Steady Market Growth
When Hurricane Irma made its path toward Sarasota and Manatee County in September 2017, sales stalled in both counties due to limited business days surrounding the storm. After last year’s irregular report, this September showed significant improvement in new listings, pending sales and overall closed sales.

“Hurricane or no hurricane, September typically slows down in our area,” said Greg Owens, 2018 President of the REALTOR® Association of Sarasota and Manatee. “However, the market continues to show consistent growth with an overall increase in closed sales, year-to-date.”

Compared to last year, combined closed sales in the two-county area are up by 7.6 percent. The condo market improved with a 7.5 percent increase in Sarasota sales and a 12.5 percent increase in Manatee County. As for single-family homes, Sarasota sales increased by 3.6 percent and Manatee sales increased by 10.7 percent.

More properties went under contract this month, compared to last year’s stall, with a 31.8 percent combined increase. Condo pending sales in Sarasota county increased by 40.5 percent, while Sarasota single-family homes increased by 28.8 percent. In Manatee County, condo pending sales increased by 32.8 percent, while single-family homes increased by 39.9 percent.

As for new listings, the combined totals increased from last year by 36.5 percent. Single-family home new listings increased by 50.5 percent in Sarasota, while Manatee experienced a 31.7 percent increase. Condo new listings increased by 19.5 percent in Sarasota and by 29.4 percent in Manatee.

“Slow and steady wins the race,” said Greg Owens. “Despite last year’s stall, this month stays on the 2018 trend: more sales, higher prices and narrow inventory.”

Notably, median prices continue to rise. Manatee single-family homes stayed at $295,000, while Sarasota increased by 3.7 percent to $280,000. Condo prices in Sarasota increased by 7.4 percent to $236,248 and Manatee increased by 2.8 percent to $186,575.

Inventory is up by 2.7 percent, compared to last year’s two-county area totals. Sarasota single family home inventory increased by 6.7 percent to 2,583, while Manatee single-family homes decreased by 0.8 percent to 2,002. Sarasota condo inventory increased by 4.2 percent to 1,463, while Manatee condo inventory is down by 3 percent to 774 available properties.

“The law of supply and demand tells us that low supply will impact median prices and eventually closed sales,” said Greg Owens.

According to current month’s supply of inventory, the market continues to favor the seller. Single-family homes in Sarasota and Manatee are both at a 3.8-month supply, a 2.7 percent increase in Sarasota and a 5 percent decrease in Manatee. As for condos, Manatee County decreased by 12.8 percent to a 3.4 month’s supply and Sarasota is at a 4.2 month’s supply, a 6.7 percent decrease from last year.

The REALTOR® Association of Sarasota and Manatee – October 2018