The following report, information and statistics are from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee as published for their Realtor Membership on May 24, 2017 for closed April 2017 business.
Posted by Sara Leicht - SaraSellsSarasota.com onSarasota/Manatee Housing Market Still Tipped Toward Sellers
SARASOTA, Fla. (May 24, 2017) – According to the recent numbers compiled by Florida REALTORS®
from My Florida Regional MLS, April 2017 reflects an increase in single family closed sales, median
sales prices and inventory in Sarasota and Manatee County as compared to April of 2016.
Closed sales in Sarasota County increased by 8.3 percent for single family homes, while Manatee County
experienced a 1.5 percent increase. Condos, however, decreased in sales in the month of April. Sarasota
condo sales decreased by 0.3 percent this month and Manatee decreased by 22 percent.
Median Prices
Median prices of Sarasota County single family homes increased by 9 percent to $272,500, while condos
decreased by 1.4 percent to $215,000. Single family homes in Manatee County increased in median price
by 5.4 percent to $295,000, while condos in Manatee increased by 2.1 percent to $170,500.
The number of properties that were put on the market during April decreased in both counties from last
month, a good indication of the end of the season.
“This year’s season started slow in January, but picked up steam in February and March, leveling out
again in April,” said Xena Vallone, 2017 RASM President.
Inventory of Homes for Sale
When looking at the total inventory in the two-county area, there is a 9.3 percent increase of active
listings from this time in 2016,but inventory continues to be very tight, especially in lower price ranges.
In Sarasota County, the inventory of single family homes increased 12.3 percent and condos by 12
percent. Single family homes in Manatee County increased by 3.6 percent, while condos increased by 9.7
percent.Days on the Market
In April 2017, we saw an increase in time to contract over last year in both counties. Sarasota single
family homes increased to 45 days on market, up from 35 last year, and the time for condos increased to
46 days, also up from 35 days a year ago. In Manatee County, time on market for single family homes
increased to 46 days from 38 last year, while condos rose from 33 days last year to 50 days on market this
year.
“Higher inventory levels typically increase the time it takes to sell a property,” said Vallone. “However,
that is not the case for more affordable price points. Single family homes priced under $300,000 are going
to contract more quickly than those priced higher, but we aren’t seeing the same thing in the condo
market.”
Months of Inventory
The month’s supply of inventory in the two-county area is in the range of 4.4 to 5.5 months’ inventory,
continuing to improve year-over-year. This statistic reflects the time it would take to sell all the active
listings on the market at the current rate of sales. The current supply favors the seller over the buyer
overall, but not in all price ranges, as indicated above.
According to the National Association of REALTOR®’s Midyear Forecast, supply, affordability and
modest economic growth are holding back sales and threatening the nation’s low homeownership.
However, chief economist Lawrence Yun believes existing-home sales are poised to climb 3.5 percent in
2017.
“The housing market has exceeded expectations ever since the election, despite depressed inventory and
higher mortgage rates,” said Yun. “The combination of the stock market being at record highs, 16 million
new jobs created since 2010, pent-up household formation and rising consumer confidence are giving more households the assurance and ability to purchase a home.”
Editor’s Note: For comprehensive statistics dating back to 2005, visit www.MyRASM.com/statistics
SINGLE FAMILY SALES YEAR TO YEAR COMPARISON
CONDO SALES YEAR TO YEAR COMPARISON
DISTRESSED SINGLE FAMILY HOME SALES YEAR TO YEAR COMPARISON
DISTRESSED CONDO SALES YEAR TO YEAR COMPARISON
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