To successfully navigate your home-buying journey, I recommend that you adopt a balanced approach of being thoughtful yet decisive in today’s market. The list below reflects some of the main points of that balance.
It was good to see new listings rise faster than closed sales in Manatee County in January. Further, with the percentage of sales being all cash dropping, the market continues to look very reasonable for both buyers and sellers. I expect the normal pickup in sales activity for the next three months as we are in peak season. With balanced negotiating leverage, it should be a very positive 2024 peak sales season in Manatee County. See the infographic from Florida Realtors below for more.
The snowbird lifestyle, traditionally popular among retirees, has expanded its appeal in the post-pandemic era, thanks to the rise of full-time remote work. This shift allows individuals of various ages to divide their time between two different cities or locales, typically seeking warmer climates during the winter months, especially for those residing in the northern parts of the country.
Buying a home can be a stressful experience, and it can be even more so when you are working with a builder on a new construction project. Florida Realtors has put together the infographic below regarding items to think about before choosing a homebuilder. Based on my experience, utilizing a real estate professional for new construction can be even more important than when buying an existing home. The amount of interaction I have had with home builders to help give my clients (and the builders) peace of mind has been massive over the years.
The single-family home market in Manatee County is continuing to move in a healthy direction. Both inventory and sales volume are up over 10% year-on-year. With inventory rising somewhat quicker than sales, we are in a position of having inventory at over three months of sales. As we are in our busy season, it couldn’t come at a better time. The market still favors sellers a bit, but it is balanced enough to give both buyers and sellers negotiating leverage. The infographic below from Florida Realtors gives more details.
