I just reviewed a Redfin analysis on how Americans buy homes, and there's something that really stands out. While nationwide people are using less cash to purchase homes (dropped to 29% in December 2025), Florida is doing exactly the opposite. The three cities with the highest cash purchases in the country are all there: West Palm Beach at 47.2%, Jacksonville and Miami at 39.3% each. That's a huge difference compared to the average.

The reason makes sense. In Florida, cash is pure gold for sellers because transactions close super quickly without waiting for mortgage approvals. Plus, those paying cash negotiate better prices, getting up to a 20% discount. Completely different from what's happening in California and New York, where most rely on conventional financing. San Francisco barely reaches 24.4%, Los Angeles at 20.8%.

What's interesting is that this reflects a larger trend. Two years ago, in December 2023, cash payments hit their all-time high at 35% because mortgages were expensive. Now that interest rates have dropped, people prefer to finance. But Florida and California remain two completely different markets in this regard. While Florida maintains that cash preference, California is almost the opposite.