Michelle Frericks, Realtor®

Posts Tagged ‘home sales’

ORLANDO, Fla. – Feb. 26, 2010 – Florida’s existing home sales rose in January, marking 17 months that sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.

Existing home sales increased 24 percent last month with a total of 10,465 homes sold statewide compared to 8,444 homes sold in January 2009, according to Florida Realtors. January’s statewide sales of existing condos rose 81 percent compared to the previous year’s sales figure.

Sixteen of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported increased existing home sales in January; all MSAs had higher condo sales. A majority of the state’s MSAs have reported increased sales for 19 consecutive months.

“Now is the time for anyone thinking of buying a home in Florida to make that decision,” said 2010 Florida Realtors President Wendell Davis, a broker and regional vice president with Watson Realty Corp. in Jacksonville. “Markets across the state are seeing increased sales, yet conditions remain very favorable with still-low mortgage rates, a range of housing inventory and attractive prices. As an added incentive, buyers need to accelerate their plans because a purchase contract must be in place by the end of April to take advantage of the extended and expanded federal tax credit. To find out more, consult a Realtor about options, qualification criteria and opportunities in your local housing market.”

Florida’s median sales price for existing homes last month was $130,900; a year ago, it was $139,400 for a 6 percent decrease. Analysts with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) note that sales of foreclosures and other distressed properties continue to downwardly distort the median price because they generally sell at a discount relative to traditional homes. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

The national median sales price for existing single-family homes in December 2009 was $177,500, up 1.4 percent from a year earlier, according to NAR. In California, the statewide median resales price was $306,820 in December; in Massachusetts, it was $305,000; in Maryland, it was $244,820; and in New York, it was $222,000.

According to NAR’s latest outlook, homebuyers are taking advantage of the federal tax credit. “With inventory levels trending down over the past 18 months, we expect broadly balanced housing market conditions in much of the country by late spring with more areas showing higher prices,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.

In Florida’s year-to-year comparison for condos, 4,631 units sold statewide last month compared to 2,554 units in January 2009 for an increase of 81 percent. The statewide existing condo median sales price last month was $97,300; in January 2009 it was $113,300 for a 14 percent decrease. The national median existing condo price was $183,700 in December 2009, according to NAR.

Interest rates for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.03 percent last month, slightly lower than the average rate of 5.05 percent in January 2009, according to Freddie Mac. Florida Realtors’ sales figures reflect closings, which typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.

Among the state’s smaller markets, the Fort Walton Beach MSA reported a total of 143 homes sold in January compared to 118 homes a year earlier for a 21 percent increase. The market’s existing home median sales price last month was $201,400; a year ago it was $188,300 for an increase of 7 percent. A total of 70 condos sold in the MSA in January compared to 25 units sold the same month a year earlier for an increase of 180 percent. The existing condo median price last month was $270,800; a year earlier, it was $268,800 for a gain of 1 percent.

© 2010 Florida Realtors

Homes worth more than owners think

SEATTLE – Feb. 18, 2010 – American homeowners’ confidence in their own homes’ value during the fourth quarter fell to its lowest level in seven quarters, with just one in five (20 percent) believing their own homes’ values increased during 2009, according to the Zillow Q4 Homeowner Confidence Survey.

However, the survey finds that 28 percent of homes increased in value during 2009. The disconnect between rising values and lower homeowner expectations led a Home Value Misperception Index of negative two (-2).

A Misperception Index of zero would mean homeowners’ perceptions were in line with their homes’ actual values. A positive index means homes are worth less than owners think; a negative index indicates that homeowners are overly cynical about their own homes’ value.

One year ago, nearly half (47 percent) of homeowners believed values in their local market would decrease in the next six months. However, when asked about their own home, fewer than one in three (30 percent) believed that their own home’s value would decrease.

Today 22 percent of homeowners believe their local market will lose value over the next six months and 14 percent believing their own home will lose value.

“Homeowners are finally succumbing to the notion that, in most areas, declining home values over the past year are no longer the exception, they are the rule,” said Dr. Stan Humphries, Zillow chief economist. “Almost three times as many people believe their home’s value will increase over the next six months as believe it will decrease in value, a level of optimism that is likely to outpace actual performance in the near-term. Given recent news about the stabilization of home values in some markets, I can see why homeowners are so optimistic. However, home values in many markets are still under substantial downward pressure from high levels of foreclosures, and we don’t believe we’ll see a definitive bottom nationally until the second quarter of this year.”

Top read the complete survey, visit Zillow’s website.

© 2010 Florida Realtors®

WASHINGTON – Feb. 2, 2010 – Pending home sales have leveled from a market swing driven by response to the homebuyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). 

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in December, increased 1.0 percent to 96.6 from 95.6 in November, and is 10.9 percent above December 2008 when it was 87.1. In November, the monthly index had fallen by 16.4 percent from surging activity in preceding months.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says it’s important to recognize how the tax credit skews market data. “There are easily understood swings in contract activity as buyers respond to a tax credit that was expiring (but that) was then extended and expanded,” he says. “These swings mask the underlying trend, which is a broad improvement over year-ago levels. December activity was the fifth highest monthly tally in two years.”

Buyers who have a contract in place to purchase a primary residence by April 30, 2010, have until June 30, 2010, to finalize the transaction to qualify for a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers.

The PHSI in the Northeast rose 2.3 percent to 76.1 in December and is 14.9 percent higher than December 2008. In the Midwest the index increased 5.2 percent to 86.9 and is 8.7 percent above a year ago. Pending home sales in the South rose 2.2 percent to an index of 98.4, and are 5.5 percent higher than December 2008. In the West the index fell 3.8 percent to 119.9 but is 18.6 percent above a year ago.

Yun projects the extended and expanded tax credit will encourage 2.4 million households to take the credit in 2010. “While new-home sales will remain low due to a lack of construction, existing-home sales are projected to rise to around 5.6 million in 2010,” Yun said. Last year there were 5.16 million existing-home sales.

He added that one of the greatest benefits of rising sales will be firming home prices. “For several months now we’ve been seeing stabilization in all of the home price measures as inventory is pulled down,” Yun said. “As a result, the housing wealth for many middle class families has begun to stabilize.”

© 2010 Florida Realtors®