To successfully navigate your home-buying journey, I recommend that you adopt a balanced approach of being thoughtful yet decisive in today’s market. The list below reflects some of the main points of that balance.
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.
The snowbird lifestyle, traditionally popular among retirees, has expanded its appeal in the post-pandemic era, thanks to the rise of full-time remote work. This shift allows individuals of various ages to divide their time between two different cities or locales, typically seeking warmer climates during the winter months, especially for those residing in the northern parts of the country.
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 story in Sarasota County was about listings in November. As sellers are getting more comfortable putting their homes on the market, transactions are ramping up heading into our busy season in Florida. With roughly five months of inventory on the market at November’s sales pace, it is a better time to buy than we have seen in a long time. That said, six months of inventory is generally considered market balance, so sellers aren’t yet in a challenging position. Rather, negotiating leverage should be good for both parties this winter. The infographic from Florida Realtors below has more detail.
