The active inventory of properties for sale in Sarasota and Manatee counties continued to drop in August 2015, while the median sale prices skyrocketed over last year at this time, demonstrating a strong seller’s market in the region.
According to the Realtor® Association of Sarasota and Manatee, the inventory of single family homes and condos fell to a combined 3,303 in Sarasota County and 2,534 in Manatee County. This compares to 3,745 last August in Sarasota County and 2,724 in Manatee County, or declines of 11.8 percent and 7 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 30 months, and the current level represents about a 40 percent drop from those recent norms.
The lower inventory continues to propel median sale prices in both counties. In Sarasota County, the single family median climbed 21.1 percent, from $195,750 last August to $237,000 this year. In Manatee County, the increase was 18.8 percent, from $223,000 last August to $265,000 this year. Condo prices were also up substantially, from $177,000 to $220,000 in Sarasota County (24.3 percent) and from $122,000 to $155,000 in Manatee County (27 percent). The median sales prices were propelled by 50 sales in the two-county region topping $1 million. However, balancing the high end were 647 sales below the $200,000 level in the two counties, or 36 percent of the overall market.
“The economic law of supply and demand has dramatically influenced our local market, as we are seeing big jumps in median sale prices year over year,” said Association President Stafford Starcher. “The lack of available inventory compared to the equilibrium levels, and particularly to our inventory peaks in 2006 when we were seeing over 15,000 properties on the market in both counties, is remarkable. Yet, despite the low inventories, we are continuing to see historically high sales numbers. Also, the lower days on market figures means fewer properties are languishing on the market. A property in good condition and priced right is generally selling very quickly.”
Median days on market were between 39 and 57 this August, compared to 55 to 70 days last August, a major drop that indicates homes are moving quickly once they are placed on the market. Also, 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 now stand at between 3.2 and 3.6 months in both counties for both single family and condos.
In August 2015, there were a combined 1,709 total sales in both counties, down from July’s figure of 1,974 closings, but up over last August, when there were 1,649 closed sales. The first eight months of 2015 remain on a record pace, and depending on how the final four months fare, we could still see the year end with the highest number of sales in the region’s history.
Sales in Sarasota County hit 1,048 in August, down from July’s figure of 1,174. But the figure was up over last August, which saw 975 closings. Sales topped the 1,000 level for the sixth consecutive month – something that has never happened before in Sarasota County. Manatee County saw total sales of 661 in August, also down from the July figure of 768, and almost identical to the August 2014 total of 674.
“As we enter the fall months, recent history has shown sales have been up and down, with the last quarter traditionally experiencing a drop off,” explained Starcher. “But the fact that the Federal Reserve has so far declined to raise interest rates, and with the continuing improvement in the national and state employment picture, this leads me to be very optimistic about the short term future of our market. We will also have the return of our late fall and winter visitors, some of whom may be in the market to relocate to our area.”
New pending sales, which reflect new contracts written in the two-county area, were down about 5 percent from August 2014, with all categories slumping slightly. Pending sales often reflect the future direction of the market, and the numbers typically drop in August as the market takes a breather from the spring and early summer sales surge.
“This remains a strong market, with potential for future growth,” said Starcher. “Our agents obviously hope to see an increase in the available inventory as prospective sellers realize the opportunity and get into this market. If we see a turnaround soon in the inventory levels, combined with the traditional return of our winter visitors who often decide to move here permanently, I think we’ll have a healthy real estate market the foreseeable future.”
Source: Realtor Association of Sarasota & Manatee
Published: September 21, 2015
by Helena Nordstrom – TEAM NORDSTROM; sales associate, Premier Sotheby´s International Realty in Sarasota, FL
