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Your October Key West Guide: Real Estate, Costumes, Cocktails & a Little Chaos
Inside Key West
with Zainya
Real Estate | Local Life | What's Happening
Key West This October: Fewer Listings, More Sales
IN THIS ISSUE
Market Update | Real Estate Blog | Around Key West | October Events
Welcome to the First Cayo Realty Key West Monthly Newsletter
This month’s newsletter is especially meaningful to me because it’s the first one I’m sending from Cayo Realty Key West.
I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received since opening my new office. My clients are the reason I’ve been able to build my business to where it is today, and I truly appreciate the trust they’ve placed in me over the years.
I’m proud to be ranked among the top real estate agents in our market, and my goal with Cayo Realty is to continue doing what has always worked for me: working hard, taking great care of my clients, staying closely connected to the Key West market, and meeting as many buyers and sellers as I can through open houses and our community.
One important update: I’m still hearing several times each week that someone has emailed my old email address. I no longer have access to that account, so please delete it from your contacts and use zainya@cayorealtykeywest.com or homes@zainya.com going forward.
The name Cayo felt like a natural fit from the beginning. In Spanish, it means “little island” or “key,” which couldn’t be more fitting for my Key West real estate company. It also happens to be the name of my new little puppy, who has already appointed himself the unofficial face of Cayo Realty Key West.
KEY WEST MARKET AT A GLANCE
2026 Year-to-Date vs. 2025
515 NEW LISTINGS
↓ 16% from 2025 614 last year
$543.1M SOLD VOLUME
↑ 19% from 2025 $455.3M last year
309 UNDER CONTRACT
↓ 1% from 2025 313 last year
$1.636M AVG SALE PRICE
↑ 13% from 2025 $1.445M last year
332 CLOSED SALES
↑ 5% from 2025 315 last year
94% SALE-TO-LIST PRICE
Essentially unchanged 94% last year
Source: MLS data via Flexmls, as of September 28, 2026.
WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE TELLING US
Key West is having an interesting year. We have fewer homes coming to market, but that hasn't resulted in fewer sales. New residential listings are down 16% compared with this time last year, while closed sales are actually up 5%.
The biggest change is in total sales volume and average sale price. More than $543 million in Key West residential real estate has sold so far this year, up 19% from the same period in 2025. The average sale price is also up 13%, from approximately $1.45 million to $1.64 million.
For buyers, this means patience is important. There simply aren't as many new homes coming to market, so it can feel like there isn't much to choose from. I always tell my buyers not to get discouraged in the beginning. Once we start looking, you learn the neighborhoods, the pricing and what represents a good value. Then, when the right property comes along, you're ready.
The good news for buyers is that higher average prices do not mean sellers are getting everything they ask. Homes that have sold this year are averaging about 94% of list price, essentially the same as last year. There are still opportunities to negotiate when a property is priced too aggressively or has been sitting on the market.
Thinking About Selling in Key West? Buyers Are Waiting
Explore the current opportunities in the Key West real estate market where limited inventory meets high buyer demand. With only 109 single-family homes available, now is a strategic time for sellers to consider listing their property....
Expert Market Analysis
Fewer Homes for Sale in Key West:
Should Buyers Wait for Winter?
Real Estate Trends: Key West
Stay informed about the local market shortage and how it impacts your selling potential.
Florida Approves More Home Insurance Rate Cuts!
Florida approved home insurance rate cuts of up to 10.4% for more than 62,000 policies, while Citizens urged homeowners facing increases to shop for coverage.
A Familiar Keys Favorite Comes to Old Town
If you know Baby's Coffee from MM 15, there's now a new reason to stop by. The longtime Keys favorite has opened a location on Fleming Street in Old Town.
Behind the Scenes of Fantasy Fest
Fantasy Fest doesn't just happen overnight. Months of planning, building and creativity go into the floats that eventually make their way down Duval Street. Here's a fun look behind the scenes of this year's celebration.
Million Dollar Bar Worth Three Times That
Don’s Place, the longtime Key West “Million Dollar Bar,” is changing hands after years as a local favorite. The property is currently under contract, and the bar also recently had a little Hollywood moment, serving as a filming location for Season 2 of Apple TV’s Bad Monkey, starring Vince Vaughn.
2601 S Roosevelt, Key West
(305) 240-5476
zainya@cayorealtykeywest.com
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