Tampa Real Estate Market Mid-2025: Why Photos & Videos Matter Now More Than Ever
The Tampa real estate market is shifting—and if you're a realtor, you're likely already feeling the effects.
Homes are sitting longer, prices are softening, and more listings are cropping up every week. We're in what's being called a balanced market, but that doesn't mean it's time to relax your marketing strategy. In fact, it’s the opposite. This is your chance to take advantage of a market that going to inspire more potential buyers to start looking at homes.
My name is Ian, an estate and architecture photographer working across Tampa Bay. I've seen how the right visuals can move a listing faster— and this is true even when the market cools. Let’s break down what’s going on in the market right now and why your listing photos and videos are more critical than ever.
Tampa Bay’s market statistics as of July 2025
Looking at this chart, we can notice something huge, the frenzy has cooled. Unlike the red-hot pandemic years, we're in a market that’s not overly favoring sellers or buyers. That means competition is back—but for the agents too, not just the buyers.
Compared to last year, housing inventory in Tampa has grown, giving buyers more choices and more power to negotiate. This also means more listings competing for attention online.
The only things that aren’t on a downwards trend is that homes are sitting longer on the MLS and that there a more of them sitting there. This signals a major shift from the ultra-fast sales we saw even a year or two ago. If a property doesn’t make a strong first impression, buyers scroll past it—quickly.
When the market slows down and starts to get cluttered we can see that every detail matters.
A listing with dark, uneven photos or none at all? It gets buried. But when there’s a listing with a professional photos or floorplans? That one gets clicked, shared on social media, and booked for showings.
Here’s how strong visuals are helping Tampa agents win right now:
Stand Out in a Crowded Market: More inventory means more competition. Beautiful photos can stop the scroll on Zillow and MLS.
Faster Sales, Higher Offers: Listings with professional photos consistently get more views and often sell faster—even in soft markets.
Tell the Story of the Home: A great video can highlight lifestyle elements that static listings miss—pool, walkability, natural light, or unique layouts.
Keep Price Reductions Off the Table: In a market where sellers are cutting prices, showcasing a home at its best reduces the risk of stale listings and necessary markdowns.
Striking images demand attention and time from viewers and potential buyers. Don’t be left behind.
💡 Pro Tip for Realtors: Prepping for Photography = Better Results
Even if you’re already booking photoshoots for your listings, there’s always “just a little more” that you can do to make your listings go from good to great!
Make sure homes are show-ready before your photo shoot. Clean surfaces, open blinds, staged rooms, and minor touch-ups make a massive difference in how a home presents online.
The market isn’t crashing, it’s normalizing and going back to being a market where you and how you present your work matter most rather than how quickly you can get someone in and out of a sale. That means agents need to elevate how they market listings. Tampa is still hot in the big picture, but now it takes a little more strategy, professionalism, and most importantly, connection to get those offers rolling in.
Professional photography and video aren’t luxury add-ons—they’re your edge. If you’re looking to move your listings faster and avoid price cuts, make visuals your first line of marketing defense.
Let’s make your next listing shine.
📸 Need updated listing photos or a fresh floorplan in Tampa?
Let’s talk.
I offer quality work and visuals that make buyers stop and look twice.
Reach me at ian@elevatepropertyimaging.com. Let’s get to working together for your next or even existing listings.