Over the next several weeks, we will be doing a series of editorials that are meant to educate the general public on some key differences in the Tallahassee real estate market compared to other parts of the state.  Hopefully, this informative series of articles will better help you understand our economy as it contrasts to other areas of Florida and the country.

First, the Tallahassee real estate market cannot be compared to any other part of Florida or, in fact, to the country as a whole.  Tallahassee, as the Capital City, affords us great dividends.  The state government infrastructure provides a constant employment base that has a stabilizing effect on housing.  Many other areas of the country, where housing declines are evident, have a weaker employment base or have been affected by industry plant closures and other similar external circumstances.

Secondly, Tallahassee is also the home of two major universities and a large area community college. This produces the need for housing for large numbers of talented academic faculty and staff, and provides for a sub-economy that caters to students, all of which create another layer of insulation from a housing “bubble”. 

Thirdly, Tallahassee offers Floridians a different way of life from other Florida congested metro areas.  With more than a million Americans pouring into Florida each year, Tallahassee appears very attractive to that population.  Any Tallahassean who has ties to South Florida will tell you that the quality of life is better here. Thus, more people come each year to purchase homes, raise their families and enjoy the Tallahassee lifestyle.  As our city continues to increases in popularity, so the demand for homes in our area multiplies, keeping a positive upward price momentum in place. 

Fourth, prices really are affordable in Tallahassee.  The fact that thirteen major metropolitan areas in Florida have prices higher than those in our area merely creates more attention and demand for local products.