Readers have been asking for the latest city housing supply numbers in Lee County. We decided to break housing supply numbers down by city/township area instead of the overall county. When you see the overall market in this graph, it is for the overall within these selected cities and not Lee County overall.

Latest City Housing Supply Numbers

The month’s supply of inventory has fallen in every category since we pulled these numbers in April. This is due largely to many sellers taking their home off the market. Data also shows that home sales have increased slightly. Fort Myers Beach saw the largest drop of almost 5 months’ supply. The islands are next at almost 3 months drop.

Latest City Housing Supply Numbers in Lee County

Bonita/Estero is leading the market with the lowest inventory supply of all the areas in Lee County. Cape Coral is down to 7.43 months in supply of homes, which is exactly what the overall number is. Lehigh Acres is doing better than average, as is Fort Myers. The problem areas are still the barrier islands and the beach.

Sales Activity Analysis

Every single area saw lower homes on the market. All experienced rising home sales except for two areas. Cape Coral and the islands are those two areas. This tells us that the Cape Coral and Islands market are not necessarily improving. It just looks like it because the month’s supply of inventory has declined. Unlike the rest of the county, which is also seeing lower inventory, the Cape and the Islands have declining sales.

When official sales pricing numbers are released next week, we expect median prices to be down about 8.46% It is hard to imagine we will see upward pricing pressure until we get the monthly supply of homes down. This will occur when the pace of homes picks up. The wild card will be the shadow inventory of sellers who would like to sell but have given up on the idea at today’s prices. We expect more sellers to enter the market in the future as the market improves.

Ellis Team Numbers

I was looking at our team’s sales numbers this year. If everything closes this month as it should, our numbers will be up about 100% from the same time last year. This tells us that the strongest agents with the best marketing and sales experience are taking market share because they are selling in this market. Many agents are struggling and don’t know where to turn. We see experienced agents join teams or switch brokerages in search of answers. Costs are up for Realtors, and buyers are fewer and more difficult to convert. Some agents pay for leads, and those costs are rising or disappearing as programs are changing. Many agents are leaving the business altogether, while others are desperately trying to extend their career by cutting costs. This is not a recipe for sellers achieving Top Dollar for their home.

Want to Sell?

If you’d like to sell in this market, give Sande Ellis or Brett Ellis a call at 239-310-6500 You can also visit www.SWFLhomevalues.com to get a Free online estimate of your home’s value. We can discuss your needs and talk about the best way to sell your home. Not ready to sell yet? It’s never too early to speak with a professional to help you make better decisions for the future.

Looking to Buy

Buyers have the upper hand right now. Negotiating leverage may be at its highest, so take advantage of lower prices and leverage while you can. Check out www.LeeCountyOnline.com to see all the listings in MLS or call us at 239-489-4042 to speak with an agent on our team that can give you valuable insight.

Good luck, and Happy House Hunting!

Today we’re going to make some bold home sold price predictions for the Lee County Florida market in May 2025. Official numbers will not be released until June 23rd, so do not take these as official. Our internal data has been pretty good about predicting what the official numbers will say, but there can be some variance.

Bold Home Sold Price Predictions

We are predicting median home sale prices in Lee County will be down about 8.46% in May. Officially median home sale prices in April were down 8.2%. So, this is a continuation of that trend. One month does not make a trend, but when you string a few months’ worth of data together, it tells a story.

Bold Home Sold Price Predictions for May 2025

Home inventory is declining. Pending home sales remained remarkably steady this past week. We expect closed sales to be down by about 3.48% in May. We are seeing declining inventory and declining number of home sales. This tells us that home sellers are taking their home off the market and keeping it. Some will rent while others will try again later. Some home sellers don’t need to sell and do not like the current prices the market is delivering, so they will wait.

Ellis Team Current Market Index

The Ellis Team current market index predicts the forward direction of prices. The number has shot up again the past few weeks after being down, back up to the number it was on April 1st. Because this is a forward indicator, it’s no surprise that home prices fell in May. The return of a higher CMI is indicative that prices are not rising and there could be some downward pressure moving forward. We are nowhere near the numbers we saw back in November and January, so much of that downward pressure has abated. Nonetheless, some pressure still exists.

Interest Rates

Interest rates have been stubborn. The 10-year treasury note is currently trading at 4.446%. We’ve seen it bounce around for months. When rates drop, buyer activity picks up. 30 year mortgage rates are pegged off of the 10-year treasury note by adding a premium to that amount. This week new inflation readings should come out which could influence the market. Remember, we are writing this article before those numbers are released.

10 Year Treasury Note and Interest Rates

Where Does the Market Go From Here?

Currently we have downward pricing pressure. Interest rate drops may spur increased buyer activity. Increased buyer activity may spur more sellers to sell. Inventory has been declining. The real question is, how many more sellers will place their home on the market when sales activity picks up? We do not believe shadow home sellers will come out of the woodwork until they see home prices rising again, or until their motivation changes. That could be a life event, or a desire for a different home that suits their needs better. We have enough inventory that’s going to take a little while for prices to improve. When more inventory hits, it could delay price gains. Shadow sellers are an unknown quantity.

Wild Cards

We also see many wild cards. The price of oil, the tax rate next year, hurricanes, tariffs, possible military action in Iran, the national debt, and more. So many things could impact on the real estate market, both to the upside and downside. We are positive on the market overall. We just cannot tell you about the timeframe for when prices will rise again due to all the wildcards in play.

If you want to buy or sell, you must always deal in the market of the moment. If you have a property to sell, call Brett Ellis or Sande Ellis at 239-310-6500 or visit www.SWFLhomevalues.com . If you’re looking to buy, you can check out www.LeeCountyonline.com or call us at 239-489-4042. The Ellis Team is always your best choice for unbiased market information that matters when making an offer.

 Good luck, and Happy Home Selling!

Why do experienced top agents sell more in shifting markets? We will cover the various reasons, and why it matters when selecting an agent in a shifted market.

87% of agents fail within 3 years. Some start out as part-time and many end up as part-time before ending their career. People are attracted to the real estate industry because of the lure of big commissions and schedule flexibility. They quickly realize real estate sales is harder than they thought, requires more work, more money, and more time. At the end of the transaction, after expenses, broker splits, and fees agents are disappointed with how little they keep. People are also disillusioned with the emotional toll a transaction takes. Learning the skills and knowledge to guide people through a transaction and remain calm is a mindset few are prepared for.

Experienced Top Agents Sell More

If agents are going to survive in real estate they must develop better skillsets. The ability to talk to people doesn’t cut it. Understanding people’s needs, fears, finances, and motivation can lead to better solutions for the client. Agents must possess knowledge and solutions after they thoroughly understand the client’s situation. Talking accomplishes none of those things, but listening and understanding does, assuming the agent has the experience and knowledge to offer solutions.

Top agents also invest back in their business. Not only do they invest in themselves with education, they also invest marketing dollars to promote their listings. Gone are the days of relying on the broker to spend money to advertise a listing. Listing a home on Zillow or Realtor.com is not marketing. Almost every listing is there, so if everyone is there, what does that do to make a home standout?

Advertising

Paid advertising creates leads. In lieu of paying advertising, some agents will sign up for referral networks where they pay a referral fee for leads. The problem with this is the company can change the policy at any time, change the fee, or cancel you altogether. Many agents using Zillow have found out this lesson the hard way.

Experienced agents know that clients expect advertising. Advertising helps build a database of buyers and sellers. Without this database, agents are relegated to a pay as you go model. If an agent has a slow month or two, many cannot afford to keep paying. I’ve seen some agents paying $15,000/month for leads and only bringing in $10,000/month from them. That’s a good way to be out of the business in 3 years or less.

Real Estate Cycles

Real estate moves in cycles. Agents come into the business in one cycle and learn how to operate in that cycle. When the market shifts, agents are lost. What worked yesterday no longer works, and the expenses are piling up. Agents who came into the business in the boom times are struggling right now, and have no money and no answers. This is where skillset and capital comes into play.

Experienced Top Agents Sell More in a Shifting Market

The last major market shift occurred beginning in 2005. If you find an agent who has been successful since before 2005 you will have selected an agent that has worked in all three types of markets; up, down, and sideways.

Selling Homes

Agents are asking how the Ellis Team is selling so many homes. The answer is education, experience, skillset, hard work, and marketing. We may make it look easy, but it is not. The Ellis Team is good, but it is hard work and takes skill.

We are fortunate. Our sales have been strong the past several months, and we are on pace to have another big month this June. If you have a property to sell, you should call Sande Ellis or Brett Ellis at 239-310-6500. We can answer your questions and evaluate your situation. Or visit www.SWFLhomevalues.com for an instant free online home value estimate. When you have a property to sell, you’ve got to do something to make it stand out from the crowd. We can help with that! Experienced Top agents sell more. Put the real estate marketing experts to work for you.

Good luck, and Happy Selling!

We wondered what was in the one big beautiful bill and if it would be good for real estate. The house just passed the bill, and it is subject to change when the senate gets done with it. Real estate has been tough in SW Florida, so let’s see what in this bill would help our market. This is not an endorsement or condemnation of this bill. We simply want to know what’s in it and how it affects real estate.

One Big Beautiful Bill Real Estate Perspective

Key Provisions of One Big Beautiful Bill

  1. Individual tax rates remain the same. Failure to pass a bill would mean consumers would see the largest tax hike in history, eroding purchasing power from millions of buyers. For real estate values, this item is essential.
  2. Mortgage Interest Deduction is made permanent at current levels, maintaining stability for the housing market.
  3. 1031 Exchanges were maintained which encourages investment and ownership of real estate. Eliminating that provision may have taken away many future buyers.
  4. SALT deduction was increased to $40,000. This is the state and local tax deduction owners can deduct from federal taxes. This provision was highly controversial, but it did make it in the bill.
  5. Immediate expensing for certain industrial structures. This provision encourages companies to build in America, thereby raising jobs and wages in the US. Rising wages helps make housing more affordable.
  6. Estate and gift tax threshold was made permanent at $15 million which will allow families to pass down generational wealth without the government taking it.
  7. Child tax credit was raised to $2,500 today and goes up in 2029 which will help families with children afford more home.
  8. Low income housing tax credits are included which will promote development for more affordable housing.
  9. Taxes on social security benefits are slashed which will help seniors keep more of what they earn. In turn, seniors will have more money in their pocket and less going to the government.
  10. Taxes on tips and overtime are eliminated from federal tax which will put more money in many people’s pockets. More money means consumers can afford more to offset the costs of housing. This provision helps many of the people who need help with housing the most.
  11. Standard deduction is expanded, making it simpler for people to file taxes while reducing taxable income for small business owners

Pros and Cons of the One Big Beautiful Bill

There is a lot to like for housing in this bill. Opponents argue that it will raise the debt, which could lead to higher interest rates down the road. Proponents argue the CBO fails to use dynamic scoring. The last time the government lowered taxes and brought jobs back to the US, revenue to the government increased. Static budget models don’t fully account for growth. If the US does achieve 3% or better growth, we may not see a deficit at all.

Of course, this is politics we’re talking about here. This would mean if more money comes in to the treasury, Congress shouldn’t find a way to spend more. For the US to get back on track, we need to grow revenue and cut expenses. This bill may do that, but some say it doesn’t cut expenses enough.

It will probably be July 4th through the 31st before we know what the final bill will be, and we can evaluate at that time what it looks like. For now, there is a lot to love, and a few things of concern. We’ll be watching to see how this unfolds, and how the provisions will affect real estate.

Real Estate Help

You can search all homes in the MLS at www.LeeCountyonline.com or call us at 239-489-4042 and our team will help you answer questions.

Our listings have been selling, and we need more! If you are thinking of selling, or tried before without success, call Sande Ellis or Brett Ellis 239-310-6500 We’re having great success, and perhaps we can help you make your move too. So many sellers wished they would have called us first.

Good luck, and Happy Selling!

We are seeing more real estate buyers taking advantage of the opportunity in SW Florida in 2025. Last year the first half of 2024 was strong, and the second half fell off. Home sales this year are behind the first half of 2024, but they are accelerating. The thinking is the second half of 2025 may be stronger than the second half of 2024.

Real Estate Buyers Taking Advantage

Preliminary April home sales data suggest home prices fell 8.24% year over year. We are writing this article on Tuesday and official numbers will be released on Thursday. Additionally, we are reporting 1,417 single family home sales in Lee County. Last year’s official number was 1,431, so we’ve almost caught up to last year’s number, and we know a few more sales will be added to our unofficial numbers.

Many people might ask, how can you say the market is improving statistically when prices are down? All market metrics do not move at once. First sales need to increase, and inventory levels need to come down. We are seeing sales increasing each month. Some of that is seasonal, and we will be watching the coming months for supporting data.

We are seeing listing inventory declining. Some of that is increased sales, increased pending sales, and perhaps some sellers giving up and taking their home off the market.

Sellers finally lowering prices have real estate buyers taking advantage because affordability has increased. Throw in a rate cut later in the year and sales could increase in the second half of the year versus last year.

Price Direction

Home prices can go down even in an improving market. We still have a lot of inventory to move; plus, the shadow inventory we talked about last week. Also, there are different degrees of improving. Markets can improve gradually or all at once. Most people remember the sharp market shifts, either up or down, so they are unaware of the gradual shifts unless they study the numbers. In fact, it’s easy for Realtors in the business to misjudge the market unless they study the numbers regularly.

Your Home Value Estimate

Check out your home value estimate online for free at www.SWFLhomevalues.com Our site will track your home’s estimate over time and give you a new figure each month. This way you can stay on top of the real estate market and track your value. While some online valuation models do a fairly good job of estimating value, no computer estimate should be taken as 100% accurate. We like to look at the price direction as much as the actual value it states. The Ellis Team is here to validate your price if you’re considering selling, so you know you’re getting Top Dollar when you decide to sell. Call Brett or Sande Ellis 239-310-6500.

Real Estate Buyers Taking Advantage in SW Florida

Price Reductions

The average price reduction was 3.56% last week. If your home is on the market and not getting offers, reducing it $1,000 won’t cut it. It’s always nice to know what other typical sellers are doing in this market to compete. You don’t want to drop too much, but staying at the wrong price too long can cost you. We can help with this too. We have the data.

Ellis Team listings are selling. Aggressive marketing and proper pricing and data are the key. Always Call the Ellis Team at Keller Williams Realty before you make a real estate decision.

See Last Week’s Article “Housing Market Improving Locally in SW Florida

 New Study About Home Sales

Single family March home prices declined 5.5% from last year. February home prices only declined 1.1%, so we’ll be watching to see if this is a new trend.

March Home Prices Declined 5.5% in Lee County

The height of the market was April of 2022 for median prices, and May for average prices. Next month we’re going to report the year over year April numbers as well as the current numbers versus the height of the market. Some buyers today feel like waiting because they believe prices should fall more than they have. If they realized prices began falling in 2022 once we got past May and into 2023 and 2024, they might begin to view the market differently.

March Home Prices Declined

March home prices declined sizably this year, but most don’t realize home prices started declining in 2022. Most agents didn’t recognize this because they look at year over year numbers which didn’t kick in until April of 2023. The price declines were happening in real-time starting in 2022. The other thing we have to calculate is seasonality, and this masked what was happening in 2022.

Inventory Levels

Single family home inventory bottomed out in February 15, 2022. We started tracking rising inventory levels from that day forward, and we knew that was the canary in the coal mine. It was just a matter of months after that date that prices began to drop. Ordinarily rising inventory levels wouldn’t cause prices to drop so quickly. It was the fact that it happened in the middle of season and never let up. Typically, listings max out in March, so it is not uncommon to see listings grow in February. Because there are so many sales in season, listings begin to drop again in April. That did not occur in 2022.

Rising Interest Rates

Remember, the Fed began raising interest rates in March of 2022. Inflation was rampant and costs were spiraling out of control. The government quite frankly spent too much money, and it hurt the economy and the housing market. There is a lag between rising rates and slower demand. Looking back, March of 2022 was the beginning of the end. Of course, something else upcoming would affect real estate too.

Insurance and Flooding

Hurricane Ian caused insurance companies to raise rates and look at flooding in a new light. SW Florida had largely been spared prior to 2022. Sure, we had Charley and Irma, but neither brought the flooding like Ian did.

Hurricanes

Hurricane Ian hit Sept 28, 2022. In 2024 SW Florida was affected by Helen and Milton. While not a dead hit like Ian, we did experience some flooding. Some properties flooded three times in 2 years, while others flooded twice. Buyers began to look at flood zones after Ian, and now their radar was activated after two storms in 2024. Many buyers left waterfront areas and moved inland. Total cost of ownership became an issue, and that affects home prices.

Track Your Home Value

If you’d like to track your home value over time, check out our Free Online Home Value Tool.  www.SWFLhomevalues.com Once you begin, it will update and keep track of your home value over time. This is a useful tool to track the market. Or you can continue to read this article, or call Brett or Sande Ellis at 239-310-6500

 Good luck, and Happy Home Selling! Call us if you need help.

One of the metrics we track is the median percent of original list price received. In March of 2025 that number was 94.2%. Last year in March it was 95.3%.

Median Percent of Original List Price Received

This tells us that for all homes sold in March of 2025, sellers received 94.2% of the original list price. This does not mean sellers took off an average of 5.8% of the current list price. If the home was priced correctly, it might sell at the original list price minus 3%. Or, if it is like the average home in Lee County, there might be another 2.8% in the cards.

Median Percent of Original List Price Metric

This metric emphasizes the importance of pricing a home correctly in the beginning of the listing. Not only will it sell faster, but it will also sell for more. We see many homes in the MLS that have had multiple price reductions. While this is good, it would have been better if the seller had started out more realistically. To be fair, in a shifting market, it isn’t always easy identifying where a home should be priced. The market leaves clues though.

This also tells us that many homes sell much more than 94.2%, because so many homes sell lower after multiple price reductions. This is even more evidence for why setting the best price up front nets sellers more money at closing table.

When Do Homes Sell?

The data tells us the vast majority of homes sell right away when priced correctly, or within 10 days of a price reduction. 10.78% of all single-family homes reduced their price in the last week. We typically see between 10-13% reduce each week. The average price reduction was 3.6% this past week, and that is also fairly typical.

Once a seller reaches market value, the home will sell. If your home is on the market for more than 10 days and not selling, it’s probably time to look at the price. Staying at a price for extended periods of time does not benefit the seller.

The median prices of homes sold in March 2025 sold for 5.5% less than last year. In a declining market, sheltering in place at the same price hurts you, unless you really don’t want to sell. Some sellers need to sell to move on with their next opportunity, and some do not. This isn’t the market to test the market. There are 9,997 single family homes on the market in Lee County and 5,312 condos and townhomes on the market.

The Market is Speaking

If you are testing the market, you’re clogging up the market for sellers who do wish to sell. Your home is not going to sell for more than it’s worth in today’s market. The good news is listing inventory dropped by 53 homes in the past week, and we have seen a surge in home buyer activity and offers. The gap between available homes and pending sales decreased by 45 this past week. Pending sales dropped by 8, but we are at the end of the month and many of the pending sales have closed.

The other good news is the market tells you right away if you’ve passed the test. If your home is marketed well and priced where the buyers will accept it, it will sell. If it is not, you have some work to do. In either event, when you do act, the market will reward you with a sale. It might not be at the original price you wanted, but that’s why we call it a market. Buyers never buy for as little as they want, and sellers never get as much at they want. Sellers set the price, and the market determines the value. If you can set your price close to where the market is, your home should sell.

Instant Value

Our website gives you an instant estimate of your home’s value. www.SWFLhomevalues.com Or you can call Brett or Sande Ellis at 239-310-6500 and we’ll evaluate your home and offer guidance. We can also discuss marketing that will help you get Top Dollar for your home.

Good luck, and Happy Selling!

Home Prices in Lee COunty Florida

Single family Southwest Florida housing supply increased from 5.9 month’s supply last November to 8.36 months presently. We’ll identify which price ranges are the hottest and which are the coolest in this article and provide some insights.

Southwest Florida Housing Supply Increases Since November

The price range of less than $300k price range saw the greatest increase in listing inventory, up 89% in 5 months. The next price range was $600-800 k with a 64.79% increase in listings followed by the $ 1 Million + range with a 61.85% increase. These increases affected the month’s supply in each of these categories.

Southwest Florida Housing Supply Increase

The price range that saw the most increase in the month’s supply was the $1 Million + range. It gained 6.43 months supply in just 5 months. In November Lee County had 9.74 months’ supply in this price range. That shot up to 16.17 months presently. If you have a $1 Million + priced home, it has to be marketed well and provide value. Buyers have an excellent choice to choose from, and they will only select the best value to them.

If buyers cannot find a suitable home they like, many are waiting on the sidelines, because they are not worried that prices will rise anytime soon. Buyers perceive it in their best interest to wait because they know prices are falling. There is too much competition amongst sellers and inventory is rising. A buyer will act when a home meets their needs, and they perceive the value of the home they like far and exceeds that of other homes they’ve looked at. You’ve heard the saying, “If you’re not first, you’re last.” This is true when there is an abundance of homes on the market in a particular price range.

Pricing and Marketing Critical

Anything $500k and up has about a 10-month supply or more of homes on the market currently.  Pricing and marketing are critical to sell in this market. Working with a Realtor who can listen to the buyers’ wants and fears is also critical to overcoming buyer reluctance in uncertain times. Offering suggestions and alternative ways of thinking about the buyer’s situation is crucial to making a sale today.

While pending sales are down compared to 2024, we had hopes of an improving market when interest rates declined. There was an uptick in pending sales a few weeks back when rates dropped, but suddenly rates shot up again about ¾% overnight as trade wars escalated. Global uncertainty has caused some to pause, which is not good because we already had a backlog of inventory going into season.

Trade Wars

This could all work itself out, but we better get some good news fast. It takes time to work through inventory backlogs, and capital is frozen until supply chain decisions are made. Money is available for lending on homes, but money doesn’t know where to find safety in the economy. The longer this persists, the more repercussions we will see. The good news is, if trade agreements are announced soon, this could all reverse itself quickly and we could begin working down the inventory along with lower rates.

We are frozen in time, and nobody knows for how long. We are still selling homes, but solving uncertainly in the economy makes everyone feel better about making big purchases.

If you have a home to sell, Always Call the Ellis Team at Keller Williams Realty 239-310-6500. Put our marketing and expertise to work for you. Or, find out the approximate value for your home instantly at www.swflhomevalues.com Our system will update you the change in value every month, so you’ll know which way the market is headed consistently on your home.

We’re here to help. Good luck, and Happy Selling!

US home buyer activity increases as interest rates decline. Mortgage applications are up in the purchase market, which is a signal that homebuyers are ready to react as affordability increases.

SW Florida Home Buyer Activity Increases

Locally single-family home pending sales increase by 49 units for the week, up to 2,076 from 2,027 the week prior. This is either a result of lower interest rates or the fact that Easter is late this year, which may prolong the season. In any event, it is a welcome sign amongst home sellers. Currently we have a 8.33-month supply of homes on the market in Lee County. Our team has identified the best and worst areas of Lee County housing supply we’ll share in a future article. Some of those numbers may surprise you.

SW Florida Home Buyer Activity Increases

Forecast Track

So far 2025 has gone pretty much as expected. Experts predicted 2025 will be much the same as 2024 with little change. What’s changed are the odds for Federal Reserve rate cuts and tariffs. The bond market has already started bidding rates lower, so the Federal Reserve may be late to the party and more reactionary. That’s not new news. The wildcard is tariffs and the economy. Will the US enter a recession? How quickly will the tariff situation work itself out?

While the US may win in the long run, what will the dust up do to consumer sentiment? Most experts believe leveling the playing field was a necessary step. Nobody has done it yet, presumably because doing so is messy. Short term pain is worth long-term benefits, unless you’re the one relying on retirement benefits to pay for the here and now.

Next Steps

If this whole thing gets worked out in the next month or two, we’ll be OK. The next few weeks are critical. Absent everything working out, incremental wins will suffice. If countries start signing deals with the US, companies can make decisions about where to relocate manufacturing. Some will come back to the US, and that has already started. Others may go to countries that sign favorable deals with us soon. Watch for India and other countries make a play for China manufacturing.This will put China in a box. China has the most to lose, so look for them to pull out a few tricks of their own. They could withhold rare earth minerals, pharmaceuticals, etc. Once the dust settles, China stands to lose influence around the world, so they won’t take that lightly.

Iran

Iran is also a wildcard. Their nuclear program is nearing the danger phase. A nuclear Iran would bring instability around the middle east, and countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel won’t stand for it. Look for this to heat up in the next month, and Lord knows how this could affect everything. So when people ask, what’s the market going to do this year, it’s complicated.

For now, we work on what we can control. Affordability is increasing for buyers, and we believe they should take advantage of that. Buyers have an excellent selection to choose from, and negotiating leverage with sellers is good.

If you’d like to find out what your home is worth, go to www.SWFLhomevalues.com for an instant quote. If you’d like to shop for a home anywhere in SW Florida, check out www.LeeCountyOnline.com

For questions, Always Call the Ellis Team at Keller Williams Realty 239-489-4042. We’re here to help, no matter where the economy takes us, or who’s acting up! We’re all in this together!

Uncertain Times

SW Florida Real Estate Update

“Nobody wants to buy real estate right now” is what I heard a seller say this past week. They were taking their home off the market with their agent because they felt like there were no buyers. When your home fails to sell, and you didn’t have many showings, it might feel like nobody is buying.

Nobody Wants to Buy Real Estate in SW Florida Right Now

Nobody Wants to Buy Real Estate -Actual Numbers

There were 927 closed single family home sales in February. That is down from 1,022 last year, but it’s not nothing. There were 335 closed condo sales in February, compared to 445 last year. That is a bigger percentage drop than the single-family home sales.

What this tells us is there is pricing pressure. Fewer buyers are buying, but it’s not nobody.  To put this in perspective, let’s say you have a home that is worth $500,000. If you put that home on the market for $50,000 would you have offers? If you put that home on the market at $100,000 or $250,000, would you have offers? The answer is a resounding yes, you would have multiple offers.

So, there are buyers. The real question is, at what point do buyers turn off for that $500,000 property? Is it $450,000, $475,000, or $500,000? If the property is truly worth $500,000 that is going to be the point where buyers accept the property but not over. If buyers turn off at $480,000, is it really a $500,000 property? Just because it is worth $500,000 in the seller’s mind doesn’t mean it is in the market’s mind. The market is the totality of buyers, not simply one buyer. If you overprice the property, you will not find even one buyer. If you underprice the property, you’re likely to find many buyers.

Marketing

The other question sellers ask is was my property marketed to its full potential? If the market was aware of your property and your price, it wasn’t the marketing? However, if it wasn’t presented in its proper light, or marketed fully, that’s another story. I’ve seen instances where a property was classified wrong, or didn’t have certain key features listed. If an agent can’t search on a field, you could be missing buyers. If just one key item is wrong, your listing could be invisible to the market.

Reach

If everything is correct in the marketing, what was the reach? Was the marketing muscle enough to have the proper reach for the intended audience? Getting everything correct and not spending money to market is a common mistake agents make. Perhaps the agent doesn’t have the money, or they’re counting on their broker to market it. The problem with that strategy is the broker then advertises all their company listings, and each listing waits their turn until the next time.

Portals

Agents rely too heavily on the national real estate portals like Zillow, Realtor.com, or Homes.com While buyers do look there, they don’t have all the features of a site like www.LeeCountyOnline.com Additionally, these portals sell user data to agents as a lead source, so when you search on them, an agent who is not the listing agent may contact you to sell you a home somewhere, anywhere. The portals have no incentive to sell your home.

Ask Your Agent

Ask your agent where else they advertise. Do they advertise in print? What about digital advertising, segmented ads, and other forms of advanced advertising. What are they going to do to make your home stand out? Most of the sellers are also on the portals, so what will make your home stand out?

Two Reasons Why Homes Don’t Sell

There are typically two reasons why a home didn’t sell. Was it marketed properly, and was it priced correctly? You, the seller, oversee who you hire. You are also in charge of pricing it correctly. In other words, the agent you hire makes all the difference.

Always call the Ellis Team at Keller Williams Realty 239-310-6500. We’ll explain how to fully market your home, and price it correctly. Or visit www.SWFLhomevalues.com for an instant ballpark price on your property. Don’t forget to call us to validate the price, and go over your marketing options.

Good luck, and Happy Selling!

See Last Week’s Article “SWFL Real Estate Buying Signals Flashing

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Expired Listings April 1, 2025