If you are going back and forth on whether to buy or keep renting, a new study may help settle the debate. Florida Realtors reported on AD Mortgage’s 2026 “10-Year Rent vs. Buy Wealth Study,” which compared projected outcomes for homeowners and renters across 250 U.S. cities. The analysis measured homeowner equity against renter investment returns, assuming renters invested their down payment and monthly savings in the S&P 500. The results were striking, especially for South Florida. 

In the five Florida markets included in the study, projected homeowner equity outpaced renter investment returns by roughly $275,000 to more than $509,000, with Miami showing the largest gap of any Florida city. The study projects a typical Miami buyer could build approximately $1.04 million in equity over 10 years, compared to about $534,000 for a renter who invests the difference instead. Put simply, buying in Miami does not just give you a place to live. Over time, it builds wealth in a way renting just cannot match. 

Other Florida markets also favored buying over a 10-year horizon, but Miami led the pack, which is no surprise to anyone who has watched this city grow. The combination of strong appreciation, consistent demand, and limited land keeps Miami real estate in a category of its own. For a deeper look at why property in this market continues to outperform other asset classes, a recent post on why real estate still wins as a long-term investment lays out the case in detail. 

That is exactly where Havana Enclave comes in. Havana Enclave’s one-bedroom condos are designed for the buyer who is ready to stop paying someone else’s mortgage and start building wealth. Whether you are a first-time buyer navigating the rent-vs.-buy question or an investor looking for a well-located Miami asset, a one-bedroom at Havana Enclave offers a smart, accessible entry point into one of the strongest real estate markets in the country. The study’s analysis shows how appreciation and loan paydown can change the financial equation over time, particularly in high-growth Florida markets. In Miami’s surging Little Havana neighborhood, Havana Enclave is positioned right at the center of that opportunity. 

The rent-vs.-buy debate will always have nuance, and ownership is not the right fit for every situation or every moment. But for those who are financially ready and planning to put down roots in Miami, the data now offers a compelling answer. The gap between building equity and writing rent checks is not small. In Miami, over 10 years, it can amount to over half a million dollars.

Havana Enclave's sales are being led by The Oscar Arellano Team at Coldwell Banker Realty, with Oscar Arellano, Eyvis Mendoza, and Nelson Albareda heading the effort as exclusive sales representatives for the project. To learn more or to schedule a visit, stop by our Sales Gallery at 3485 W. Flagler St., Suite 100, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday by Appointment Only. You can also reach the sales team at (305) 802-2266 or visit havanaenclave.com.

Developer The Astor Companies continues to make incredible progress on the construction of Havana Enclave as it moves closer to completion this summer. Havana Enclave reflects Astor’s commitment to meet Miami’s housing needs and help the city it calls home reach its full potential.

Havana Enclave General Contractor BDI Construction is wrapping up waterproofing the building’s pool deck, barbecue and surrounding areas, while clearing and cleaning the sidewalk is underway east of the building on Northwest 26th Avenue. All air-conditioning units on Havana Enclave’s roof are now connected.

Astor and the Havana Enclave team look forward to officially opening the building later this year! For more information about the project, visit blog.HavanaEnclave.com or email Info@HavanaEnclave.com.