Alex Curry

Director of Business Development

Greetings Realtor Partner:

With the new year well underway, and Q1 in the books, we are already seeing some revealing trends in the Emerald Coast market, as well as the vacation rental space nationally. With this in mind, I’d like to share some of the Q1 data, along with some forward-looking metrics, as they offer insight into to what may lie ahead.

Local Market + Macro Economics
Q1 of this year saw a continuation of the trend in softer demand that we’ve experienced since late 2022. Several macroeconomic factors have also played into this steady decline, from elevated inflation to a recent dip in consumer sentiment. Travelers are generally more price-sensitive today and want the best deals before booking a home. This is supported by the continuously smaller average booking window for homes in this area, which has decreased by 12% since 2023. On a positive note, the decrease in the booking window has decelerated. We’re seeing a 3% year-over-year decrease from this time last year vs the 9% decrease we saw from 2023 to 2024.