Homebuyers might want to temper their expectations for significant declines in mortgage rates as the spring housing season commences. The inflation rate increased to 3.2% year-over-year in February, as highlighted in the latest consumer price index report. This marks the third consecutive month of rising inflation rates, diverging further from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s 2% target.
Inventory rose much quicker than sales for single-family homes when I compare December year-on-year statistics in Sarasota County. I believe some of that rapid increase is just timing as people are putting their homes up for sale in anticipation of prime selling season in Sarasota. That said, if we see this trend for a few months, buyers will end up having material leverage in the market. Overall, the market is still healthy, but we need to keep a closer eye on Sarasota County in the short-term. See the infographic below from Florida Realtors for more information.
The single-family home market in Manatee County is continuing to move in a healthy direction. Both inventory and sales volume are up over 10% year-on-year. With inventory rising somewhat quicker than sales, we are in a position of having inventory at over three months of sales. As we are in our busy season, it couldn’t come at a better time. The market still favors sellers a bit, but it is balanced enough to give both buyers and sellers negotiating leverage. The infographic below from Florida Realtors gives more details.
It was good to see continued year on year growth in single-family home transactions in Manatee County in November. Further, as inventory grew at a slightly higher pace, the market continues to look like it is in balance heading into our busy season in Florida. It is still a reasonable time to be either a buyer or seller, but a little patience goes a long way in this market. The infographic below from Florida Realtors has more information.
Inventory rapidly expanded in Sarasota County in October. While increased transactions in Q1 2024 should slow down the inventory expansion, we will likely continue to see the median sales price trend down for the next month or two. Sarasota continues to be a seller’s market, but it is closer to being in balance than Manatee. Cash is still king in Sarasota as almost half of transactions in October were in cash. As with Manatee, it looks to be a reasonable time to be on either side of a transaction in Sarasota at the moment. Let’s hope it stays that way through our busy season.
