Real Estate Market Update

July 20, 2021

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“Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.” Leo Buscaglia

 

The June Northeast Florida Association of Realtors market stats continue to show rising home prices, a low supply of homes and strong buyer demand.

 

The median sales price for June is $301,000 an increase of 18% over last June’s $255,000. The average sales price is $373,378 which is a 20.7% increase over last June’s $309,269. Pretty staggering increases. For properties that closed in June, 43.3% sold for more than list price.

 

The price increases are driven by high demand and low available inventory. Many experts are predicting the supply of homes will slowly increase. New home construction is increasing. There have been 8,485 building permits issued in the first 6 months of 2021 for the four counties that Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) tracks. That is over 58% more than the 5,357 permits in 2020 through June.

 

Another good sign for the supply issue is that new listings are up 10.1% over last June with 4,003 new listings. There have been 22,078 new listings in 2021 compared to 21,200 for the first six months of 2020.

 

A survey of Redfin agents shows a slight drop in the percentage of listings engaged in bidding wars. In April, 74.1% of listings had multiple offers, in May it dropped to 72.1% and in June it fell to 65%. It may be buyer fatigue after losing out on several properties or supplies may be increasing some and competition dropping slightly.

 

There were 3,398 pending sales in June in Northeast Florida down 8% from 3,695 last June. We usually see a dip in buyer traffic in June when school gets out and vacations begin. June of 2020 was unusually active as a result of some relaxing of the COVID lockdowns. Year-to-date pending sales are up 18.5%.

 

There were 4,238 homes available for sale at the end of June, down 50% from last June. There is 1.3 months supply of inventory which is down 58.1% from last June but up from 1.2 months in May. A balanced market is 5 to 6 months of inventory.

 

It appears that it will take a few years to get more balance between supply and demand of homes in our area and across the nation. It is unlikely that prices will decline much, if any, until there is a more balanced real estate market.

 

If you have questions or need a trusted real estate advisor, please reach out and we will be happy to share our knowledge as the market continues to change. Have a wonderful summer!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TOP PRODUCERS FOR JUNE & THE 2ND QUARTER!

July 12, 2021

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The Northeast Florida real estate market continues to be very exciting. We still have a limited supply of homes and very high buyer demand. The sellers are definitely in the best position in this market and there is very little flexibility when asking for an extension because of a delay with a survey, appraiser or lender. This market requires a very skilled Realtor to handle all the moving parts to get a home to closing in a timely manner. The dynamics of this market make it even more difficult to find buyers a home and get it successfully closed under the terms of the contract.

 

I say all of the above, to emphasize the achievements of the top agents we are recognizing this month and quarter. The agents at Davidson Realty are working tirelessly for their customers.

 

The Top Producer and Top Sales Agent for June is Mirtha Barzaga. Mirtha is also the Top Producer, Top Sales and Top Lister for the 2nd quarter. Mirtha had $6.3 Million in closings and $7.3 Million in sales for the quarter helping 17 customers close their home either buying or selling. If you need any assistance buying or selling, give Mirtha a call.

 

 

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Davidson Realty Welcomes New Agents Yana Austin, Julia Simon, and Melissa Lampugnano to Team of Experts

July 7, 2021

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Davidson Realty is constantly growing as they help individuals and families achieve their real estate dreams. The team at Davidson Realty is proud to introduce three new members to their family! 

 

Yana Austin

Yana Austin comes to Davidson Realty excited and eager to help her clients find their dream homes. As a resident of North Florida since 1995, Yana loves sharing all the wonderful things that make the First Coast such a wonderful place to live with her clients. “Yana is a wonderful addition to the Davidson Realty Team. She treats her clients like family and is a wonderful advocate for them through the process of buying and selling a home. Yana’s passion for people makes her a joy to work with,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. Prior to moving to the Sunshine State, Yana lived in Belarus and is fluent in Russian. When she is not working, Yana is likely cheering on her two kids on the soccer field! 

 

Julia Simon

With more than a decade of managing and planning experience, Julia Simon is joining the team of real estate experts at Davidson Realty. Julia has a passion for service and, as an active member of the Northeast Florida community, is ready to serve her clients as they find their next home or investment property. “Davidson Realty is excited to welcome Julia to the team! Julia is hardworking and will go the extra mile for her clients to ensure they truly love where they live. Julia’s knowledge of the area along with her heart for service will be true assets to her clients,” shares Davidson. 

 

Melissa Lampugnano

Melissa Lampugnano comes to Davidson Realty with more than twenty years of experience in the field of internet technology. Along with her extensive experience in technology, Melissa enjoys networking and meeting new people. In 2021, Melissa established her own business dedicated to helping businesses connect to the community through various events. Melissa’s now making the transition to real estate and ready to bring her multitude of talents to serve her clients. “Melissa is dedicated and a tremendous resource to her clients. She is a professional and we are proud to have her represent the Davidson Realty brand,” shares Davidson. Melissa is dynamic and ready to build her real estate career. 

 

If you are interested in a career in real estate with Davidson Realty, call us today at (904) 940-5000.

The Real Estate Market: How Long Will This Go On?

June 28, 2021

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The story of the real estate market has kept most real estate professionals and home buyers and sellers on the edge of their seats. With such unprecedented and unpredictable times, the biggest cliffhanger is: How long will the real estate market stay like this? 

 

There is no doubt that the real estate market has remained strong for longer than most predicted. “I believe the housing market could remain strong for a while longer. Currently, there is only a 1.1 months supply of homes available in our area. When a balanced market is between 5 to 6 months of inventory, it is clear that demand is still very strong for homes in Northeast Florida,” shares Sherry Davidson, President of Davidson Realty. Additionally, home builders have been building fewer new construction homes since the Great Recession which equates to 4 to 5.5 million fewer homes built, based on historical averages. 

 

As the market has continued to stay strong, more people are getting more “comfortable” with the current real estate market conditions. “Three different surveys indicate more sellers plan to put their homes on the market. This, coupled with homebuilders increasing the pace of new construction, will help increase the supply of homes for sale,” shares Davidson. “Interest rates may rise slightly which may slow demand. I predict we will see more normality in the real estate market by the end of this year or 2022,” Davidson continues. 

 

Because of the increased demand, home prices have been on the rise! “We have been seeing double-digit price increases during this time in the real estate market,” shares Davidson. The National Association of Realtors Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, predicts we will see median existing-home sales prices increase more than 7% in 2021. 

 

With the increase in home prices, those who have taken advantage of this seller’s market are finding it difficult to buy a new home. While some secured a home prior to selling, many are seeking rental homes or staying with family to buy some time. “If you want to avoid the multiple offer situation and frantic pace of the market, we may see less craziness as we get more inventory. Regardless, now more than ever before you need a real estate professional to help you navigate the market,” shares Davidson. 

 

This time in the real estate market will likely be a period that will go down in history as a story full of twists and turns. If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling their home, contact the Northeast Florida real estate experts at Davidson Realty today at (904) 940-5000. 

 

 

NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ARE TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND FOR NEW HOMES. HERE’S HOW SOME BUILDERS ARE MANAGING THE PROCESS.

June 23, 2021

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Persistence and patience are the name of the game in the current real estate market as every corner of the industry has been rattled by uncertainty as a side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

“The Northeast Florida real estate market is as hot as many in our industry have ever seen,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. “There are not enough homes on the market to satisfy buyer demand. Resale homes coming available are getting multiple offers usually within hours to a day and offers are mostly above list price. In May of this year, more than 41% of homes closed were over asking price,” Sherry continues. Even the new construction housing market has experienced challenges that are requiring home seekers to adapt. We’ve connected with some of the talented home builders in Northeast Florida to get an update on their current conditions. 

 

Riverside Homes

“Riverside Homes continues to see very strong demand and we have made a few changes to our process to ensure the very best quality homes and provide the great building experience the people expect from Riverside Homes. We limit the amount of sales in each of our communities so we can keep a smooth process for permitting and building our homes. We closely monitor increasing supply costs each month doing our best to offer the most competitive home pricing,” shares Riverside Homes Sales Manager, Jacki Matthews. Despite the building supply shortages plaguing builders across the country, Riverside Homes promises to maintain the integrity and quality of their homes. 

 

Ashley Homes

Ashley Homes experienced a surge in sales and are currently sold out in Silverleaf, and have been since February 2021. “During the pandemic, we had no limits on sales and sold everything that we had available. Ashley Homes includes escalation clauses in many of our contracts, as do other builders, to protect us and our buyers from unforeseen lumber and material increases. Our buyer may pay a modest increase just to cover the rising material costs, but Ashley Homes has no profit added, shares Ashley Homes’ very own Greg Souris. Ashley Homes is navigating the home building process with their buyers, many who have seen more than $40,000-$50,000 increase in their home value before their home construction even started. 

 

Providence Homes

“In E-Town we are not limiting pre-sales or inventory homes, however, some of our policies have changed on when we can release inventory homes for sales. In Nocatee, we are limiting the pace of sales so we can manage the construction process,” shares Brenda Harris, Sales Associate at Providence Homes. Build time is approximately eight months, but Providence Homes is asking for flexibility and understanding from customers as material shortages could cause delays. 

 

MasterCraft Builder Group

Brad Shee, MasterCraft Builder Group President, shared, “The shortage of materials began in March 2021 as suppliers burned through inventory. Based on the lumber futures chart, lumber prices should start dropping. Because of the shortages, MasterCraft Builder Group is limiting sales each month in TrailMark and Rivertown.” The demand for homes in Northeast Florida is unprecedented, but it’s no surprise as the attraction to the First Coast is clear from the ocean to the river to the affordable cost of living. 

 

With more than 30 years of experience, Davidson Realty has cultivated strong relationships with some of the area’s leading home builders in Northeast Florida. Davidson Realty Agents know the new constructions market in Northeast Florida and can help you find the perfect lot and design to fit your needs. “Our agents are constantly talking to builder site agents to stay current on which builders have inventory and how they are managing the sales process. This constant communication allows our agents to know if a sale falls through, what is available, and the timing and process of the homesites that will be released so our clients can take advantage,” shares Sherry Davidson. 

 

The real estate experts at Davidson Realty will be by your side throughout the construction process to ensure your expectations and vision comes to life! For more information on new construction homes in Northeast Florida, call Davidson Realty at (904) 940-5000.

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