The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 10 No. 19 - February 3, 2010

REAL ESTATE

Property sales up, up and away

It’s been a long time coming, some people thought it would never happen, but I had faith. I knew Florida real estate would be the first to level off and start to turn around, I knew that weather, water and wonderful prices would be the tipping point, and here it is just in time for our winter guests.

Contrary to what is happening in the rest of the country, South Florida real estate is making a major comeback. Manatee County real estate companies sold 43 percent more single family homes in December of 2009 than December of 2008 according to the Florida Association of Realtors. You can’t even credit the first time buyer tax credit for the increase since the original expiration date was Nov. 30, and it was not extended until early November which was too late for sales that were set to close in December and January.
In addition, median sales prices also went up by about 5 percent to $167,400, with most of the sales activity under $200,000.
Closer to home, potential buyers who are making cell phones ring all over the Island appear to have a new confidence. Island brokers tell me they are seeing more multiple offers on properties with the best priced homes and condos continuing to be the ones that are selling quickly. The statistics reflect this trend with residential property sales up 50 percent over the same period last year and condos up 250 percent. However, although sale prices were up by 45 percent on condos, they were down by 25 percent on other properties.

These numbers are great and represent a definite trend to a healthier market for 2010. However, we are still in recovery and can expect to see more properties come on the market during the traditional busy selling season continuing the buyers’ market on Anna Maria.

We certainly do appear to be in better shape than the rest of the country where sales numbers fell in December by 17 percent after a surge from September through November reflecting the first time buyer credit. In spite of this, sales prices nationwide are showing signs of stabilizing and even improving in certain pockets.

Overall in the state of Florida resales rose 33 percent in December representing the 16th straight month of sales gains, however, the median sales price fell 10 percent. The Miami Herald reported their local market in Miami-Dade County jumped 45 percent and in Broward County 24 percent, however, their median prices fell 5 percent and 2 percent respectively. Between 50 and 60 percent of these sales represented foreclosures and short sales.

Most real estate professionals both locally and statewide feel the freefall of prices have finally stopped and the markets are calming down further encouraged by the federal government’s tax credits. Qualified buyers who have signed a contract to buy a primary residence by April 30 have until June 30 to close the purchase to be eligible for the federal tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers.

Also, with a little luck the Federal Reserve will keep holding down the prime rate contributing to the low mortgage rates, and enabling more buyers to qualify for financing. At one point in January you could get a 30-year fixed rate mortgage for 4.99 percent and even lower for a 15-year.

At one time it was location, location, location, now its weather, water and wonderful prices, and Anna Maria has all of it. So hang on to your hats, it may be slow at first, but we are up, up and away.

Real Estate Transactions
Closed sales between Aug. 10 and Oct. 10, 2009

Anna Maria

517 Blue Heron Drive        Lot        $1,100,000
125 Crescent Drive        Single family         629,900
210 Archer Way        Single family         600,000
207 Spruce Ave. #A        Duplex         304,000
428 Magnolia Ave.        Lot        287,000

Bradenton Beach

1911 Bay Dr. N.        Single family         $755,000
104 Gulf Drive S. 201       Condo         425,000
1900 Gulf Drive N. #6        Condo         400,000
901 Gulf Drive S. #5        Condo         300,000
901 Gulf Drive S. #6        Condo         265,000
1801 Gulf Drive N. 152       Condo         255,000
2101 Ave. B        Single family         140,000

Cortez

No recorded transactions

Holmes Beach

615 Ivanhoe Lane        Single family        $850,000
607 Concord Lane        Single family         610,000
5200 Gulf Dr. #608        Condo         488,300
519 77th St.        Single family         472,500
6806 Gulf Drive        Condo         457,500
303 64th St. #A        Condo         450,000
7000 Gulf Drive #105        Condo         430,000
201 35th St. #4        Condo        390,00
214 67th St.        Single family         385,000
6250 Holmes Blvd. 45       Condo         359,500
4200 Gulf Drive #106        Condo         350,000
4102 Fifth Ave.        Lot         350,000
430 63rd St.        Half duplex         316,000
207 71st St. W.        Half duplex         298,000
3100 Gulf Drive #5        Condo         225,000

Source: Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office


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