Despite continuing strong demand for homes and condominiums in the Sarasota Real Estate Market, sales are softening as buyers run into lack of properties available for purchase.

Sarasota Real EstateAs the attached graph shows, new listings and new pending sales in January 2022 were nearly equal. That has been typical over the last year, which means that our historically low inventory cannot gain volume if demand stays as great as it is.

With total properties available for sale falling more than 57% from the same time last year, it is not a surprise that we are now seeing some slowing of sales…there’s simply not enough to go around.

Single-Family homes for sale in Sarasota fell 74.5% through the year in 2021, and condominium properties for sale fell 69%. This left us with just 829 total available properties in the market to begin 2022.

Frustration and impatience are being replaced with a bit less angst and an understanding that it will take some time to find an ideal property. I believe last year’s rush to buy “anything” just to put down roots in the area is being replaced with more acceptance of the circumstances and a will to wait. My clients, some of whom have lost out on more than a handful of properties, have settled in for the time being as inventory coffers rebuild.

Those who did have an urgent need to purchase something, for the most part, achieved their goal – though it may not have met their every wish. I expect many of these will look to trade up as new properties come to market. Between the buyers still waiting to find a property in Sarasota and these aspirational buyers already in the market, competition will remain intense for the best properties in the most desirable locations.

Listed properties only stayed on the market for 7 days before going under contract in January. A new term has been coined – “instant sales” – to describe this phenomenon. With a continuing inventory crunch and a large buyer pool, this quick-to-contract trend will continue to be the case in the months ahead. Sight-unseen offers are still taking place with hasty visits to Sarasota to have a chance to see the property before contracts are signed. I expect virtual property tours will remain a popular tool this year.

I am hopeful that the recent discussions I have had with prospective sellers is a sign that more inventory will be coming to market soon. Many are discussing monetizing the equity gains they have realized from the substantial price increases. Even small growth in inventory will help to decelerate the pace of price appreciation we have seen in the Sarasota Real Estate Market over the last two years.

Whether I am working with a seller considering bringing a prized property to market, or finding the next great property for a buyer, stealth-like skills have become a priority. Remaining close to my other top-performing agents in the region allows me to bring qualified buyers and sellers together rapidly and successfully in these unusual market conditions.

As you consider your real estate goals for the year ahead, whether buying or selling, having a professional with a critical and analytical approach, an understanding of the market’s current extraordinarily unconventional realities, and able to set expectations based on pragmatic and practiced conclusions will ensure your goals are achieved.

With decades of experience managing hundreds of transactions, and experiencing the Sarasota Real Estate Market’s variability, my knowledge throughout the region can help. Whether looking to relocate to a new neighborhood, considering upsizing or downsizing, or adding to your real estate portfolio, I would be happy to discuss your next steps with you so that when the right opportunity comes along, you will be first to know!

And now for my statistical report on the January Sarasota Real Estate Market activity:

Sales

  • Total market dollar volume in January 2022 was $654.6 million which increased by $81.9 million or 14% from a year ago.
  • Broken down, single-family sales were $444.6 million and condo sales were $210 million for the month.
  • The number of properties sold in January was 1,002, 120 less than a year ago. A reflection of the deep decline in available properties for sale. The sales total includes 653 houses and 349 condos. The monthly sold properties average was 1,369 last year, 1,179 in 2020 and 1,074 in 2019.
    • Florida’s single-family sales increased 1.4% from last year, and condo sales were 6.7% above last year.
    • U.S. sales with single-family sales fell 2.4% and condos declined 1.3%
  • Of the January closed sales in Sarasota 118 were for over $1,000,000, 76 were houses and 42 were condominiums.
  • In 2021 Sarasota’s monthly average was 128 sales over a $1 million.
  • In January 1,228 listings went to a pending contract. For 2021 the monthly average for pending sales was 1,122 and in 2020 it was 1,264.
    • Florida’s single-family pending sales fell 9.4% and condos fell 7.3% compared to last year.
    • U.S. pending sales in July were 9.5% behind a year ago.

Prices

  • Single-family homes were sold at a median price of $464,500. The 2021 monthly median price for houses sold was $394,000.
    • In January, Florida median price for single-family homes was $375,000, a 23% increase over last year.
    • The national median price for existing homes grew 15.9% to $357,100.
  • The Sarasota condo median sale price was $350,000 in January. The 2021 monthly median price was $302,250.
    • Median price for a Florida condo last month was $285,000, a 23.9% increase over January 2021.
    • U.S. median condo price increased 10.8% to $297,800.
  • In January Sarasota houses sold on average for $680,882 where the 2021 monthly average was $573,000 and in 2020 it was $321,000.
  • Condos sold for an average price of $601,593 in January. The condo monthly average sale price in 2021 was $527,000 and in 2020 it was $382,000.

Inventory

  • Currently there are 782 properties for sale in Sarasota. This is a decrease of 47 listings from the month before. There were 2,272 listings at the end of 2020, 4,086 at the end of 2019 and 5,401 at the end of 2018.
  • Of the available inventory for sale, 247 properties are listed for over $1 million. Of the active listings over $1,000,000, 168 are houses and 79 are condos.
  • The Sarasota market had 1,235 new listings in January. The market averaged 1,321 new listings monthly in 2021.
  • Current inventory results in 0.6 months of single-family homes for sale in Sarasota and 0.6 month’s supply of condominiums.
    • Florida currently has 1.0 month of single-family inventory and 1.2 month’s supply of condominiums.
    • U.S. inventory of existing single-family homes fell 11.1% to 1.6 months of inventory, and condos are down 30.8% to 1.8 months.

And a final note. The tragic conflict in Ukraine is painful and distressful to all. The images and reporting are shocking and unimaginable from both the regions of warfare and where those able to escape are finding refuge.

We send our heartfelt prayers to all those in harm’s way and to the families and friends here and abroad agonizing over the safety of their loved ones.

Yes, because of these events there are and will continue to be disruptions to supply chain and financial markets, but economists and industry experts believe that the strength of the Sarasota Real Estate Market in 2021 created a stable platform for continued growth in the region. Costs and availability of product, materials, transportation, and more will cause price increases and delays in construction. But demand remains robust, and I expect sales to continue at current pace with willing buyers ready to pay the price for their piece of paradise here, which will keep our market strong for the foreseeable future.

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