Davidson Realty, Inc.

Real Estate Market Update

October 19, 2021

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Posted by in News, Northeast Florida Market Trends

“In playing ball, and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. When that time comes, only two things matter: being prepared to seize the moment and having the courage to take your best swing.” – Hank Aaron

 

A lot of wisdom from Hank Aaron. I hope you are enjoying watching the MLB playoffs.

 

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors market stats for September show similar trends to the last few months. Prices are still rising at double-digit rates, with plenty of buyer demand, and a small supply of homes available.

 

The median sales price in September is $307,230 setting a record. This price is $7,000 more than August and $50,000 more than January 2021. This is an increase of 19.7% over last September.

 

The average sales price in September is $370,751 which is up 16.9% over last September. Numbers don’t always tell the human impact. We are seeing so many buyers on the sidelines right now because the homes they would like to buy between $300,000 and $400,000 are very difficult to find and get an offer accepted.

 

Our local buyers are competing with the strong influx of out-of-town buyers who consider our local area home prices more affordable compared to their previous market. The buyers wanting to use VA or FHA financing are also struggling because most sellers prefer cash or a conventional loan.

 

Affordability has impacted pending sales which were 3,201 in September, down 5.1% from last September, but up 10.9% year-to-date. Also, closings of 2,945 down 12.5% from last September, but up 12.9% year-to-date.

 

We are still seeing multiple offers, with 35.5% of homes selling over list price but that is down from 44.3% in July and 40.6% in August. Homes are still selling quickly with days on market at 30 days down 51.6% from last September when it was 62 days.

 

The market has calmed a little and possibly more buyers that have been sidelined will be able to find the home they want. I am very optimistic about the Northeast Florida real estate market. It is a great time to sell. Please let us know if we can assist you in any way.

 

Thanks for all the support of Davidson Cares Clay Day! We sold out for the first time ever.

 

A group of Davidson Realty agents are participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, November 6th at UNF. My mother and so many others suffered from this horrible disease. We would love to have you join us!

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Real Estate Market Update

September 22, 2021

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Posted by in News, Northeast Florida Market Trends

“Fear does not stop death. It stops life. And worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace.” Unknown

It is easy to agree with the truth of this quote, but much harder to live it.

 

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors market stats for August continue to show rising prices, continued high buyer demand, and low inventories of available homes. The most recent trend we are seeing is double-digit rent increases.

 

“Put simply, August trends suggest rents are making up for lost time. Rents remained low during some of the worst months of the pandemic, growing at a sub-2% pace from September 2020 to March 2021, which is also when for-sale home prices were growing by double-digits,” said Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale.

 

Many buyers are unable to find a suitable home to purchase and have been forced into the rental market. According to Apartment List, rents in Jacksonville have risen 19.7% since August 2020, and 4.4% since July 2021.

 

There were 3,787 new listings in August, up 5.7% from last August and 6.7% year-to-date. The builders are also adding more homes. Industry sources predict an 11% to 12% increase in housing starts for 2021 or about 1.55 million units. That would be up from 1.38 million housing starts in 2020, which was a 7% increase over 2019. (Business Journal article) Builders are still being delayed by materials like windows and appliances and labor shortages.

 

The good news for buyers is that the frenzy of competitiveness of the spring market has cooled a bit. Some sellers are still pricing their homes very high, but many buyers are no longer willing to pay the prices they were during the spring and the homes are sitting or the sellers are reducing the price. While 41.0% of homes sold over list price, that is down from 44.8% in July.

 

There were 3,424 pending sales down 2.0% from last August, but up 12.4% year-to-date. Closed sales of 3,200 were down 3.1% from last August, but up 15.6% year-to-date.

 

The median sales price of $300,000 is up around 14% month-over-month and year-to-date. The average sales price of $362,699 is up 14.2% month-over-month and 17.7% year-to-date.

 

There are 4,651 homes available for sale which is down 37.2% from last August and we have 1.4 months of supply available. Five to six months is a balanced market.

 

While we are seeing more homes come available, the buyer demand remains very strong. We should continue to see prices increase, multiple offers, and increased rental rates.

 

Please come join us on October 21st for our major fundraiser, Davidson Cares Clay Day. We support Builders Care, St. Augustine Youth Services, and Investing in Kids. Go to DavidsonCares.com and register or buy a raffle ticket for one of our great prizes.

 

We appreciate your support and referrals. Please let us know if we can assist you in any way.

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Real Estate Market Update

August 23, 2021

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Posted by in News, Northeast Florida Market Trends

“Your reputation is what people say about you. Your character is what God knows about you.” Bobby Bowden

 

Whether an FSU fan or not, most people respect and love Bobby Bowden.

 

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors market stats for July have a few interesting twists. Prices continue to rise, pending and closed sales are down compared to July 2020, and new listings are up.

 

New listings of 3,915 are up 6.9% month over month and 5.3% year to date. The inventory of homes for sale of 4,668 is up slightly from the June number of 4,586. It is still down 40.6% from last July. The months supply of inventory is at 1.4 months which is the same as June but down 50% from last July. Since 5 to 6 months supply of inventory is a balanced market, we are still in a seller’s market.

 

There were 3,287 pending sales in July down 10.6% from last July. However, pending sales are up 13.4% year-to-date. There were 3,149 closings in July down 16.2% from last July but we are up 16.7% year-to-date. The month-to-month comparisons are difficult to interpret because last June and July were the two highest months for sales last year and July was the highest month for closings as a result of the slowdown in April and May 2020 due to Covid.

 

NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Yun is predicting interest rates to increase to 3.3% by the end of the year on 30-year fixed rate mortgages and average 3.6% in 2022. He predicts existing-home sales will decline marginally from 6 million in 2021 to 5.99 million in 2022.

 

Dr. Yun also predicts housing starts will improve to 1.65 million in 2022 from 1.565 in 2021 and existing-home prices will increase at a slower pace of 4.4% in 2022 compared to 14.1% in 2021.

 

The July median sales price is $303,600 up 15% month-over-month and 13.7% year-to-date. The average sales price is $381,499 up 18.4% month-over-month and 18.6% year-to-date. An amazing 45.6% of listings sold for an amount over list price.

 

It does appear the speed of the market is slowing a little and there may be more opportunities for first-time homebuyers and buyers using FHA or VA loans. Sellers were seeing so many cash offers and conventional loans, that many didn’t want to accept government backed loans because of their inflexibility. The market calming down a little will be good for everyone.

 

Please take a minute to go to DavidsonCares.com and sign up for Clay Day on October 21st or buy a ticket to one of our raffles. We have our YETI cooler full of alcoholic beverages and tickets for 8 people at Concerts for a Cause which is an amazing event watching live music outside.

 

Have a great Labor Day holiday and enjoy the rest of your summer. Please let us know if we can help you with any real estate questions.

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Real Estate Market Update

July 20, 2021

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Posted by in News, Northeast Florida Market Trends

“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!

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Pros and Cons: New Construction vs. Resale

July 2, 2021

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Posted by in New Home Construction, Northeast Florida Market Trends

Owning a home is likely more difficult now than ever before. With the slim inventory of homes for sale, homes are FLYING off the market. From the rise in home prices to competitive bidding wars, homeowners have to wonder: is it worth just buying new construction?

 

“This question is tough to answer these days. The inventory is slim and prices have gone up on both sides. For most buyers, timeline is the key decision driver when choosing between new construction or an existing home,” shares Davidson Realty agent Shelley Nemethy.

 

 

Pros of Building New Construction 

  • Newness – When buying new construction, you’ll be the first to call this house HOME! Buyers buying new homes enjoy the peace of mind of having a warranty through the builder and fewer renovations.
  • Design – New construction homes also often feature more modern architecture and floorplans. You’ll find more open floor plans, additional bathrooms and spaces that can adapt to the needs of your family. New homes will leave you and your family only to make minor modifications, if any, to feel at home.

 

Cons of Building New Construction

  • Supply Shortages – Due to the Covid pandemic, many industries have experienced limited supply, delays, and labor restrictions. This has trickled down to impact home building as the cost of lumber, metal and other supplies have been affected by the pandemic. In turn, the decreased supply has increased cost which of course is passed along to the homebuyer.
  • Longer Timeline – With a new home build, homebuyers usually have to wait months to get into a new home. With the current shortage of supplies, there is an even greater risk of delays. Some homebuilders limit the number of lots available for sale in an effort to keep on schedule. “If you have time to build, you have more time to save money for closing costs,” shares Davidson Realty agent, Terri Apodaca.

 

Pros of Buying Resale

  • Shorter Timeline – When buying a resale, the closing day is often negotiated in the offer. Typically, new home owners gain possession in one to two months after their offer is accepted.
  • Character – Existing homes generally have more traditional layouts and features that elevate the home. These charming touches provide a unique dimension to an existing home.
  • Location – “Older homes are often in areas more convenient to metro areas and in more established neighborhoods with more development surrounding. Yards are typically more spacious with mature landscaping. Buyers also won’t have to worry about the congestion of construction taking place,” shares Apodaca.

 

Cons of Buying Resale

  • Competitive Market – With so few homes for sale, most homes are receiving multiple offers. Prospective home buyers have to be patient, persistent, and ready to make their best offer quickly to achieve their dream of owning a home.
  • Increasing Home Prices – As a side effect of the low supply and high demand for homes, home prices have skyrocketed making it harder to afford a home that would normally be in reach.
  • Home Improvements – Often buying a resale comes with a few compromises. Upgrades, remodels, and projects could be on your to do list after closing to make your new home the home of your dreams.

 

If you are interested in buying or selling in Northeast Florida, trust the real estate experts at Davidson Realty. Davidson Realty has more than 30 years of experience and has built strong relationships with many of Northeast Florida’s leading home builders. This advantage along with their extensive experience buying and selling resale homes, make them the perfect partners to help you navigate the real estate market. For more information, contact Davidson Realty at (904) 940-5000.

 

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