Closed Sales Drop; Active Listings on the Rise

(Fort Myers, FL – April 20, 2016) – Lee County saw a drop in Closed Sales year-overyear during the month of March. However, Closed Sales were up compared to January and February of this year. We also continue to see positive trends in Median Sale Price and Active Listings.

In March, there were 1,115 Closed Single Family Home Sales. That is a 13% drop from the same time in 2015, which saw 1,284 Closed Sales. Condos and Townhouses took a bigger dive, with Closed Sales down more than 18% year-over-year.

City-by-city, Fort Myers Beach saw the biggest drop in Closed Sales in March 2016. Only 7 Single Family Homes sold last month, compared to 18 the same time in 2015. That is a drop of 157%.

However, Median Sale Prices continue to grow for Single Family Homes. In March, the Median Price rose 4% to $225,000. When broken down by city, every area except Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs saw a jump in price.

There are also more properties going on the market. Active Listings for Single Family Homes were up more than 8% in March, compared to 2015. There was a 29% increase in listings for Condos and Townhouses.

Media Contact: Laura Shay

laura@swflrealtors.com

First Quarter Inventory is Reason to Smile

Naples, Fla. (April 15, 2016) – According to statistical data in the First Quarter 2016 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), buyers, sellers and REALTORS® have a good reason to smile because inventory is on the rise; making the Naples area housing market more stable than any previous quarter in the last eight years.

“Our seasonal buyers seemed to get off to a slow start this year, but showing activity has picked up in the last six weeks,” said Kathy Zorn, broker/owner, Florida Home Realty, concurring with fellow broker analysts reviewing the statistics that their firms also reported recent increases in property showings.

According to the report, overall inventory for the first quarter of 2016 increased 33 percent to 5,651 homes from 4,253 homes in the first quarter of 2015. Leading the rise in inventory by percentage of increase during the first quarter of 2016 were condominiums in the $1 million to $2 million category, which increased 61 percent to 208 condominiums from 129 condominiums in the first quarter of 2015. Leading the rise in inventory by the number of units were condominiums in the $0 to $300,000 price category, which increased 33 percent in the first quarter 2016 to 1,181 condominiums from 887 condominiums in the first quarter of 2015. Geographically, the overall inventory in North Naples (34109, 34110, 34119) increased the highest percentage in the first quarter of 2016 by 43 percent to 1,630 homes from 1,142 homes in the first quarter of 2015.

Overall pending sales (homes under contract) in the first quarter of 2016 decreased 23 percent to 2,786 homes pending from 3,628 homes pending in the first quarter of 2015. The only pending sales category that increased was the single-family $500,000 to $1 million price category, which increased 11 percent to 308 single-family homes pending in the first quarter of 2016 from 277 single-family homes pending in the first quarter of 2015.

“A five percent decrease in overall closed sales [12-months ending] isn’t bad considering 2015 was a phenomenal year,” said Rick Fioretti, NABOR® President and Broker Associate with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Realty.

There were 9,352 overall closed sales in the 12-months ending first quarter 2016 compared to 9,873 overall closed sales in the 12-months ending first quarter 2015. Added Fioretti, “That, coupled with prices remaining steady in all sectors above $300,000, indicates market stabilization.”

The report also showed traditional sales are at the highest level on record at 95 percent since NABOR® began tracking activity in July 2009 when traditional sales were reported at 51 percent of all sales. Only 5 percent of closed sales in March 2016 were non-traditional, short sales or foreclosed properties.

According to Cindy Carroll, SRA, with the real estate appraisal and consultancy firm Carroll & Carroll, Inc., “The report indicated that we had 7.2 months of inventory in March. This is an important number to watch as I think it shows a stabilization trend is well rooted.”

The NABOR® First Quarter 2016 Market Report provides comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the Southwest Florida MLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The NABOR® First Quarter 2016 sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings:

•Overall pending sales decreased 23 percent to 2,786 in 1Q 2016 from 3,628 in 1Q 2015.

•Pending sales for single-family homes in the $500,000 to $1 million price category increased 11 percent to 308 single-family homes in 1Q 2016 from 277 single-family homes in 1Q 2015.

•Overall closed sales decreased 5 percent to 9,352 homes in the 12-months ending 1Q 2016 from 9,873 homes in the 12-months ending 1Q 2015.

•Overall median closed price increased 12 percent to $311,000 in the 12-months ending 1Q 2016 from $278,000 in the 12-months ending 1Q 2015.

•Overall inventory increased 33 percent to 5,651 homes in 1Q 2016 from 4,253 homes in 1Q 2015.

•Inventory for condominiums in the $300,000 and below price category increased 33 percent to 1,181 condominiums in 1Q 2016 from 887 condominiums in the 1Q 2015.

•Average days on market decreased 9 percent to 77 days in 1Q 2016 from 85 days in 1Q 2015.

The NABOR® March 2016 Market Report reflects these overall (single-family and condominium) findings:

•Overall pending sales decreased 25 percent to 1,136 homes in March 2016 from 1,520 homes in March 2015.

•Overall closed sales decreased 25 percent to 794 homes in March 2016 from 1,063 homes in March 2015.

•Closed sales in the $500,000 - $1 million single-family home price category increased 34 percent to 90 single-family homes in March 2016 from 67 single-family homes in March 2015.

•Overall median closed price increased 8 percent to $323,000 in March 2016 from $300,000 in March 2015.

•Overall median closed price increased 101 percent in the Immokalee/Ave Maria area to $239,000 in March 2016 from $119,000 in March 2015.

•Median closed price for condominiums in the $2 million and above price category increased 18 percent to $2,837,000 in March 2016 from $2,405,000 in March 2015.

•Overall inventory increased 33 percent to 5,651 homes in March 2016 from 4,253 homes in March 2015.

•Inventory for condominiums in the $1 million to $2 million price category increased 61 percent to 208 condominiums in March 2016 from 129 condominiums in March 2015.

•Average days on market decreased 4 percent to 76 days in March 2015 from 79 days in March 2015.

While commercial activity is not reflected in the statistics, Bill Poteet, owner and broker at Poteet Properties, indicated that cash sales are up in the commercial real estate market despite a lack of inventory. He believes that demand will continue to grow for commercial real estate properties in the Naples area, and the growth trend will continue as long as our economy is good.

“Our market is performing very well in the face of many stateside and worldwide factors,” said John Steinwand, Broker and Principal at Naples Realty Services, Inc., referring to matters such as the low Canadian exchange rate, impending presidential election, and the United Kingdom’s stance on its continued EU participation. “While some homebuyers may sit back until outcomes are in sight, others, particularly in the $500,000 to $1 million price range, are finding the increase in inventory to their advantage.”

Mike Hughes, Vice President/General Manager of Downing-Frye Realty, summarized the first quarter report by saying, “Inventory is at the best level we have seen in the past three years, and days on the market are decreasing. Properties at preferred locations are selling quickly. With the increase in inventory, the buyer has more properties to choose from this year. I also think that the sellers might be more flexible this year with their price. It is definitely a good year to be a buyer.”

Contacts: Rick Fioretti, NABOR® President, (239) 597-1666

Marcia Albert, NABOR® Director of Marketing, (239) 597-1666