Thursday, July 25, 2013

Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway expands real estate arm through Florida brokerage

Local firm's focus on luxury market is good fit with billionaire's brand, CEO says
July 16, 2013 11:00AM
By Emily Schmall
Rei Mesa
Rei Mesa
The real estate arm of Warren Buffett’s empire has signed Prudential Florida Realty as its first brokerage franchisee, The Real Deal has learned.
Home Services of America, an affiliate of the billionaire’s Berkshire Hathaway, has plans to sign franchise agreements with nine brokerages nationwide, according to Kevin Ostler of HSF Affiliates LLC, which operates the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brokerage network.
“We focus on the luxury market, and I believe that the Berkshire Hathaway brand will resonate really well with those buyers and sellers,” Rei Mesa, who heads the renamed Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, told TRD.
The announcement comes as Berkshire Hathaway increases its stake in the U.S. housing industry, from building materials to distressed properties, following bullish public statements by Buffett.
“Homes are such an important part of the resources of most families,” Buffett said in a March video posted on YouTube. “We are in all aspects of housing and they’re all coming back strong.”
Berkshire Hathaway signed a joint venture agreement in October with Toronto-based private equity firm Brookfield Asset Management, which had purchased Prudential Financial’s real estate business in 2011.The deal gave Berkshire Hathaway a controlling interest in Prudential, which has 1,400 offices and 47,000 agents across the U.S.
The company’s other housing-related acquisitions include a brick manufacturer, a carpet company, the loan portfolio of the bankrupt mortgage lender Residential Capital and real estate brokerages in Oregon and Connecticut.
 
     
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Let's Talk Hot Off The Press... July South West Florida Real Estate Report

Let's Talk Hot Off The Press...
ROBUST SALES CONTINUE THROUGH SECOND QUARTER

Naples, Fla. (July 19, 2013) - The Naples area real estate market continues to improve in all sectors as shown by key indicators: an increase in pending sales, closed sales, and median closed prices. According to a report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), the Naples area housing market's second quarter 2013 surged ahead of the second quarter 2012 in pending sales by 11 percent and in closed sales by 6 percent.

During the second quarter of 2013, the Naples area experienced a robust 13 percent increase in the overall median closed home price, which rose from $220,000 in the second quarter of 2012 to $249,000 in the current reported second quarter.

"Buyer demand is definitely increasing," stated Steve Barker, Advising Broker for Equity Realty, who also pointed out that inventory continues to be constrained in all price segments as evidenced in the SunshineMLS statistics, which showed a 16 percent reduction in inventory overall from 6,310 in the second quarter 2012 down to 5,282 properties in the second quarter 2013, the lowest it has been since NABOR® began tracking in January 2007 when inventory was 10,864.

Gerald Murphy, District Manager and Managing Broker of Coldwell Banker, added, "Normally there are more homes available for sale than there are closed sales each month, but right now the available properties are being gobbled up as fast as new listings are being added to the market. SunshineMLS statistics demonstrate that for every closed home sale, one new listing becomes available. This ratio underlines the low inventory and is producing a sense of urgency in buyers, as options are becoming scarce."

Home prices in the Naples area continue to show promise, as the median closed price of the single-family home increased 26 percent from $252,000 in the second quarter 2012 to $318,000 in the second quarter 2013. In addition, the condo median closed price increased 8 percent from $191,000 in the second quarter 2012 up to $207,000 in the second quarter 2013.

Brenda Fioretti, Managing Broker at Prudential Florida Realty pointed out that "the distressed market [foreclosures and short sales] is becoming a negligible factor in home sales. SunshineMLS statistics show a decrease in distressed sales from 56 percent of the total closed sales in August 2010 to only 15 percent of total closed sales in June of 2013."

The NABOR® 2013 Second Quarter Report provides comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The NABOR® second quarter sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium units) findings:

  • Overall closed sales increased 6 percent, from 2,911 units in second quarter 2012 to 3,073 units in second quarter 2013. Overall closed sales increased 33 percent in the $300,000-$500,000 category, from 445 units to 593 units, and increased 22 percent in the $1 million-$2 million category, from 170 units to 207 units, from second quarter 2012 to second quarter 2013, respectively.
  • The median closed price increased 13 percent overall, from $220,000 in second quarter 2012 to $249,000 in second quarter 2013. In the $300,000 and under category the median closed price increased 10 percent from $145,000 in second quarter 2012 to $160,000 in second quarter 2013.
  • Overall pending sales increased 11 percent, from 2,877 pending sales in second quarter 2012 to 3,197 pending sales in second quarter 2013. The $2 million+ segment experienced the largest growth this quarter with a 38 percent increase.
  • The average DOM (Days on the Market) decreased 13 percent overall from 184 days in second quarter 2012 to 161 days in second quarter 2013. The $2 million+ segment saw a dramatic 31 percent decrease in this area.

NABOR® also released its June monthly report which provides annual comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation. It also includes an overall market summary. Statistics of consequence in this report include:

  • The overall median closed price increased 18 percent from $190,000 to $225,000 for the 12-month period ending June 2013.
  • Overall pending sales increased 7 percent from 10,184 units to 10,908 units for the 12-month period ending June 2013. Overall pending sales increased 30 percent in the $300,000 to $500,000 category from 1,440 units to 1,872 units; 19 percent in the $500,000 to $1 million category, from 1,057 units to 1,263 units; increased 26 percent in the $1 million to $2 million category, from 455 units to 572 units; and increased 25 percent in the $2 million plus category, from 271 units to 338 units, respectively for the 12-month period ending June 2013.
  • The average DOM (Days on the Market) decreased 8 percent overall from 177 days in June 2012 to 163 days in June 2013.
  • Inventory decreased 16 percent from 6,310 units in June 2012 to 5,282 units in June 2013.
  • Overall pending sales in the Naples coastal area increased 14 percent from 1,919 units to 2,193 units, and closed sales increased 11 percent, from 1,753 units to 1,948 units, for the 12-month period ending June 2013.

Phil Wood, President & CEO of John R. Wood Realtors, remarked, "June's pending condo sales were very strong in the over $1M market. Pending condo sales in the $1M-$2M segment increased 53 percent, and 36 percent in the $2M+ segment for the 12-months ending June 2013 compared to pending sales during the 12-months ending June 2012."

As always if you have any questions please feel free to contact me by e-mail or by calling 239.404.7787.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Michelle

View June 2013 Market Statistics

View 2nd Quarter 2013 Market Statistics

Prudential Florida Realty


Cellular Phone 239.404.7787


Michelle J. DeNomme, REALTOR, GRI

Office: 239.659.2400

E-Fax Number:  239.236.5550                      


Twitter Me: DeNommeRealtor