WASHINGTON – Oct. 5, 2011 – According to the latest Realtors® Confidence Index survey, Realtors today are somewhat more confident about the existing home market than they were at this time last year. While there seems to be a general view that the market grew weaker recently, the current level of confidence is a bit better than it has been during much of the past three years.
The Realtors Confidence Index, based on a random survey of National Association of Realtors® (NAR) members, measures the strength of the current housing market and expectations about the future. Participants answer questions about the current and expected demand for homes, price trends and economic conditions.
Responses are assigned weights of 0, 50 or 100. A response of “strong” gets 100 points, while “moderate” is given 50 points, and “weak” is assigned 0 points. The questions capture Realtors’ feelings about the current real estate market and the effects of existing economic conditions and trends on the real estate business.
“Reports in the media about the state of the existing-home sales markets sometimes should carry scare-lines, rather than headlines … What they often miss, of course, is the story behind the numbers,” says Jed Smith, NAR managing director, quantitative research. “That story is that all real estate is local: some housing markets are actually performing well, some are performing poorly, and many are in-between. (However), median home prices have been moving up and down in a relatively narrow range in many markets; that shows a stabilization trend.”
The Realtors Confidence Index for single-family home sales reported in the August report decreased to 30.9 from July’s 31.3. The index was higher compared to last year’s conditions, however, when the index registered at 23.3. The townhouse index also dropped slightly to 17.0 in August from July’s 17.2. The condo index remained essentially the same at 14.1 from July’s 14.0. Both of townhouse index and condo indexes registered higher values than last year’s levels of 12.3 and 10.4, respectively.
Realtors say that the existing-home market continues to be challenging, and many respondents express some degree of frustration with previous and current levels of distressed properties, pricing and sales. There is a general level of agreement that the future outlook will strongly depend on continued economic recovery and job creation.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Home listing prices rising in Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. – Sept. 26, 2011 – Prices are rising in Florida.
Florida cities have had the largest year-over-year increases in average list prices, according to the latest real estate data from Realtor.com. Based on August data of 2.2 million listings in 146 markets, Florida cities make up nine of the top 10 places for highest year-over-year list price spikes.
Nationwide, the average list price is $320,325, up 2.36 percent year-over-year.
Here are the top 15 cities boasting the highest percentage of year-over-year increases in average list prices.
1. Miami
Average list price: $640,332
Year-over-year increase: 27.4%
2. Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla.
Average list price: $443,570
Year-over-year increase: 26.27%
3. Central-Fla. rural service area
Average list price: $405,809
Year-over-year increase: 19.41%
4. Punta Gorda, Fla.
Average list price: $267,066
Year-over-year increase: 16.37%
5. Macon, Ga.
Average list price: $193,520
Year-over-year increase: 15.98%
6. Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
Average list price: $466,785
Year-over-year increase: 15.86%
7. Naples, Fla.
Average list price: $713,087
Year-over-year increase: 15.13%
www.ScottSorensonRealEstate.com
8. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.
Average list price: $591,895
Year-over-year increase: 14.68%
9. Ocala, Fla.
Average list price: $193,360
Year-over-year increase: 12.07%
10. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
Average list price: $181,409
Year-over-year increase: 11.48%
11. Orlando, Fla.
Average list price: $319,419
Year-over-year increase: 10.56%
12. Portland-Vancouver, Ore.-Wash.
Average list price: $314,537
Year-over-year increase: 10.52%
13. Boise City, Idaho
Average list price: $212,588
Year-over-year increase: 10.43%
14. Springfield, Illinois
Average list price: $174,537
Year-over-year increase: 9.12%
15. Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
Average list price: $211,414
Year-over-year increase: 8.34%
Source: Melissa Dittmann Tracey, Realtor® Magazine Daily News
Florida cities have had the largest year-over-year increases in average list prices, according to the latest real estate data from Realtor.com. Based on August data of 2.2 million listings in 146 markets, Florida cities make up nine of the top 10 places for highest year-over-year list price spikes.
Nationwide, the average list price is $320,325, up 2.36 percent year-over-year.
Here are the top 15 cities boasting the highest percentage of year-over-year increases in average list prices.
1. Miami
Average list price: $640,332
Year-over-year increase: 27.4%
2. Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla.
Average list price: $443,570
Year-over-year increase: 26.27%
3. Central-Fla. rural service area
Average list price: $405,809
Year-over-year increase: 19.41%
4. Punta Gorda, Fla.
Average list price: $267,066
Year-over-year increase: 16.37%
5. Macon, Ga.
Average list price: $193,520
Year-over-year increase: 15.98%
6. Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
Average list price: $466,785
Year-over-year increase: 15.86%
7. Naples, Fla.
Average list price: $713,087
Year-over-year increase: 15.13%
www.ScottSorensonRealEstate.com
8. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.
Average list price: $591,895
Year-over-year increase: 14.68%
9. Ocala, Fla.
Average list price: $193,360
Year-over-year increase: 12.07%
10. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
Average list price: $181,409
Year-over-year increase: 11.48%
11. Orlando, Fla.
Average list price: $319,419
Year-over-year increase: 10.56%
12. Portland-Vancouver, Ore.-Wash.
Average list price: $314,537
Year-over-year increase: 10.52%
13. Boise City, Idaho
Average list price: $212,588
Year-over-year increase: 10.43%
14. Springfield, Illinois
Average list price: $174,537
Year-over-year increase: 9.12%
15. Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
Average list price: $211,414
Year-over-year increase: 8.34%
Source: Melissa Dittmann Tracey, Realtor® Magazine Daily News
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Need proof that Fla. home sales are up?
WASHINGTON – Sept. 28, 2011 – The value of home sales in Florida has gone up. For proof, look no further than doc stamp taxes, which are paid on all home sales. According to U.S. Census Bureau reports, doc stamp revenue rose 9.8% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the same quarter in 2010.
Other state taxes also rose, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday as part of a national study that showed continued revenue gains nationwide.
Florida sales tax collections climbed 5.4 percent; Florida corporate income tax collections rose 5.4 percent year to year for the quarter ending June 30.
Nationally, corporate income tax collections shot up 20.4 percent while sales tax increases increased by 4.7 percent. Income tax collections were 16.3 percent higher in the quarter compared to 2010.
Stagnant property values continued to take a toll, however. Nationally, local governments collected $85.9 billion of total property tax revenue, a decrease of 1.0 percent from the same quarter in 2010.
www.ScottSorensonRealEstate.Com
Other state taxes also rose, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday as part of a national study that showed continued revenue gains nationwide.
Florida sales tax collections climbed 5.4 percent; Florida corporate income tax collections rose 5.4 percent year to year for the quarter ending June 30.
Nationally, corporate income tax collections shot up 20.4 percent while sales tax increases increased by 4.7 percent. Income tax collections were 16.3 percent higher in the quarter compared to 2010.
Stagnant property values continued to take a toll, however. Nationally, local governments collected $85.9 billion of total property tax revenue, a decrease of 1.0 percent from the same quarter in 2010.
www.ScottSorensonRealEstate.Com
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Fla.’s home, condo sales and median prices higher in August
ORLANDO, Fla. – Sept. 21, 2011 – Sales activity and median prices for Florida’s existing home and existing condo markets rose in August, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Existing home sales increased 15 percent last month with a total of 16,206 homes sold statewide compared to 14,131 homes sold in August 2010, according to Florida Realtors. The statewide median sales price for existing homes last month was $137,500, up 2 percent from the year-ago figure of $134,900. August’s statewide existing home median price was also slightly higher than it was in July.
“Over the past few months, it appears that home prices have been stabilizing in many local markets across the state,” said 2011 Florida Realtors President Patricia Fitzgerald, manager/broker-associate with Illustrated Properties in Hobe Sound and Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart. “This is another positive sign that the housing recovery is gaining strength.”
According to analysts with the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), 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 August 2011 was $168,400, down 5.4 percent from a year ago, according to NAR. In California, the August statewide median resales price was $297,060; in Maryland, it was $241,564.
Fifteen of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported higher existing home sales in August; 15 MSAs also had higher existing condo sales.
In Florida’s year-to-year comparison for condos, 7,098 units sold statewide last month compared to 6,041 units in August 2010 for an increase of 17 percent. The statewide existing condo median sales price last month was $91,100; in August 2010 it was $81,500 for a 12 percent increase. According to NAR, the national median existing condo sales price was $167,500 in August 2011.
NAR’s latest industry outlook notes that despite high affordability conditions, sales activity is underperforming, partially as a result of overly restrictive lending standards.
“Affordability conditions this year have been the most favorable on record dating back to 1970, but many buyers are being held back because banks are offering financing to only the most highly qualified borrowers, ignoring a large share of otherwise creditworthy buyers,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Those potential buyers represent the difference between an uneven recovery and a much more robust housing market that could stimulate additional economic activity and create jobs.”
According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.27 percent in August, down from the 4.43 percent average during the same month a year earlier. Florida Realtors’ sales figures reflect closings, which typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.
“Over the past few months, it appears that home prices have been stabilizing in many local markets across the state,” said 2011 Florida Realtors President Patricia Fitzgerald, manager/broker-associate with Illustrated Properties in Hobe Sound and Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart. “This is another positive sign that the housing recovery is gaining strength.”
According to analysts with the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), 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 August 2011 was $168,400, down 5.4 percent from a year ago, according to NAR. In California, the August statewide median resales price was $297,060; in Maryland, it was $241,564.
Fifteen of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported higher existing home sales in August; 15 MSAs also had higher existing condo sales.
In Florida’s year-to-year comparison for condos, 7,098 units sold statewide last month compared to 6,041 units in August 2010 for an increase of 17 percent. The statewide existing condo median sales price last month was $91,100; in August 2010 it was $81,500 for a 12 percent increase. According to NAR, the national median existing condo sales price was $167,500 in August 2011.
NAR’s latest industry outlook notes that despite high affordability conditions, sales activity is underperforming, partially as a result of overly restrictive lending standards.
“Affordability conditions this year have been the most favorable on record dating back to 1970, but many buyers are being held back because banks are offering financing to only the most highly qualified borrowers, ignoring a large share of otherwise creditworthy buyers,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Those potential buyers represent the difference between an uneven recovery and a much more robust housing market that could stimulate additional economic activity and create jobs.”
According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.27 percent in August, down from the 4.43 percent average during the same month a year earlier. Florida Realtors’ sales figures reflect closings, which typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Fewer real estate agents expect price drops
EMERYVILLE, Calif. – Sept. 19, 2011 – Most real estate professionals and homeowners expect home values to decrease or stay the same through the end of the year, according to HomeGain’s third quarter survey. While the outlook remains dour, however, a higher percentage of real estate agents seem to think their market area has hit bottom and is rebounding.
In Florida, one in five (22 percent) real estate professionals surveyed expect prices to rise over the next six months, as did 22 percent of homeowners. That’s second only to Arizona, where 33 percent of agents anticipate a price increase and 29 percent of homeowners.
Nationally, 11 percent of real estate professionals expect home values to increase in the next six months, down one percent from last quarter; 12 percent of homeowners expect home values to increase, down 3 percent from last quarter.
According to the survey, 47 percent of agents and brokers and 45 percent of homeowners think that home values will decrease over the next six months. However, agents’ attitudes have become slightly less pessimistic since the second quarter (50 percent expected price declines) even though homeowners have become more pessimistic (30 percent expected price declines).
An almost equal number of agents and homeowners expect selling prices to remain roughly the same for the next six months, with 42 percent of agents expecting the status quo to continue compared to 43 percent of homeowners.
According to agents and brokers, 75 percent of homeowners believe their homes are worth more than the agent’s recommended listing price. In contrast, 68 percent of homebuyers believe homes are overpriced.
The five states with a rising outlook about home prices – Arizona, Florida, Texas, California and Ohio – were generally hit hard by the real estate crisis and now may be bouncing back. The five top states where agents expect prices to decline include New Jersey (77 percent of agents expect a six-month price drop), Pennsylvania (75 percent), North Carolina (68 percent), Georgia (62 percent) and Virginia (58 percent).
ScottSorensonRealEstate.Com Over 500 real estate agents and brokers and over 2,200 homeowners were surveyed.
In Florida, one in five (22 percent) real estate professionals surveyed expect prices to rise over the next six months, as did 22 percent of homeowners. That’s second only to Arizona, where 33 percent of agents anticipate a price increase and 29 percent of homeowners.
Nationally, 11 percent of real estate professionals expect home values to increase in the next six months, down one percent from last quarter; 12 percent of homeowners expect home values to increase, down 3 percent from last quarter.
According to the survey, 47 percent of agents and brokers and 45 percent of homeowners think that home values will decrease over the next six months. However, agents’ attitudes have become slightly less pessimistic since the second quarter (50 percent expected price declines) even though homeowners have become more pessimistic (30 percent expected price declines).
An almost equal number of agents and homeowners expect selling prices to remain roughly the same for the next six months, with 42 percent of agents expecting the status quo to continue compared to 43 percent of homeowners.
According to agents and brokers, 75 percent of homeowners believe their homes are worth more than the agent’s recommended listing price. In contrast, 68 percent of homebuyers believe homes are overpriced.
The five states with a rising outlook about home prices – Arizona, Florida, Texas, California and Ohio – were generally hit hard by the real estate crisis and now may be bouncing back. The five top states where agents expect prices to decline include New Jersey (77 percent of agents expect a six-month price drop), Pennsylvania (75 percent), North Carolina (68 percent), Georgia (62 percent) and Virginia (58 percent).
ScottSorensonRealEstate.Com Over 500 real estate agents and brokers and over 2,200 homeowners were surveyed.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Florida bouncing back, and recession not likely, report says
MIAMI – Sept. 16, 2011 – Florida’s improving economy should avoid recession, even as the recovery fights significant headwinds from a devastated real estate industry. www.ScottSorensonRealEstate.Com
That’s the conclusion from the latest outlook for the Sunshine State by Wells Fargo, which sees South Florida and Tampa leading the rebound in hiring this year. Both markets have seen modest job growth in recent months, and payrolls are up about 1 percent in both regions during the last three months.
“Florida is slowly battling back from its worst recession in modern times,’’ the report reads. Wells Fargo expects economic growth to hit 2.2 percent next year in Florida, despite growing anxiety that the nation is heading for a second recession.
The Wells Fargo report credits a strong rebound in foreign tourism for Florida’s improving fortunes, with South Florida and Orlando enjoying outsized boosts from their popularity with travelers from Europe and Latin America.
Still, South Florida gets special mention in the report as a particularly troubled region. “South Florida’s recovery from the Great Recession has been painfully slow,” the report reads. Among the biggest problems Wells Fargo cites: nearly 40 percent of the region’s mortgages are either in foreclosure or at least 90 days overdue, compared to the national average of 11 percent.
That’s the conclusion from the latest outlook for the Sunshine State by Wells Fargo, which sees South Florida and Tampa leading the rebound in hiring this year. Both markets have seen modest job growth in recent months, and payrolls are up about 1 percent in both regions during the last three months.
“Florida is slowly battling back from its worst recession in modern times,’’ the report reads. Wells Fargo expects economic growth to hit 2.2 percent next year in Florida, despite growing anxiety that the nation is heading for a second recession.
The Wells Fargo report credits a strong rebound in foreign tourism for Florida’s improving fortunes, with South Florida and Orlando enjoying outsized boosts from their popularity with travelers from Europe and Latin America.
Still, South Florida gets special mention in the report as a particularly troubled region. “South Florida’s recovery from the Great Recession has been painfully slow,” the report reads. Among the biggest problems Wells Fargo cites: nearly 40 percent of the region’s mortgages are either in foreclosure or at least 90 days overdue, compared to the national average of 11 percent.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Average Floridian getting younger
WASHINGTON – Aug. 18, 2011 – The U.S. Census Bureau released new information from the 2010 Census, and it shows that the majority of Florida growth came from working-age adults, 18 to 64 years old, who settled in counties on the edge of major cities.
Two decades ago, Florida had the highest median age in the U.S.; 10 years ago, the state ranked No. 2. Based on the just-released numbers, it’s now No. 5.
The recent Census information has valuable data for real estate agents considering a farm area or choosing a message for advertising. It includes statistics about Florida’s residents sorted by area, age, sex, household type, family type, housing units, and race and origin groups.
The Census Bureau has already released some of the information. The latest data, however, adds more information and allows much of it to be manipulated to create a more robust analysis.
New topics include:
• single year of age by sex
• more detail on children, including adopted, stepchildren and grandchildren
• race and Hispanic origin of householder
• more detail on household relationships
• group quarters population by sex, age and group quarters type
• housing tenure (rented or owned) by age, household type, race and Hispanic origin of householder
• mortgage status of owned housing units
Accessing the information
Summary tables can be found on the Census Bureau’s American FactFinder website. A good place to start is the quick tables, noted as “QT” in the search results list, which show a summary of a topic for one geographic area at a time. The geographic comparison tables (noted as “GCT”) are a good place to start for a first look at a topic across geographies, such as all places within Florida.
A summary file version of the information is also available for users who want to download the set of detailed tables for all of the geographies within a state and run their own analysis and rankings.
Two decades ago, Florida had the highest median age in the U.S.; 10 years ago, the state ranked No. 2. Based on the just-released numbers, it’s now No. 5.
The recent Census information has valuable data for real estate agents considering a farm area or choosing a message for advertising. It includes statistics about Florida’s residents sorted by area, age, sex, household type, family type, housing units, and race and origin groups.
The Census Bureau has already released some of the information. The latest data, however, adds more information and allows much of it to be manipulated to create a more robust analysis.
New topics include:
• single year of age by sex
• more detail on children, including adopted, stepchildren and grandchildren
• race and Hispanic origin of householder
• more detail on household relationships
• group quarters population by sex, age and group quarters type
• housing tenure (rented or owned) by age, household type, race and Hispanic origin of householder
• mortgage status of owned housing units
Accessing the information
Summary tables can be found on the Census Bureau’s American FactFinder website. A good place to start is the quick tables, noted as “QT” in the search results list, which show a summary of a topic for one geographic area at a time. The geographic comparison tables (noted as “GCT”) are a good place to start for a first look at a topic across geographies, such as all places within Florida.
A summary file version of the information is also available for users who want to download the set of detailed tables for all of the geographies within a state and run their own analysis and rankings.
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