Published November 1, 2026 in Market Update

Longboat Key is moving faster than the other island markets

By Amanda LeGault | LEGAULT LUXE GROUP

Real estate, Sarasota & Keys

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.24% as of October 29, 2026. That is real money on a real mortgage. Yet Longboat Key kept moving.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 155 homes sold on Longboat Key in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 55% from the same months a year before. Supply dropped to 4.3 months. Buyers are not sitting on the sidelines here.

How Longboat Key compares with the other island markets

The Real Estate Data Aggregator tracks three other island markets in this area: Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, and Cortez. Each one sits on its own. The supply numbers tell the clearest story.

Longboat Key's 4.3 months of supply is the tightest of any of these island markets. Anna Maria sat at 9.7 months, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. That is more than twice as much inventory relative to demand.

Homes under contract fast on Longboat Key

The Real Estate Data Aggregator found that 14.8% of Longboat Key listings went under contract within two weeks of hitting the market. That share held steady from a year before, which matters: it means the quick-contract pace is not fading.

Anna Maria posted 6.3% in the same window. Bradenton Beach was at 9.8%, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Longboat Key is the clear leader on speed.

The trade-off: homes are taking longer to sell than a year ago

The median days on market on Longboat Key was 98 days, which is 16 days longer than the same period in 2025. That is worth knowing before you price. Buyers are active, but they are not rushing past a price that feels off.

Sellers who priced well still closed at 94% of list, up 2.8 points from a year before. That means the gap between list and sale is actually narrowing, even as days on market stretched a little.

Longboat Key sits in two counties

Longboat Key straddles Manatee and Sarasota counties. That affects taxes, jurisdiction, and some rules. If you are buying, confirm which county your specific address falls in before you close.

Flood history matters here

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, the first question buyers ask is whether a home flooded. On Longboat Key, that answer is property by property, not island by island. Elevation and flood zone move price more than square footage does. Ask for the specific flood history and elevation certificate on any home you are considering.

The wider picture: rates and national context

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.24% and the 15-year at 6.60% as of October 29, 2026. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index up 3.7% over the 12 months ending September 2026. The US unemployment rate sat at 4.2% in September 2026, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported US home prices rose 0.3% from July to August 2026, seasonally adjusted. That is a national number, not a Longboat Key number. Local conditions here are running on their own track.

Across the full Sarasota and Keys market, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1,456 homes sold and 1,516 pending sales in the three months ending August 31, 2026. Longboat Key's 155 sales represent a real share of that total.

One street can read very differently from the ZIP code as a whole. If you want to know what your specific address looks like against what actually sold nearby, that is a different conversation than this overview. 🏡