Tag Archives: Ellis Team Open Houses

SW Florida 2015 Year End Sales Prices Released

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This past week official SW Florida 2015 year end sales prices released and as expected single family home prices showed a price gain of 12.96%  Closed home sales were up 9.7% over 2014 numbers as well, so all in all we’d call 2015 a very successful year.

SW Florida 2015 Year End Sales Prices Released
Year End Sales Prices

As you can tell by the Year End Prices Graph our market has risen every year since the bottom in 2009.  We’re still not back at peak 2005 prices.  We have risen to mid 2007 levels when the market was in free-fall.

When prices rise it doesn’t mean they are guaranteed to rise at the same rate.  In fact, they’re not guaranteed to rise at all.  One of the steepest rises was in 2004 but once 2005 hit the party was over.  We started warning in Fall of 2005 the party was over but few would listen.

Today we aren’t warning anything like that, but we are seeing a shift in the market towards a more balanced market.  If you asked Realtors who have been in the business for any length of time most would probably say a healthy balanced market is the most fun to work because neither buyer nor seller have a leg up on the other and both must act rationally to accomplish their goals.  Of course, not every buyer or seller knows where we really are at any given time and are stuck on yesterday’s headlines sometimes.

One little report I like to look at from time to time is the Market Watch Report published when we log into MLS.  This can be customized.  I have mine set today to look at all activity in Lee County Florida within the past 24 hours.  This can be changed to homes only, condos only, etc and the time period can be adjusted as well.  I look at various time periods.

SW Florida 2015 Year End Sales Prices Released Market Watch
Market Watch

The graph I’m sharing with you today shows 24 hours.  One thing we notice is new listings are outpacing pending sales 84-66.  You’ll also notice sellers that have failed to sell are reducing prices.  There were 101 price reductions in the last 24 hours.  Now this could have been in response to last week’s article about a shifting market, but Realtors in general know when a listing is not receiving showings or losing out to other homes because of price.

Most Realtors will consult with their sellers if they believe the market isn’t responding to their asking price much the same buyer agents must consult with an unreasonable and unrealistic buyer.

Greed works in both directions.  Sellers want the absolute most for their home and buyers are afraid to make a mistake and want to pay the absolute least they can for a home.  It’s the Realtor’s job to educate their customer on the reality of the market.  A balanced market is always the most fun because you’re educating both sides versus scolding one side that refuses to acknowledge the major up or down trend.

A good way to research the market is to search active, pendings, and solds in a given area.  Our Blog blog.topagent.com gives weekly SW Florida market reports, and our MLS search site www.LeeCountyOnline.com lets you search all the listings and view Market Reports.  The market reports tell you what homes are selling for per sq ft in a neighborhood and the average days on market.  You can customize this search for any area.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling, there is no substitute for talking with a professional.  We hope the online tools give you some great information, but please call us and we’ll be glad to sit down with you and go over your options.

Always Call the Ellis Team, we’ll handle you with care!  239-489-4042

This Weekend’s Open Houses

Saturday 1-4 PM

6087 Waterway Bay Dr

Open Saturday 1-4 PM

12510 Kentwood Ave

Shift in SW Florida Real Estate Market?

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Is there a shift in SW Florida real estate market?  Many agents I’ve talked to have complained that buyers thus far this year lack a sense of urgency.  They’re making offers at times but then shutting off to counter-offers.  For some listings, there are no offers at all.

Last year it was common to have multiple offers per property.  Prices were rising and Realtors could price homes ahead of the last known sale.  This year might be different.  We’ve noticed a slowdown of offers on homes priced about $275,000 and up.  One Realtor we talked to this week has noticed a slowdown on homes over $200,000.

Is the stock market affecting the real estate market?  Some speculate yes, others aren’t so sure.  Sometimes there is a flight to tangible assets like real estate when the stock market is in trouble.  Other times the stock market affects consumer confidence and people are afraid to do anything.

Let’s look at some of the numbers.  Just because Realtors start talking doesn’t mean the numbers bear out their suspicions.

Shift in SW Florida Real Estate Market February Pending Sales
SW Florida Pending Sales Feb 1-9 2016

Last year there were 1,537 new pending sales in February.  As of February 9th, 2016 there are 217 new pending sales.  The average list price of those pending sales are $280,569.  We know that closed sales were down 2.8% in December.  Unofficial January numbers suggest sales were down 12.7%

This confirms that so far this year new pending sales are off as well.  Of the pending sales, average price is down.  We won’t know what these pendings close at until they close, and of course we’re not dealing with a full month.  In December, the average closed sale price was $333,735.  Official January numbers won’t be released until later this month.  If the rest of the month holds true, it would confirm strength in the lower price ranges and lack of urgency above $280,000.

Shift in SW Florida Real Estate Market Closed Sales 2015
SW Florida Closed Home Sales

What should sellers do with this information?  They could wait and see if this is a temporary lag in the market.  This sometimes happens as season picks up steam the latter half of February and into March.  Or, sellers could reposition their home in the marketplace and be the first ones out in case buyers remain unmotivated.

In January we listed two condos in Reflection Lakes and sold both within a matter of days.  Just because the overall market may see a shift doesn’t mean all properties are affected exactly the same.

If you’re putting your home on the market, it pays to look at what has sold and what your competition looks like.  Look at it objectively like a buyer would.  If you have had your home on the market, look back and see how you made your initial determination.  Did you price ahead of the market expecting the market to increase?

Look at it like a basketball game.  Just because your team had a good 1st quarter doesn’t guarantee you a solid 4th quarter.  To win you have to be better at the end of the game, not just at the start.  If your home has been on the market and not selling it’s either the marketing or the price.  And even if it’s the marketing, chances are it still might be the price as well.

I’ve been tracking a few listings that interviewed with us and went with another Realtor who listed at a higher price.  In each case, those properties are still on the market and they’ve reduced the price down to where we initially said.  They are still on the market, and if buyers remain indecisive, they may end up reducing more.

Sometimes it’s best to be the first one out than to languish on the market and compete with all the other sellers reducing their prices.  Of course, Season could kick in any moment and clear out the inventory shelves.

Check your competition for yourself at our SW Florida MLS Search Site or call us at 239-489-4042  We can help you sell your home and find your next home as well.

This Weekend’s Open Houses

Saturday 1-4 PM

6087 Waterway Bay Dr

Open Saturday 1-4 PM

12510 Kentwood Ave