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February Market Report Shows Many Options for Buyers 

Naples, Fla. (March 26, 2019) - Home buyers had many more options to choose from in February as housing market inventory increased 7 percent to 7,442 homes in February 2019 compared to 6,912 in February 2018. In addition to 1,498 new listings added to the Southwest Florida MLS in February, the February 2019 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), also reflected a 4 percent decrease in the overall median closed price to $335,000 in February 2019 compared to $350,000 in February 2018.

"This is typically the time of year when we see inventory jump," said Wes Kunkle, President and Managing Broker at Kunkle International Realty. "New listings increased 34 percent in the single-family home market and 7 percent in the condominium market [based on a comparison of February statistics]. That's a lot of great new options for buyers!"

 

The February Market Report showed inventory for each home type was about even in February with 3,801 single-family homes available (a 10 percent increase compared to February 2018) and 3,641 condominiums available (a 4 percent increase compared to February 2018).

 

While there were 100 fewer closed sales in February 2019 compared to closed sales in February 2018 (a 14 percent decrease), the added inventory has broker analysts like Dominic Pallini, Broker at Vanderbilt Realty, convinced that buyers are not rushing into a sale like many did when inventory levels were much lower; and instead, are meticulously evaluating all their options that include new and existing homes.

 

"The average days on the market increased in February, which tells me that buyers are looking at more homes before they make an offer," said Pallini. "Plus, there is a lot more new construction this year than a year ago. Agents were rarely in the office in February because showings really increased dramatically."

Unlike many Florida markets, sales of homes in Naples are very geographically influenced. Historically, the closer a property was to the beach, the faster it would sell. But that's not always the case anymore. Days on market were the lowest in the South Naples area (34112, 34113) in February; yet prices for single-family homes in this geographic area decreased 25 percent to $420,000 in February 2019 from $560,000 in February 2018. 

 

"Our statistics show that the closed prices of properties that were sold in February averaged 95 to 96 percent of the current list price," Brenda Fioretti, Managing Broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. "This shows that once a property is priced to attract buyers, the seller can realize a final closing price within 4 to 5 percent of asking price."

 

Fioretti added that "many of the current listed properties are priced in excess of the range that is attracting buyers so sellers often have to reduce their asking price to the point where buyers are interested, looking and ready to make an offer. Pricing a home appropriately from the start helps the seller realize a much shorter marketing time and makes for a smoother transaction."

 

Phil Wood, President & CEO of John R. Wood Properties, added that REALTORS® help buyers find the right homes at the right price in the right area faster because they understand how each geographic area and the neighborhoods within them are different. "For example, closed sales of single-family homes near the beach decreased in February compared to a year ago while its median closed price increased; but closed sales of single-family homes increased in the South Naples area during February and its median closed price fell."

The NABOR® February 2019 Market Reports provide comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the Southwest Florida MLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. NABOR® sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings:

"The high-end market continues to do very well in our area," said Mike Hughes, Vice President and General Manager for Downing-Frye Realty, Inc., who added that those high-end sales are usually made by very astute buyers and if the economy was bad or on a path to becoming bad, then they wouldn't be buying as they are currently. 

 

"You can't look at our market with only one lens," Hughes added. "A lot can change in a quarter mile. Sellers are best served when they work with a REALTOR®, whose job is to offer home buyers and sellers a good understanding of neighborhood market trends and comparative pricing strategies. This is very important during high season, and especially today, when buyers have more housing options." 

As always if you need any additional information please reach out to me by calling 239.404.7787 or by e-mail at Michelle@NaplesHomeSweetHome.com.

Michelle J. DeNomme, REALTOR, GRI

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Let's Talk... Hot Off the Press

January... 

Housing Market Shows Signs of Opportunity

Naples, Fla. (March 8, 2019) - The year is off to a good start for homebuyers. Beyond escaping frigid temperatures up north, visitors looking to purchase a home in the Naples area during January were pleasantly surprised with their options as inventory levels increased 7 percent to 8,154 homes for sale in January 2019 from 7,605 homes for sale in January 2018. The good news didn't stop there for new homebuyers in January as median home prices increased by only 1 percent to $325,000 in January 2019 from $322,500 in January 2018, according to the January 2019 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island). A new statistical reporting system with enhanced formats and data capture features was adopted by NABOR®. The January 2019 Market Report was prepared using the new system.

Broker analysts reviewing the new report were quick to point out that a rare occurrence in January 2018 contributed to a reduction in overall closed sales reported in January 2019. Namely, that a developer added 79 newly constructed high-end condominium closed sales to the MLS during the month of January 2018. To further clarify, the actual "sales" were made over a three-year period, but the sales data for all 79 units was input into the MLS over a three-week period in January 2018. Consequently, this data is reflected in the monthly statistics as a 160 percent decrease in overall closed sales for homes in the $1 million to $2 million price category. It is for this reason that the January 2019 Market Report has been clarified to also reflect the removal of these anomalous sales in order to show a truer comparative analysis of the data.

Many broker analysts reviewing the January 2019 Market Report felt the stock market tumble in late December may have contributed to potential homebuyers delaying purchasing decisions in January. This may be why there was a 6 percent decrease in overall closed sales reported for January 2019 compared to overall closed sales in January 2018. However, high-end homes increased 21 percent in the single-family home market and 18 percent in the condominium market in January 2019 compared to January 2018­.

According to Cindy Carroll, SRA, of Carroll & Carroll Appraisers & Consultants, LLC, new home construction is tempering price increases in many areas of the resale market. "More builders are using the MLS and reaching out to brokers and REALTORS® with purchase incentives, which will make it necessary for homeowners to price their homes more competitively."

The monthly statistics only capture a fraction of new construction product. NABOR® is working to engage more builders and encourage their use of the MLS. As such, it anticipates the ability to report broader data - like new construction, pending sales and list-to-closed sales - in future months with the new system. 

"Fee heavy condominiums are hurting," said Adam Vellano, West Coast Sales Manager, BEX Realty - Florida. Even though inventory rose 6 percent in the under $300,000 condominium market in January, closed sales for this product in January dropped 25 percent. 

"The good news is that prices have remained relatively flat in both the single-family and condominium markets over the last 12 months despite the increase in inventory, so this factor along with an increase in inventory means there are some very good deals out there. This is a positive for homebuyers," said Vellano. 

"The housing market, while not markedly busy in January, remains healthy. The big news in January was inventory," said Jeff Jones, NABOR® President and Managing Broker for Engel & Völkers Naples and Bonita Springs offices, "especially in the single-family home market where inventory for single-family homes under $300,000 grew 8 percent, and inventory for single-family homes between $300,000 to $500,000 grew 12 percent. "We expect the supply of homes for sale to increase, giving buyers more homes to buy, but not so many that will negatively affect overall home prices."

Overall, there were 549 more homes for sale in January 2019 than in January 2018. The Naples area has seen its resale market inventory climb over the last few months. As such, there was 8.4 months of inventory in January 2019, typically indicating a buyer's market, up from 6.3 months of inventory in January 2018.

The NABOR® January 2019 Market Reports provide comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the Southwest Florida MLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. NABOR® sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings:

CATEGORIES JAN 2018 JAN 2019 CHANGE Total closed sales (month/month) 625 588 -6% Median closed price (month/month) $322,500 $325,000 +1% Total active listings (inventory) 7,605 8,154 +7% Average days on market 97 97 0% Single-family closed sales (month/month) 295 314 +6% Single-family median closed price (month/month) $422,000 $380,500 -11% Single-family inventory 3,757 4,124 +9% Condominium closed sales (month/month) 330 274 -20% Condominium median closed price (month/month) $251,000 $260,000 +3% Condominium inventory 3,848 4,030 +5%

Prices are expected to remain stable over the next 12 months  according to Carroll, who also noted that some pockets of the  market may begin to see value erosion while others continue  to increase due to location and demand.Geographically,  inventory increased the most in Eastern Collier (10 percent)  and Ave Maria (18 percent). If you have any questions please feel free to reach out  to me by e-mail or by calling 239.404.7787.  If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Naples,  contact me today...:0) I have the experience and knowledge to provide an accurate  market information to negotiate your next transaction. Please click the link below for our market update...:0) Michelle View January 2019 Market Statistics