When you list your home for sale, it will directly compete against other listed properties in our area. Pricing your home competitively is important, but so are factors like appeal and property condition. You know your property better than anyone else, so you understandably may be aware of some repair issues that you have been delaying. Are you trying to decide which of these repairs require your attention before listing your home for sale? Here are some important factors to consider.
Closed sales were down 50% year on year in Sarasota County for single family homes in November. That is a massive drop; however, the market still doesn’t favor buyers at many price points. Inventory levels are at 4 months of sales (on average), so we are still a little short of the 6 months usually referenced as a balanced market. The signals are generally favorable for buyers though as cash sales are no longer the majority of sales in the county. That said, buyers shouldn’t be expecting to cash in on low offer to list price transactions at this time. The infographic below from Florida Realtors has more information.
We continue to move closer to market balance in Manatee County after a lengthy run of sellers holding most of the cards. Inventory levels are up to almost 4 months of sales (6 months is considered in balance between buyers and sellers). As the price point rises, inventory levels shift more towards buyer leverage. We are now entering our peak season in Florida, so the next few months will be telling as to the market direction. The infographic from Florida Realtors below has the latest results from November.
Florida Realtors has put together this infographic on one way to predict the future of real estate. While this is oversimplified, it does capture the basics of supply and demand. If you have more questions about today’s market, reach out any time.
We have just experienced the largest three-week drop in mortgage rates in 14 years. The rate reduction appears to be signaling that the Federal Reserve will slow its pace of short-term interest rate hikes. That said, the reduction in rates has not yet increased the number of mortgage applications. Rather, they continue to decline.