Homes prices and new developments are booming along South Florida’s train line

Since its completion in 2022, the Brightline has upended transport within car-mad Florida — helping both tourists connect between the state’s two most popular destinations, as well as turning locals into commuters between communities once thought far too far apart for daily journeys.

And canny real estate developers haven’t missed a beat with their investments.

“The Brightline has been a game-changer for South Florida, creating seamless connectivity between key markets,” said Danielle Naftali, Executive Vice President, Naftali Group, whose pair of developments JEM Private Residences in Miami Worldcenter and Viceroy Residences Fort Lauderdale benefit from proximity to Brightline Stations. “Our projects are directly benefiting … from the ease of travel Brightline provides.”

The train cost a hefty $6.2 billion to complete, with all funds raised via the private-sector. Over 2.7 million riders traveled via Brightline in 2024 — a near 40% increase over 2023. 

Having now secured the confidence of Florida travelers, the Brightline is also reflecting its economic glory on the Miami-area’s real estate market.  

“As a cornerstone of downtown Miami’s growth and development, the Brightline has clearly become a significant asset,” said Ibrahim Fesli, executive board member of the Okan Group — whose 70-story Okan Tower is rising just one block from Miami’s Brightline Station.

Indeed, property prices have risen not only along the Brightline’s route, but around its six train stations — Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Orlando. All of those area’s are now emerging as major commercial centers. 

Miami’s Brightline hub, for instance, is set in the heart of the city’s downtown. It was one of the first to open, debuting in 2018  for service between Miami and Fort Lauderdale (the line to Orlando was completed in September 2023). 

According to local listings data, the area around Miami’s Brightline station has seen residential sales increase by 31.9% between 2018 and 2023, while the total resale value of area property surged by 131.4% during the same period — from $321.8 million in 2018 to $743.6 million in 2023. 

At 900 Biscayne Blvd. — just a block from the station — average prices have risen nearly 60% since the Brightline arrived.

About 45 minutes north, a similar effect has taken place in Fort Lauderdale   in and around the city’s Brightline station. Total resale value there climbed by 51.4% from $214.2 million in 2018 to $324.2 million in 2023.And similar to Miami, one-bedroom condo prices like those at Avenue of Lofts have seen a near 60% price jump. 

These numbers make sense: According to a joint study between the American Public Transportation Association and the National Association of Realtors, properties near transit lines and stations can increase in value by up to 150%. 

Buoyed by its initial Magic City success, Brightine’s developers are currently building an extension between Orlando and Tampa slated to begin service in late 2026. Farther afield, Brightline West is also in development, an ambitious rail link between Los Angeles and Las Vegas intended for completion in roughly five years. 

In the meantime, Brightline’s original Miami-Orlando route is increasingly integrating itself into South Florida’s commercial and cultural ecosystem.

Brightline’s Miami terminal, for instance, is actually part of the larger MiamiCentral transport hub, which also includes stations for the Tri-Rail, Metrorail and Metromover, along with the Miami-Dade County bus system. 

Such integrated connectivity — not just to Brightline destinations but also Miami International Airport — opens up the entire region to buyers, developers and even employers once constrained by congestion and car traffic.  

“Businesses fully recognize that public transport is a boon to their recruitment and retainment,” said Adam Metzger, chief operating officer at Oak Row Equities, which is currently developing four projects — The Oasis, Wynwood Plaza, 2600 Biscayne Boulevard and 2900 Terrace — all mere minutes from Brightline access.

“Businesses can now draw talent from all over the state,” added Metzger, whose firm just signed the largest land deal in Miami history: a $520 million, 4.25-acre waterfront parcel in Brickell. 

How’s that for a bright future?