Long before David Crawford worked in real estate full time, he was already spending his weekends around it. While other kids headed to basketball games on Saturday mornings, he was fixing rental properties, picking up an understanding of how the housing market works simply by being there. His father, a CPA in Daytona Beach, built and owned modest properties on the side, and Crawford saw early how real estate could anchor a family’s economic life. By the time real estate became his career, it didn’t feel like a leap so much as a natural next step.

That long view has stayed with him. Crawford, now 43, has worked across economic development, marketing, brokerage, and nonprofit-oriented business models, eventually founding Catalist Realty in Sarasota in 2018. The firm, a six-person operation, donates 15 percent of each commission to a nonprofit chosen by its client, a model that earned a community impact award from the local chamber of commerce.

Last month, Crawford was installed as the 2026 president of the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM), succeeding outgoing president Debi Reynolds. The transition comes at a moment when the local housing market is recalibrating after rapid in-migration, rising costs, regulatory shifts and the 2024 hurricane season that reshaped the region.

We spoke with Crawford about affordability, hurricanes, development pressure, condos and what he expects to define the year ahead. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Where are you originally from, and what brought you to the Sarasota area?

“I’m originally from Daytona Beach. I left for the University of Florida in Gainesville, and that’s where I met my wife, Stacey. She’s from Englewood, born and raised. Her father had a brokerage on Manasota Key. We met in 2003 while we were both leasing agents at an apartment complex. I lived there; she didn’t. But that’s how I started coming down to Sarasota regularly.”

What did you do before working full time in real estate?

“After undergrad, I worked in economic development through the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Program, just outside Gainesville in Alachua County. Cities would apply [for funding], and the goal was revitalizing downtown cores that had really struggled in the ’80s and ’90s. I did that for about three years and learned a lot about nonprofits and government—how slow it can be, how much red tape there is, and how long change takes.

“Around that time, my dad passed away, and I found myself managing his rental properties—collecting rents, handling repairs. I later went back to UF for my MBA, focusing on international business. I graduated around 2010, which wasn’t exactly ideal timing to have assets tied up in real estate [following the Great Recession].

"We moved to Sarasota that year for job opportunities. At first, we thought it might be temporary, but we fell in love with it. I spent about five years working in marketing, but real estate kept pulling me back. In 2015, I went full time, working at Gulf Realty with my father-in-law. In 2018, I opened Catalist Realty."

Our region has historically been more affordable than other beachside destinations. Would you say Sarasota and Manatee counties are still affordable?

“Affordability is relative. I have colleagues in places like Fort Lauderdale who think Sarasota is inexpensive. But for people who’ve lived here a long time, it can feel anything but affordable.

"Compared to many coastal markets in Florida, there are still pockets that are reachable. Sarasota isn’t a secret anymore. People know it now. We have a lot of amenities packed into a relatively small area, and supply and demand are putting pressure on pricing. The challenge is making sure people who work here can still live here. That’s where policy decisions really matter.”

How much are hurricanes shaping the market narrative right now?

“The word ‘hurricane’ scares people. Some storms are more damaging than others, but we’ve always had storm seasons. What’s changed is awareness.

"After 2024, buyers became much more focused on risk. Early this year, the first questions from home buyers were: 'Did [the home] flood? Was it damaged? Does the 50 percent [FEMA rule] apply?' That emotional reaction has calmed, but the logic remains. Now it’s part of the value equation.

"For a property that didn’t flood for 30 years but flooded twice last year—that gets factored in. Buyers are more analytical about it. Insurance, flood zones and monthly carrying costs are all part of the conversation now in a way they weren't before.”

Do you think there’s enough demand to justify all the development happening?

“Markets follow demand. There’s still population growth coming into the region, and developers aren’t in the business of losing money. That said, it’s not helpful to generalize. Different products serve different needs. Builders are producing housing types that infill markets can’t always provide. In the rental market, especially, you’re seeing projects respond to demand rather than create it.

"Time will tell which product types perform best. It’s oversimplifying to say we have too much or too little. A damaged 1970s beachfront condo and a new luxury coastal unit are two completely different markets.”

Where are the best deals right now for buyers?

"That depends entirely on the buyer. Lifestyle matters—pool or no pool, commute, bedrooms, how you spend your weekends. The goal isn’t just to buy or sell. It’s understanding what’s driving the decision.

"That said, new construction is often more competitive right now. Dirt is cheaper farther from the [urban] core, and incentives have shifted things. For the first time in a while, we’re seeing situations where buying new can be less expensive than buying resale, especially for first-time buyers.”

What’s happening in the condo market?

“A lot of what we’re seeing stems from the 2021 Surfside condo collapse. [Editor's note: Florida now requires older condo buildings to undergo mandatory structural inspections and to fully fund reserves for major repairs. Associations can no longer waive reserve contributions, and inspection findings must be disclosed to owners and buyers—aimed at catching structural problems early and ensuring the money exists to fix them.] There was good intention behind the changes, but many associations had under-collected for years. Suddenly, they needed engineering studies, reserves and insurance coverage they hadn’t planned for. Layer on hurricane damage, and you get uncertainty—special assessments, future costs and availability of insurance. That’s put pressure on older condo buildings, especially along the coast.

"At the same time, the luxury condo market is still breaking records. Even if it takes longer to close, that segment continues to grow. Ten years ago, it was rare to see more than one listing over $10 million. Now it’s not unusual. It’s a highly segmented market."

Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed to reduce or eliminate property taxes on primary (homesteaded) residences in Florida. His proposal would require a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot and 60 percent voter approval to take effect.

Supporters say eliminating property taxes could put more money back in residents’ pockets. Critics warn that property taxes fund essential services like schools, police, fire, and infrastructure and cutting them could force budget gaps or shifts to other taxes. Any thoughts on this?

“We all want to keep homeownership attainable and help people stay in their homes, especially seniors and those on fixed incomes. But property taxes fund schools, public safety, beaches—our overall quality of life. It’s about using a scalpel, not a sledgehammer. Broad eliminations can have unintended consequences. We need to measure outcomes carefully so we don’t undermine the very things that draw people here.”

What advice would you give to sellers heading into 2026?

“Be honest about your property. Do a real self-assessment. What needs to be addressed? With so much rebuilding happening after storms, skilled labor is stretched thin. That’s another factor sellers need to account for. Labor shortages mean buyers are less excited about taking on major fixes.

"Pricing matters. Don’t price based on what you hope to make—price based on the data. When sellers ignore that, it leads to frustration and longer days on market."

What do you expect to see in 2026?

“We’re feeling cautiously optimistic. There’s pent-up demand from buyers who waited to see how [last year's] hurricane seasons would play out. January through April are typically strong, and we expect some delayed listings to come online.

"Investor interest spiked after the storms, though not all of it was real. The serious investors are coming back now, reassessing. Real estate becomes more attractive when there’s volatility elsewhere.

"Insurance reform passed two years ago, and we’ve started to see stabilization. New carriers have entered the market, and some policies have moved out of Citizens Insurance. Insurance is a much bigger part of the conversation now than it used to be. When buyers look at a home today, they’re focused on the total monthly cost. That’s the reality. And that’s where newer construction often has an advantage—it’s built to code and typically carries lower insurance costs.

"Overall, we’re rolling into 2026 with more balance, more realism, and a clearer understanding of risk. That’s not a bad place to be."