If you are considering upgrading in Lakewood Ranch, the real question is not whether the market is hot or cold.

It is whether the current structure gives you leverage.

As of January 2026:

• Average Days on Market: 83

• Median Days on Market: 55

• New Listings: 286, up 51.3 percent month over month

• Available Homes: 708, up 10.3 percent month over month

• New Contracts: 216, up 33.3 percent month over month

• Median Price: $570,000, down 0.4 percent month over month

• Median Sale to List Price: 96.63 percent

Year over year, pricing is down just 0.8 percent while closed sales are slightly up.

This is not a collapsing market. It is a more balanced one.

Balanced markets can favor move up sellers if structured correctly.

With inventory up, you gain more selection on the buy side. Homes are still selling near 97 percent of list price when positioned correctly.

The risk is not timing. The risk is dependency.

Securing up front offer options before listing and exploring buy before you sell solutions can eliminate contingent pressure.

In Lakewood Ranch right now, the opportunity is strategy.