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Florida's Housing Market: Median Prices Rise in Dec. 2016

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Florida’s housing market reported higher median prices and fewer all-cash sales in December, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 22,332 last month, up 0.8 percent from December 2015.

“The trend of tight housing supply continued to have an impact on Florida’s housing market in December,” said 2017 Florida Realtors President Maria Wells, broker-owner with Lifestyle Realty Group in Stuart. “Last month, statewide median sales prices for both single-family homes and townhouse-condo properties rose year-over-year for 61 months in row. While that’s good news for sellers, it’s continuing to put pressure on inventory for first-time homebuyers and those who may be looking for their next ‘move-up’ home.

“And that’s where your local Realtor comes in – he or she will put their expertise to work for you to successfully navigate the complexities of finding the right property in your local real estate market and will make sure you get to the closing table.”

Home sellers continued to get more of their original asking price at the closing table in December: Sellers of existing single-family homes received 96 percent (median percentage) of their original listing price, while those selling townhouse-condo properties received 94.7 percent (median percentage).

The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $226,000, up 9.2 percent from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors research department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties in December was $166,900, up 7.7 percent over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

According to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), the national median sales price for existing single-family homes in November 2016 was $236,500, up 6.8 percent from the previous year; the national median existing condo price was $222,600. In California, the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in November was $501,710; in Massachusetts, it was $365,000; in Maryland, it was $266,164; and in New York, it was $240,000.

Looking at Florida’s townhouse-condo market, statewide closed sales totaled 8,673 last month, down 5.2 percent compared to December 2015. Closed sales data reflected fewer short sales and cash-only sales last month: Short sales for townhouse-condo properties declined 45 percent while short sales for single-family homes dropped 39.2 percent. Closed sales may occur from 30- to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.

“Florida’s markets for existing homes closed out the year in December with a performance very much in line with what we saw over the previous 11 months of 2016,” said Florida Realtors® Chief Economist Brad O’Connor. “At the local level, single family home sales increased in 15 of Florida’s 22 metro areas, while condo and townhouse sales rose in only five of these markets. And, as has been the case all year, the lack of significant sales growth in much of the state has had a lot more to do with a shortfall of supply in key price tiers than with demand.”

Inventory dipped to a 3.9-months’ supply in December for single-family homes and was at a 6-months’ supply for townhouse-condo properties, according to Florida Realtors.

According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.20 percent in December 2016, up significantly from the 3.96 percent average recorded during the same month a year earlier.

To see the full statewide housing activity reports, go to Florida Realtors Media Center at http://media.floridarealtors.org/ and look under Latest Releases, or download the December 2016 data report PDFs under Market Data at: http://media.floridarealtors.org/market-data

Florida Realtors® serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 165,000 members in 55 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.

Florida Realtors seeks student scholarship winners

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Do you have kids currently in college, or maybe one who is about to graduate high school? Are they interested in a possible real estate-related career? Then find out more about the Student Scholarship Program offered through Florida Realtors® Education Foundation Inc., a not-for-profit corporation that provides real estate-related educational scholarships. But act fast: The application deadline for this year’s program is March 6, 2017.

“Florida Realtors and our Realtor members across the state take great pride in our student scholarship program,” says Vince Prince, chairman of Florida Realtors Education Foundation. “Helping these young people and investing in Florida’s future is one way that we give back to our communities. We feel privileged to be able to provide much-needed financial support to young Floridians struggling to realize their dreams for college and the future.”

With the program now in its eighth year, Florida Realtors has awarded a total of $1,140,300 in scholarship funding, which helped 686 students go to college or university, Price says.

This student scholarship program is open and available to students whose parents are Realtors or are licensed real estate practitioners, or whose parents are employed by any local Realtor board/association or by Florida Realtors, as well as any Florida student currently enrolled at a school (including home-schooled students or those attending a charter school.) It is based on an application form, which can be found on Florida Realtors’ website at www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/Scholarships/index.cfm

Who can apply for the scholarships? Any Florida high school senior who will be attending an undergraduate college or university; any student currently enrolled in an undergraduate college or university (any major); or any student pursuing a graduate degree is eligible. There are no limitations as to location of the college or university attended, provided the applicant indicates the intent to return to work in Florida after graduation. Proof of the student’s legal Florida residency is required, however.

Scholarships start at $1,000; the number of scholarships and dollar amounts awarded may vary each year and are determined by the Education Foundation’s Board of Directors. Criteria to be considered include, but aren’t limited to: academic achievements, financial need, relationship to the Realtor family, and contributions to family, school and community. The Foundation’s Board of Directors has “sole and absolute discretion” over all decisions as to whether an applicant qualifies.

An important reminder to all applicants: The Florida Realtors Education Foundation Scholarship application is only available online at https://floridarealtorsfref.fluidreview.com/. Please note that applications may not be mailed or faxed in for this scholarship. Only the applications submitted through this website will be eligible for review.

Remember, you have until March 6 at noon to fill out the online application for the Florida Realtors Education Foundation’s student scholarship program. To find the application form and check out FAQs, go to: www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/Scholarships/index.cfm

Florida Realtors® serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 165,000 members in 55 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.