While new listings were down YoY in May, we saw both closed sales and overall inventory rise when compared to May of 2022. The lower half of the market seems to be more active this year as the median sales price is finally moving down a bit. While I would like to see listings and inventory continue to rise, the market is continuing to look healthier now than it did a year ago. It is a reasonable time to be a buyer or seller in Manatee County. See the infographic below from Florida Realtors for more.
Tag: home selling
U.S. Homeowner Equity
While Florida homeowners still have a relatively stronger position compared to the average U.S. homeowner, it is worth noting that the average U.S. homeowner with a mortgage experienced a decrease in home equity for the first time in over a decade. According to real estate data tracker CoreLogic, among the approximately 63% of U.S. homes with a mortgage, the average homeowner equity per borrower was $274,070 in the first quarter. This figure reflects a 1.9% decline from the same quarter in the previous year.
Not All Offers Are Equal
Florida Realtors has provided the helpful infographic below with information for sellers to consider in addition to price.
On Investor Activity
Investor purchases dropped almost by half year-on-year in the 1st quarter of 2023 as elevated interest rates along with declining rents and housing values ate into potential profits, according to a report from Redfin. Of total home sales, investors had a 17.6% share.
Sentiment is down, does that mean the prospect of higher returns is up?
According to a recent Gallup poll, real estate remains a top investment choice for Americans, although its popularity has decreased to a five-year low. In April, 34% of respondents selected real estate as the best place to invest their money, out of options including stocks, bonds, gold, and savings accounts. This poll has consistently ranked real estate as the preferred investment for the past decade.