The inventory levels in Sarasota County continued their material rise in January. The strong seller’s market is very much a thing of the past as we head into peak season for the year. While the market is still largely in balance, buyers have more leverage than at any time in the past several years. It is definitely pointing to a buying opportunity, which may be why we are seeing such a high percentage of cash sales in the county. See the infographic from Florida Realtors below for more.
It was good to see new listings rise faster than closed sales in Manatee County in January. Further, with the percentage of sales being all cash dropping, the market continues to look very reasonable for both buyers and sellers. I expect the normal pickup in sales activity for the next three months as we are in peak season. With balanced negotiating leverage, it should be a very positive 2024 peak sales season in Manatee County. See the infographic from Florida Realtors below for more.
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.
As we adapt to the new mortgage interest rate landscape in 2024, it’s anticipated that many homeowners will focus on renovating their existing homes. This approach allows them to retain their low mortgage rates while enhancing the comfort, livability, and convenience of their properties. Below are key home improvement trends to watch for in 2024:
In-Law Suites: With the trend of not purchasing larger homes, adding spaces for in-laws, adult children, or even nannies is gaining momentum. Homeowners are exploring various options such as accessory dwelling units (ADUs), guest houses, or garage apartments to expand their living spaces.