Can Median-Income Families Still Buy Homes in South Florida?

 

Can Families with $70K to $80K Still Buy a Home in Fort Lauderdale South FL?

Many people are asking the same question: Can a family making $70,000 to $80,000 a year still buy a home in South Florida? The short answer is this: Right now, it's very hard. But things can get better in the future, especially when mortgage interest rates come down.

Let’s look at why it’s so hard today, what is causing these problems, and how things might improve.

Home Prices in the Fort Lauderdale area in South Florida Are High

In South Florida, the prices of homes have gone up a lot over the last few years. It is very common to see homes selling for $500,000 or more. A few years ago, you could buy a home in the $200,000s or $300,000s. Today, that is almost impossible in most areas.

In cities like Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Plantation, home prices have gone up faster than people’s incomes. This means that even if you work full-time and make $70K to $80K per year, it may not be enough to afford a house near where you work or go to school.

Mortgage Rates Are Making It Worse

A mortgage is the loan that most people use to buy a house. You pay it back over time with interest. The interest rate is very important. When interest rates are high, your monthly payment goes up. Even if the home price stays the same, a higher interest rate makes the loan more expensive each month.

Right now, mortgage interest rates are much higher than they were a few years ago. In 2021, you could get a loan with a rate around 3%. Now, the rates are around 7%. That means your payment for the same house could be hundreds of dollars more per month.

Example: What Can You Afford with $75K Income?

Let’s say you make $75,000 a year. Most lenders say you should not spend more than 30% of your income on housing. That gives you about $1,875 a month for a mortgage, taxes, and insurance.

With a 7% interest rate, that budget only lets you afford a home that costs about $275,000 to $325,000. But most single-family homes in South Florida cost much more than that. Even many condos are selling for higher prices, especially if they are in good areas.

This is why many families with middle incomes are being left out. They are doing everything right—working hard, saving money—but the numbers just don’t add up.

Insurance and Taxes Add to the Problem

In South Florida, homes also cost more to insure. This is because of storms, floods, and other weather risks. Insurance for a home in South Florida can cost $3,000 to $6,000 per year or even more.

Property taxes also add to the monthly cost. These extra costs must be included in your mortgage budget. Even if the home price seems affordable, the total monthly cost can go over your budget very quickly.

What Happens When People Can’t Buy?

When many families can’t afford to buy, they stay in rentals longer. This makes the rental market busier and can push rent prices higher too.

Some people even move away from South Florida to find cheaper places to live. Others wait and hope that something will change, like lower interest rates or new homes being built at lower prices.

Will Things Stay This Way Forever?

No, things can change. In fact, many experts believe that mortgage interest rates will go down in the next year or two. If that happens, it could help a lot of buyers.

Let’s look at what could change things for the better:

1. Interest Rates Could Drop

If mortgage interest rates come down from 7% to something like 5% or even lower, monthly payments will become more affordable. This could mean that someone earning $75K can suddenly afford a $350,000 or even a $400,000 home instead of just $300,000.

2. More Homes May Be Built

Builders are slowly starting to build more homes again. If they build homes that are affordable, especially condos and townhomes, this could help families who are looking to buy.

3. Wages Might Go Up

In some jobs, wages are going up. If families make more money, they can afford more when it comes to housing. Even a small raise can make a big difference when combined with a lower interest rate.

4. Some Sellers May Lower Prices

As interest rates stay high and homes don’t sell as quickly, some sellers may drop their prices. This could give buyers a better deal and help them get into a home sooner.

5. Government Programs Might Help

There are programs that help first-time buyers. Some offer money for down payments. Others help reduce interest rates. As the housing problem grows, more of these programs may become available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I afford a house if I make $70K to $80K a year?
Because home prices in South Florida are very high and mortgage interest rates are also high, your monthly payment would be too large for your income. That’s why many families at this income level are having trouble qualifying for a home loan.

Will mortgage rates come down soon?
Many experts believe that mortgage rates will come down in the next year or two. If that happens, monthly payments will be lower, and more people will be able to qualify for a mortgage.

Is renting better than buying right now?
For some people, yes. Renting can be more affordable while you save for a down payment and wait for the market to improve. But rent prices are also going up, so it’s good to plan for the future.

Can I still get help buying a home?
Yes. Some government programs help with down payments or offer special loans for first-time buyers. It’s a good idea to ask a lender or real estate expert about what programs you may qualify for.

Visit AntonioOrtegaLLC.com to learn more!

What should I do if I want to buy later?
Start getting ready now. Save money, pay down debt, and watch your credit score. When interest rates go down and more homes become available, you’ll be ready to act.

Real Stories from Real People

"We thought buying a house was out of reach. But by staying patient and following the market, we finally found a home we could afford. The lower interest rate helped a lot."
– A couple from Pembroke Pines

"We had to keep renting longer than we wanted. But we kept saving and improving our credit. When the market changed, we were ready."
– A family in Hollywood, FL

"We worked with someone who helped us find a condo in our price range. It wasn’t easy, but we’re finally homeowners."
– First-time buyer in Plantation

"After being turned down twice for a mortgage, I almost gave up. But I tried again six months later and got approved when rates came down a little."

What Can You Do Right Now?

Even if you can’t buy a home today, there are steps you can take to get ready:

• Save for a down payment

• Pay down credit card debt

• Check your credit score and improve it if needed

• Talk to a mortgage lender to see what you can afford now

• Stay updated on housing news and rates

Hope Is Not Lost

It’s frustrating to feel like you’re being left out of the dream of homeownership. But many people are in the same situation, and things can change. The market is always moving. Prices and interest rates go up and down.

If you stay ready and keep saving, you can be in a good spot when the time is right. Even if today’s market doesn’t work for you, tomorrow’s market might.

Final Thoughts

Right now, families making $70K to $80K a year are having a tough time buying homes in South Florida. High prices, high mortgage rates, and expensive insurance and taxes make it hard.

But that’s not the end of the story. Interest rates may come down. New homes may be built. More help may become available. Your time may come sooner than you think.

Stay informed, stay hopeful, and keep working toward your goal. Homeownership is still possible, and things will get better.

Thank you for the trust placed in me,

Antonio Ortega, LLC

Antonio Ortega LLC will Contribute 10% of his Professional Fee toward your Closing Costs!

           

www.AntonioOrtegaLLC.com     For Residential Properties

www.AntonioOrtegaLLC.net       For Commercial Properties

Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional with Global Luxury Realty

Click Here to Contact Us

AntonioOrtegaLLC.com

Saltwater Reboot: Finding Your Way Back in Fort Lauderdale

 

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Rediscover Peace, Purpose, and a Fresh Start by the South Florida Coast

The urge to reset can come on suddenly—or it can build for years. Either way, when the time finally arrives, it asks for more than just courage. It demands an overhaul of habits, surroundings, and sometimes, even the self. Fort Lauderdale, with its sun-warmed streets and salt-kissed air, has long been a magnet for those trying to stitch together new lives after the old ones have unraveled. For anyone coming off a hard chapter, this city can be both the canvas and a brush.

Reclaiming Peace on Foot and Water

The first steps in a new city after hardship aren’t always literal, but they can be. In Fort Lauderdale, walking along the beach just after sunrise, when the sky pulls in soft oranges and pinks, gives the day a beginning that doesn’t ask for anything in return. No explanations, no smiles if they’re not there yet. Taking to the water—whether on a paddleboard along the Intracoastal or by joining one of the beginner rowing groups near George English Park—offers that strange combination of solitude and connection that helps reframe loneliness into presence. The salt in the air can sting at first, but over time, it starts to feel like it’s sealing something closed.

Jobs That Build More Than a Paycheck

Starting over often means reshaping a professional identity. Fort Lauderdale’s job market—built on hospitality, marine industries, health services, and a growing remote workforce—offers opportunities not just for income, but for reintegration. Part-time roles in community organizations or volunteer gigs at the Museum of Discovery and Science, for example, give structure to days that otherwise feel floaty. These roles build confidence one conversation at a time. More importantly, they help a person remember what it’s like to be needed and trusted again.

Switching Gears Without Losing Your Footing

Pursuing a degree as part of a career pivot can feel daunting, but it’s also one of the most empowering moves when trying to step into a more stable and fulfilling future. Online degree programs make it easier than ever to earn credentials while balancing full-time work or family responsibilities that can’t just be put on hold. Choosing an online IT master’s degree gives access to in-demand skills like information technology management, data analytics, and cyber security—fields that continue to grow and evolve rapidly. The flexibility of these programs helps people make meaningful transitions without blowing up everything else in their lives.

Establishing a Routine Without the Pressure of Perfection

Routine after crisis shouldn’t be a performance; it should be a scaffold. Start small: morning coffee at Wells Coffee, a 20-minute bike ride, journaling on the balcony as the sun sets. Let rituals evolve rather than chasing an ideal schedule. Fort Lauderdale lends itself to this because of its open spaces and flexible hours. The city moves slowly in the heat and tends to forgive missed appointments or last-minute changes. That looseness creates room for trying, adjusting, trying again.

Building Emotional Resilience Beyond the Therapist’s Office

Therapy is a lifeline, but healing also happens in dog parks, in bookstores, in line at the bagel shop. Joining a community yoga class at Bayview Park or attending open mic nights at venues like The Parker introduces casual social contact without the weight of deep commitment. It’s surprising how often someone says just the right thing in passing to help a person feel like they're still part of the human rhythm. Emotionally, it helps to remember that rebuilding doesn’t have to be linear, and in Fort Lauderdale, the weather’s always on your side, making it easier to get out and keep going even on the rough days.

Redefining Identity Without Apology

One of the hardest parts of beginning again is explaining who you are now—to yourself most of all. In a place where many are transplants, identity is more fluid, and reinvention doesn’t come with judgment. Taking classes at the Art Serve cultural center, learning to sail, or starting a bilingual book club all offer ways to expand who you are without revisiting who you were. The city quietly makes space for these experiments. It doesn’t care what happened before; it’s more interested in who’s showing up now.

There’s a reason people describe Fort Lauderdale as laid-back, it’s not just the surf and sun. The city doesn’t interrogate. It lets people ease into themselves, whether they're starting over or just pausing between versions of their lives. It’s forgiving that way. Starting fresh here doesn’t require having it all figured out. It just requires showing up, bit by bit, until eventually, it starts to feel like a new life, not just a new location—is taking shape.

Thank you for the trust placed in me,

Antonio Ortega, LLC

Antonio Ortega LLC will Contribute 10% of his Professional Fee toward your Closing Costs!

           

www.AntonioOrtegaLLC.com     For Residential Properties

www.AntonioOrtegaLLC.net       For Commercial Properties

Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional with Global Luxury Realty

Click Here to Contact Us

AntonioOrtegaLLC.com

Trading Skylines for Silence: What You Really Need to Know Before Moving from a Big City to a Small Town

 

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For years, your life might’ve been measured in subway delays, overpriced oat lattes, and the rhythmic hum of city sirens. But now, you’re standing on the edge of something quieter—a move from the clamor of a big city to the stillness of a smaller area. Maybe you're chasing lower rent, a slower pace, or just some mental breathing room on a beach. Before you make the jump, however, you need more than a U-Haul and good intentions. Here are some things to consider when moving from a major city to an area like Fort Lauderdale.

You’re Not Just Moving—You’re Changing Frequencies

When you trade skyscrapers for silos, you’re not just relocating; you’re recalibrating. Life doesn’t move slower in small towns—it moves differently. Decisions aren’t rushed, conversations aren’t clipped, and people will actually notice you, sometimes uncomfortably so. The anonymity of the city that once felt protective gets replaced by a brand of intimacy that can feel equal parts warm and suffocating. You’ll need to learn to make space for silence, for eye contact at the grocery store, for people who expect you to mean it when you ask, “How are you?”

Making Friends Requires a New Set of Muscles

If you’re used to meeting people via rooftop parties, networking events, or a rotating door of acquaintances, small-town social life might feel like stepping into a scene where you missed the first act. Friendships are more intergenerational, more overlapping, and less about niche interest and more about shared time. You’ll find community at local church breakfasts, rec league softball games, or helping out at the library fundraiser.  And unlike cities, where flakiness is a love language, here, people remember if you ghosted their invite.

Rethink Your Job Goals

If your new zip code is hours from the nearest campus, don’t mistake that for a closed door. Online education has become a powerful bridge, especially for folks looking to pivot or level up professionally without uprooting their entire lives again. By taking information technology courses while working, you can carve out a real path toward roles in cybersecurity, network management, or systems analysis, right from your laptop on the beach. The flexibility means you can clock into your job, tend to life’s daily messes, and still invest in a future that isn’t limited by your town’s population sign.

Entertainment Doesn’t Disappear—It Just Shapeshifts

Don’t expect midnight comedy shows or DJs spinning until dawn. What you’ll find instead are porch beers, starry skies, and seasonal festivals that carry the emotional weight of a Broadway opening. Movie theaters may be one-screen wonders and bars might close before 10, but there’s a comfort in knowing half the town will show up to the same community theater play or outdoor concert. You’ll need to learn to lean into slower, less curated experiences. Often, the best nights start with nothing on the calendar.

School Systems Might Surprise You

If you’re bringing kids into the mix, don’t assume “small” equals “less.” Many small towns boast excellent schools with lower student-teacher ratios, stronger community involvement, and more freedom for teachers to, well, teach. But you’ll also want to look at how progressive the curriculum is, how diverse the student body might be (or not be), and what extracurriculars exist. You might trade AP Calculus for a killer FFA program, or a lack of Mandarin classes for outdoor education. Know what matters most to you, and research accordingly.

Small-Town Life Demands a Different Kind of Toolkit

You’ll want to build relationships not just with people, but with services. Know your local mechanic by name. Learn where to go for reliable handyman work, where to get your mail when snow blocks your driveway, and what day the trash is actually picked up. Small towns run on informal networks—Facebook groups, community boards, even gossip. Pay attention. That neighbor who brings you zucchini might also be the person who knows a guy who can fix your roof for half the price. Connections aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential infrastructure.

When you leave behind a major metropolis for a slower zip code, what you’re really doing is rewriting your daily script. You’re no longer defined by pace or population but by presence and participation. This life doesn’t hand you momentum—you have to generate it yourself. If you can show up with humility, curiosity, and a willingness to build instead of just consume, you’ll be fine.

Discover your dream home in South Broward County with Antonio Ortega, LLC – your trusted partner for expert real estate guidance and exclusive offers!

Thank you for the trust placed in me,

Antonio Ortega, LLC

Antonio Ortega LLC will Contribute 10% of his Professional Fee toward your Closing Costs!

           

www.AntonioOrtegaLLC.com     For Residential Properties

www.AntonioOrtegaLLC.net       For Commercial Properties

Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional with Global Luxury Realty

Click Here to Contact Us

AntonioOrtegaLLC.com

Why Upsizing Your Home in Broward County is the Perfect Move for Growing Families

 

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You know that feeling—that restless buzz in your chest when your home feels like it's closing in on your ambition? Maybe the dining table doubles as your workstation, the laundry room is now your stockroom, and your Zoom calls echo with the clang of kids’ cereal bowls. If your current home can no longer contain your hustle, it might be time to rethink your square footage. Upsizing isn’t just about a bigger backyard or an extra bathroom. It can be the launchpad for that business idea you’ve been nursing between commutes, coffee breaks, and chaos.

Get Clear on What You Need

Don't just chase square footage. Think utility. Will you need a workshop, a studio with good light, or a quiet spot away from toddler tantrums? Maybe you’re shooting video content or managing a digital storefront. If you're shipping physical products, you might need garage storage or easy access to a local post office. Look at the zoning regulations in your new neighborhood, and work with a professional realtor who can help you with the details. Some communities are surprisingly cool with live-work setups; others, not so much. Know what you’re buying into before you get the keys.

Professionalism Starts at the Curb

Your home is more than your headquarters—it’s the face of your business. When clients pick up products, when you host collaborators, or even when you're shooting content, having a space that looks and feels intentional makes a difference. It’s not about having the biggest house on the block. It’s about creating an environment that supports your message and matches the level of professionalism you're aiming for. Whether you’re launching a coaching practice, a content studio, or an artisan brand, your surroundings will either reinforce your credibility or subtly undermine it.

Register Your Business in a New State

When you move your life across state lines, your business has to come with you—but not quietly. You’ll need to register it in your new state, even if it's already been operating elsewhere, which usually means filing formation documents, applying for any required licenses, and notifying the IRS of your updated address. It sounds dry, but this is the paperwork that turns your next chapter into something official. Forming an LLC along the way gives you a layer of liability protection that keeps your personal assets out of business-related messes. And if you're not looking to spend thousands on legal fees, you can use a trusted formation service like ZenBusiness that does all the grunt work for a fraction of the cost.

Inventory Deserves Breathing Room

If your business involves products—whether you're baking, printing, sewing, or shipping—you already know that clutter is the silent killer of momentum. You can only stack so many boxes in a hallway before it stops feeling like home. Upsizing gives you the ability to organize inventory properly, avoid mix-ups, and process orders without chaos. You gain not just storage but structure—racks, bins, workflow areas. And if you ever need to bring in help, having a dedicated workspace makes it that much easier to scale your operations without sacrificing comfort or order.

The Quiet Power of Having a Door You Can Close

There’s something underrated about being able to shut the door at the end of the day. When your business has its own dedicated space, your brain finally gets to turn off the “always on” switch. You become more present in your off-hours, more rested, more clear-eyed. That’s good for your creativity, good for your relationships, and—ironically—good for your bottom line. Because when your home and business are in harmony, you’re not pulled in every direction. You’re grounded, focused, and finally able to move at the pace your ideas deserve.

The truth is, this isn’t just about moving to a bigger house. It’s about making room for a bigger life. One where you get to work on what matters, in a space that supports you, with the legal and logistical foundation to grow. You’re not waiting for a seat at someone else’s table. You’re building your own. And it starts with a simple but powerful decision: to give your dream the square footage it needs.

Discover your dream home in South Broward County with Antonio Ortega, LLC – your trusted partner for expert real estate guidance and exclusive offers!

Thank you for the trust placed in me,

Antonio Ortega, LLC

Antonio Ortega LLC will Contribute 10% of his Professional Fee toward your Closing Costs!

           

www.AntonioOrtegaLLC.com     For Residential Properties

www.AntonioOrtegaLLC.net       For Commercial Properties

Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional with Global Luxury Realty

Click Here to Contact Us

AntonioOrtegaLLC.com