations and Social Media experts make sure to attend important real estate conferences in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando and beyond. In some instances, we set up our mobile production studio and interview top developers and other real estate leaders. 

Participating in such events enables team members to stay ahead of the curve on relevant industry trends, topics and issues. Senior Vice President Eric Kalis, who co-chairs BoardroomPR’s real estate public relations practice, is very involved with Urban Land Institute and other real estate organizations.

Eric Kalis

Senior Vice President