DOWNING-FRYE: STEADY SALES; STEADY PRICES; STEADY DESIRE TO LIVE HERE
“The sales activity in the second half of 2023 has been steady,” said Mike Hughes, V. P. and Gen. Mgr. of Downing- Frye Realty, Inc. “We had 145 closings in July 2023, followed by 130 closings in August, 131 closings in September and another 131 closings in October. We saw this same trend in the second half of 2022. While inventory is still low by historical standards, it has been rising recently, which is encouraging for buyers. Many buyers that require financing are still grappling with current interest rates. Even so, price levels in this area seem to be holding up. The demand remains that great. Certainly, there are some neighborhoods that have seen price decreases, but looking at the big picture, we have not seen a major price correction in the local real estate market. As we work our way through the fourth quarter, we anticipate about $1.8 billion in closed sales volume for the year. Our slower season is now winding down and we’re gearing up for our busy winter season, so if you’re thinking about selling your property, now is a great time to talk with a Downing-Frye agent about how they can help you. If you want to purchase, your choices are now more plentiful, and we can help guide you through any complexities in the buying process. We would love to welcome you to Southwest Florida. We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!”
BONITA/ESTERO: 3.2-MONTH PROPERTY SUPPLY
When comparing this September with last, there have been several improvements: new listings surged by 29.2%, pending sales increased by 36.5%, closed sales grew by 6.3%, and inventory expanded by 38.4%. These figures collectively indicate a promising upturn, with the median price holding steady at $547,950, representing a $43,450 increase. September showed these positive increases despite the continued increase in mortgage interest rates. Local realtors and brokers encourage buyers to make their move now before interest rates adjust further. There are currently 779 active listings for a 3.2-month supply. Despite the increase in inventory compared to the previous year, the pre-pandemic period maintained a level of 6.0 months.
NAPLES AREA: PRE-SEASON BUYERS ARRIVE
Pre-season homebuying is starting earlier every year as pending sales (homes under contract) in September increased 18.7% to 735 pending sales from 619 in September 2022 and 687 in September 2019 (pre-pandemic). The combination of new listings plus price reductions on existing inventory made September a great month to purchase a home in the Naples area. Dr. Brad O’Connor, Florida Realtors®’ chief economist said, “prices in Naples increased 88% from pre-COVID prices.” Dr. Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®, said that “Naples is at a $250,000 to $300,000 spike in wealth gain for its property owners.” The overall median closed price in September increased 3 percent to $571,500 from $555,000 in September 2022. Total active listings at the end of September were 2,793, up 13.2% from September 2022.
MARCO ISLAND AREA: VOLUME SOLD +72%
The Marco Island Area Assoc. of Realtors® reported August 2023 figures: 25 homes were The Marco Island Area Assoc. of Realtors® reported September 2023 figures: 32 homes were sold for the median sell price of $1.5M, averaging 108 days on the market; 21 condos were sold for the median sell price of $795K, averaging 94 days on the market; 3 lots were sold with the median sell price of $215K, averaging 304 days on the market. The total inventory at the end of September 2023 was 404 properties (up 23% from September 2022).
FLORIDA: PRICES STABLE
In September 2023, closed sales of existing single-family homes statewide totaled 21,335, up 6.1% year-over-year; existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 8,387, down 0.2%. “In September, closed sales of single-family homes were up for the first time compared to a year ago, rising by over 6%,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor. “Closed sales of townhouses and condos in 2023 have been converging with their 2022 levels as well. We were still down in September year over year, but by a fraction of 1%. While higher mortgage rates continue to challenge buyers, they’ve been rising “at a much slower pace than last year.”
USA: PENDING SALES GREW
Pending home sales increased in September, up 1.1% from August. The Northeast, Midwest and South posted monthly gains in transactions while the West experienced a loss. “Despite the slight gain, pending contracts remain at historically low levels due to the highest mortgage rates in 20 years,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “Furthermore, inventory remains tight, which hinders sales but keeps home prices elevated.”
Sources: The Bonita Springs-Estero REALTORS®/SWFLMLS, Naples Area Board of REALTORS®, National Assoc. of REALTORS®, Florida REALTORS® and Marco Island Area Assoc. of REALTORS®