The following report, information and statistics are from the Realtor Association of Sarasota/Manatee as published for their Realtor members and the public on October 22, 2015 for closed September business.

Sales Stay Strong in Traditionally Slower September

Property sales in Sarasota and Manatee counties were somewhat slower in September 2015, but the drop off from August was expected after an unprecedented six month run of record-setting closings. In addition, the start of fall 2015 looks a lot like the same time last year, but with one major exception. Single family home median sale prices in both Sarasota and Manatee counties have risen sharply over last year at this time, once again reflecting the law of supply and demand as single family home stocks dwindle.

SALES

According to the Realtor® Association of Sarasota and Manatee, overall property sales in September 2015 stood at 1,608 for the two counties – 927 closings in Sarasota and 681 closings in Manatee. Sarasota County fell short of the 1,000 level for the first time since February, ending the record of six consecutive months over 1,000 – something that has never happened before in Sarasota County.

The overall regional sales compared to 1,709 sales in August 2015, or a 5.9 percent drop, but were slightly higher (1.8 percent) than last September’s sales of 1,578. The August to September sales drop was almost identical last year, with a small decline from late summer to early fall. However, if the recent trend continues, October 2015 could see another sales surge, as the last four years has seen marked improvement in the number of closings as winter residents and visitors returned to the market.

“While the real estate market has taken a slight breather in September, which is traditionally a slower sales month, the overall numbers are still very strong,” said Association President Stafford Starcher. “We continue to note the lack of available inventory, but we did have a small bump upwards from August. Last year and the previous year we saw the inventory rise through the winter months and peak in February. If that trend continues, local agents should expect a very busy season once again.”

INVENTORY OF HOMES FOR SALE

The inventory of single family homes and condos rose slightly to a combined 3,337 from the August total of 3,303 in Sarasota County, and to 2,571 from 2,534 last month in Manatee County. This compares to 3,666 last September in Sarasota County and 2,731 in Manatee County, or declines of 9 percent and 6 percent, respectively. When the market reached an equilibrium between buyers and sellers in 2013, there were roughly 5,500 properties for sale in Sarasota County and 5,000 for sale in Manatee County. Those figures have trended lower for over the last two and a half years, and the current level represents over a 40 percent drop from those recent totals.

MEDIAN DAYS ON THE MARKET

Median days on market were between 35 and 54 in September, compared to 46 to 66 last September, which indicates homes are selling more quickly. The two-county area saw the month's supply of inventory remain well below the 6 month level that defines a market in equilibrium between buyers or sellers. The figures once again were between 3.2 and 3.6 months in both counties for both single family and condos.

SALES PRICES

The lower inventory has seemed to impact single family home median sale prices most obviously in Manatee County, with an increase from $217,000 last September to $265,950 this year for a 22.6 percent surge.

In Sarasota County, the price increase has also been substantial, from $189,000 last September to $223,500 this year, an 18.3 percent rise. Condo prices were actually down from last year in Sarasota County by 1.3 percent, from $195,000 to $192,500.

Manatee County saw a small increase of 3.6 percent, from $152,000 up to $157,500. Condo price fluctuations tend to be more difficult to predict and don’t usually follow a steady trend line like the single family home market locally.

The first three quarters of 2015 remain on a record pace, and depending on how the final quarter transpires, we could see the highest number of sales in the region’s history by year-end.

New pending sales, which reflect new contracts written in the two-county area, were down for single family homes and almost unchanged for condos from last September. But the drops were not substantial enough to warrant any major concern, noted Starcher, as the numbers typically drop in September.

“I remain very optimistic and enthusiastic about our local real estate market,” noted Starcher. “We continue to see sales number at or near record levels, and the price rise in the single family market obviously has not scared away buyers. The affordability of local properties remains at a much better level now than during the boom years of 2004-2006, as interest rates remain very favorable for buyers.”

SINGLE FAMILY SALES YEAR TO YEAR COMPARISON

Sarasota Single Family Home Sales for September 2015

CONDO SALES YEAR TO YEAR COMPARISON

Sarasota Condo Sales for September 2015

DISTRESSED SINGLE FAMILY HOME SALES YEAR TO YEAR COMPARISON

Sarasota Distressed Single Family Home Sales for September 2015

DISTRESSED CONDO SALES YEAR TO YEAR COMPARISON

Sarasota Distressed Condo Sales for September 2015
Posted by Sara Leicht - SaraSellsSarasota.com on

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