Northeast Florida Real Estate Market Update

June 18, 2021

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“Dad: A son’s first hero, a daughter’s first love.” —Unknown

 

I want to wish a Happy Father’s Day to every Dad because you are incredibly special.

 

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors market stats show that new listings of 3,785 are up 12.7% over last May and we are up 1.9% year-to-date. The Northeast Florida Builders Association shows building permits through April of 5,170 permits which is a 45% increase over the same period last year.

 

While new listings and new construction is great news, the inventory of available homes continues to fall. There were 3,847 homes available for sale in May compared to 9,147 last May for a 57.9% reduction. There is 1.1 months supply of inventory available. A balanced market is 5 to 6 months of inventory.

 

The reason inventory continues to fall is the increased demand. There were 3,672 pending sales in May which is up 18.5% over last May. Pending sales are up 25.5% over the same period year-to-date. The 3,276 closed sales are up 37.2% over last May and 25.0% over same period year-to-date.

 

The median sales price of $290,000 is up 16.9% over last May and the average sales price of $363,044 is up 26.1% over last May. A staggering 41% of homes closed in May sold over their list price.

 

The median sales price in May by county:

Baker $264,900

Clay $277,500

Duval $260,000

Nassau $344,893

Putnam $156,000

St. Johns $415,000

 

Many of the builders are limiting their sales currently due to supply and labor issues. While we keep hearing about lumber shortages, the National Association of Home Builders reports that appliances are the biggest issue with lumber a very close second. A key reason for the appliance shortage is the computer chips, which most now require.

 

The market still favors sellers; however, with some persistence, many buyers are successfully getting the home they want under contract. If we can help you with a purchase or a sale of your home, please let us know.

 

Please save the date for our Davidson Cares Clay Day 2021. Our event is October 21, 2021 at Jacksonville Clay Target Sports.

 

Happy Father’s Day!

4 EASY WAYS TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME

April 14, 2021

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Posted by in News

Increasing the value of your home is ALWAYS a good idea. Staying on top of home maintenance and projects will ultimately allow you to get top dollar for your home when the time is right for you to sell. “Homebuyers will appreciate that you took good care of the home and will happily pay more for a home when they don’t have to make major changes themselves,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. 

 

Curb Appeal

First impressions are important! Continually spending time on your landscaping and the outward appearance of your home will enhance your curb appeal. Luckily, yard care is relatively inexpensive and depending on the current state of your yard, could be tackled simply with fresh mulch or a few new flower beds. Walkway lighting is another easy and affordable way to elevate your curb appeal while providing a functional illuminated path to safely use your walkway at night. Additionally, routinely walk around the exterior of your home and look for any cracks or damage that needs repair. 

 

Fresh Paint

A fresh coat of paint can truly transform a home. Whether you are interested in selling your home this year or in ten years, routinely examining and updating the interior can make your home more attractive to potential buyers. When selecting a paint color that will appeal to an extensive audience, pale gray, oatmeal, and other cool, natural tones are current fan favorites because of their adaptable nature and ability to enlarge and brighten spaces. Some of our favorite paint colors include Snowbound and Passive from Sherwin Williams

 

Energy Savings 

Energy-efficient upgrades not only help the environment but save homeowners money and time by requiring less maintenance. Consider switching to energy-efficient light bulbs or installing a smart thermostat that will learn your preferences and automatically adjust the temperature to save energy. Adding more insulation is another way to improve energy efficiency in your home. Good insulation will keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer while using less energy. 

 

Cosmetic Touch-Ups 

If you make repairs and improvements as needed, you will avoid bigger, more expensive projects and ensure your home is well maintained. “Your home is one of your most expensive assets. When buyers see items that need to be repaired or maintained, they question if the home has been well cared for. Buyers will pay retail versus wholesale prices for an updated and well-maintained home,” shares Sherry.  Patching up holes and dents in walls or moldings, fixing a squeaky door, or repairing a running toilet are easy DIY repairs that will refresh your home.  Replacing the hardware in your kitchen or updating ceiling fans or light fixtures are small updates that will make a HUGE impact. 

 

If you are interested in learning more about the value of your home or are interested in selling your home, trust the real estate experts at Davidson Realty.

Real Estate Market Update

November 30, 2020

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“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” David Steindl-Rast

 

I am very grateful to everyone that supported the 2020 Davidson Cares Clay Day! Thanks to your generosity we raised over $40,000 to be split evenly between Builders Care, St. Augustine Youth Services and Investing in Kids.

 

The Northeast Florida Multiple Listing Service shows continued buyer demand and low supply. There were 3,192 closed sales in October which is 24.5% more than the 2,564 last October. The spring buying season got delayed, but we are up 5.6% for year-to-date closings over last year.

 

Pending sales of 3,153 are 18.4% more than the 2,663 pending sales last October. We are up 10.2% year-to-date.

 

There are 6,109 active listings which is down 34.5% from the 9,332 last October.

 

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2020 Buyer/Seller Survey has some interesting findings. “The coronavirus, without a doubt, led homebuyers to reassess their housing situations and even reconsider home sizes and destinations,” says Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavioral insights for NAR. “Buyers sought housing with more rooms, more square footage and more yard space, and they may have desired a home office or home gym. They also shopped for larger homes because extra space would allow households to better accommodate older adult relatives or young adults that are now living within the residence.”

 

The 7 Buyer pandemic-related trends:

  1. Multigenerational homes grow in popularity
  2. Homes are pricier
  3. Shorter house tenures expected
  4. More renters become owners
  5. Buyers love suburbia
  6. Searches speed up
  7. Certain buying segments grow

The 7 Seller pandemic-related trends:

  1. Looking to upsize
  2. Feeling urgency
  3. Technology’s importance grows
  4. Incentives haven’t disappeared
  5. Equity gains
  6. Long-timers appear more motivated to move
  7. Desire to live close to family remains strong

It will be interesting to see future housing trends. For now, we are seeing multiple offers on listings and many potential sellers are on the sidelines.

Real Estate Market Update

October 14, 2020

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“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

Christopher Reeve

 

2020 has certainly presented some overwhelming obstacles and I have seen many heroes step up to help others. Many generous people are supporting our Davidson Cares Clay Day on October 29th and the charities are so grateful. You can still register to shoot or buy raffle tickets at DavidsonCares.com.

 

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors market stats for September show continued strong demand for homes in Northeast Florida. There were 3,307 pending sales in September 2020 which is 36% more than the 2,436 in September 2019. We are up 9% year-to-date over the same period last year.

 

The inventory of homes for sale of 5,869 is down 39% from last September. This is the lowest level of inventory we have seen in this market. During the 2003 to 2005 timeframe when inventory was very low, there were still around 7,000 homes on the market.

 

The month’s supply of inventory is at 2.0 months. A balanced market is 5 to 6 months of inventory.

 

The median sales price is up 8% and the average sales price is up 10% year-to-date due to the increased demand and low supply.

 

Dr. Brad O’Coonor, the Florida Realtors Chief Economist provided some insight at the recent Florida Realtors convention. “The pace of residential building is still behind last cycle’s highs, and while building has continued through the pandemic as construction was deemed an essential occupation, costs of materials and labor have increased. Safety protocols for workers, some disruption in supply chains, and increased demand for materials all have translated into cost increases. Coupled with some uncertainty in lending, relief on the supply side is not coming from new construction.  For existing homes, the tap is dwindling to a dribble as current homeowners are living in their homes for an average of 10 years compared to only seven during the early 2000s. Uncertainty in the economy is also prompting people who can to stay put. That said, demand continues to be strong, as those who were sitting on the sidelines are feeling the pull to jump into a home for the first time or finally trade up, fueled in large part by record-low interest rates and the desire to upgrade to more “pandemic friendly” homes and locations. This all leads to an imbalanced market with demand outstripping supply, particularly in the single-family home category.”

 

It is a great time to sell your home! If we can be of any assistance in understanding the market or the value of your home, please let us know.

 

Enjoy the baseball playoffs and all the other great sports. Go Braves!

Find Out How to Stage Your Home For Sale & What Hot Design Trends are Coming This Summer on June 6th!

June 2, 2017

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“Staged to Sell” is the topic for our upcoming World Golf Speaker Series presented by Davidson Realtor Shelley Nemethy and Bank of England Mortgage Banker Andrew Merritt! The event features interior design expert Donna Mancini, owner of Donna Mancini Interiors & Flooring. This event is for everyone, whether you are planning on selling your home or just looking for design tips!

Donna will be providing guidance and tips on staging a home to appeal to buyers, as well as new design trends for the summer! The event is located at Davidson Realty’s office at the entrance to World Golf Village (100 East Town Place, 32092) on June 6th from 6 – 7 pm. Refreshments will be provided by Bank of England. Read more

Davidson Realty