The rental market in Doral, Florida, is experiencing increased vacancies and falling rents, with the vacancy rate rising to 6.5 percent and rents reaching their lowest point in three years. While the broader Miami area has seen a cooling real estate market, Doral faces unique challenges linked to recent immigration policy changes.
Approximately 40 percent of Doral’s 80,000 residents are Venezuelan or have Venezuelan heritage. Many of these families are affected by President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, which have led to heightened uncertainty for those living in the U.S. under temporary legal programs such as humanitarian parole and Temporary Protected Status (TPS). These programs were expanded during the Biden administration but are now being targeted for revocation by the Trump administration through various legal actions.
Some buildings in Doral report vacancy rates of 10 percent or higher as residents leave due to concerns about their immigration status. Maria Eugenia Nucete, a broker who has worked in Doral for decades, described her experience: “They’re all telling me, ‘No, I can’t stay, my [temporary status] is expiring.” She recounted losing a client who moved to Italy earlier this year.
Doral Mayor Christi Fraga acknowledged the trend: “I do personally know of some families that have self-deported. Their status was unsure and they didn’t want to be here illegally,” she said. “I’m sure it will affect the housing market to a certain extent.”
Many departing residents are relocating to Spain, Italy, or returning to Venezuela. Gabriela Hernandez, a Venezuelan resident of nearly ten years in the U.S., shared her situation: “All of our plans here have collapsed.” She plans to move to Spain after her boyfriend left Doral due to fears over his protected status.
Landlords in Doral are increasingly seeking information about prospective tenants’ immigration status before renting units and sometimes turning away those with temporary protections out of concern for potential rent delinquency if legal residency is lost. However, attorney Courtney Cunningham warned that such practices could violate federal law: “It could be viewed as a race-discrimination case or it could be viewed as a case involving allegations of discrimination based upon national origin.”
Despite current challenges in the rental market, Doral has seen significant investment recently. In January, the city council approved the Trump Organization’s plan for up to 1,500 luxury condos at Trump National Doral Miami.
