Highlights
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Palmetto and Ellenton tightened as stronger sales reduced months of supply despite stable inventory.
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Median and average prices both increased, showing stronger results across the market.
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Buyer activity improved significantly, although completed sales involved longer marketing times.
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Supply closely matched Manatee County overall, placing the market in a balanced-to-seller-leaning position.
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Sellers benefited from stronger demand, but the slower pace showed that buyers remained selective.
Market Conditions
Palmetto and Ellenton strengthened in August as sales increased while inventory changed little. Closed sales rose 17.9%, reducing months of supply from 4.3 to 3.3 months.
That brought the market in line with Manatee County overall, which also carried 3.3 months of supply. Conditions shifted from balanced toward seller-leaning as buyers absorbed a larger share of the available homes.
The market remained far more balanced than it was during the severe shortage of August 2021, when supply fell to 1.1 months. Buyers continued to have options, while sellers benefited from stronger activity.
Pricing Trends
The median sale price increased 9.9%, rising from $363,000 in August 2025 to $399,000 in August 2026. This indicates that the midpoint of completed sales shifted higher.
The average sale price increased 11.0%, from $392,000 to $435,000. Because the median and average rose at similar rates, the results support stronger pricing across more than one portion of the market.
Palmetto and Ellenton remained more affordable than Manatee County overall, where the median reached $423,000 and the average was $579,000. That relative affordability may have helped attract additional buyer activity.
Inventory Trends
Available inventory remained stable, increasing from 449 homes last August to 453 this year. The four additional listings represented a change of less than 1%.
Even with slightly more inventory, months of supply fell from 4.3 to 3.3 months because sales increased sharply. Buyers had a similar number of choices, but stronger demand improved the competitive position of sellers.
Market Pace
The pace produced mixed signals. Closed sales increased from 95 to 112, but median days on market rose from 27 to 55 days.
This does not mean demand weakened. More properties reached closing, but the typical completed sale had spent longer on the market. The 55-day median was also close to Manatee County’s 51 days, suggesting a more normal pace after an unusually fast result last summer.
What This Means for Buyers
Buyers continue to have a useful selection of homes, but stronger sales and higher prices may increase competition for attractive listings. Palmetto and Ellenton remain more affordable than Manatee County overall. Buyers should evaluate recent neighborhood-level sales and avoid assuming that every property requires immediate action.
What This Means for Sellers
Sellers benefit from stronger activity and higher pricing measures, even though inventory remained stable. However, the longer selling time shows that buyers are taking a more deliberate approach. Accurate pricing and strong preparation remain important for competing successfully.
