1) A Balanced Florida Real Estate Market
A balanced real estate market is where both the supply and demand for homes and condos in a particular area is roughly equal. In a balanced real estate market there is about a six month supply of homes on the market.
A balanced real estate market is not something that usually happens for a long period of time in Florida. But that’s okay really, it’s usually just a threshold that is passed as Florida is transitioning from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market or vice-versa. The odds are that you will not likely move to Florida when it’s a balanced market.
2) A Florida Buyer’s Market
A buyers market in Florida happens when there are more people who what to sell (often to leave the state) than there are people who want to buy. During a buyer’s market in Florida there will be more than a six month supply of homes for sale. This means there will usually be a lot of homes to chose from in your price range.
Because the supply of homes exceeds the demand for them in a Florida buyer’s market, buyers can take their time when shopping for a home because homes will sit on the market for many months, possibly a year or longer without selling. Buyers may not want to be too eager to make an offer because sellers will often reduce their prices. Even if they don’t drop the price, more sellers are willing to entertain low offers because they have no idea how long it may be until the next offer comes along, if at all. And that offer may even be lower.
In a strong buyers market, you will notice more for sale signs appearing on more homes every week. Those new listings may also be priced lower than existing for-sale homes in the area thereby pressuring those older sellers to reduce their price in order to compete. Buyer’s markets can be lots of fun for buyers but not much for sellers and real estate brokers.
The best time to buy in Florida is during one of the many frequent buyer’s market’s, when homes and condos are selling at steep discounts of 30% or more and there’s more homes coming on the market every day.
3) A Florida Sellers Market
A seller’s market is when there are more buyers looking for homes and condos in an area than there are properties for sale. When this happens, sellers can expect to sell their home in less that six months. In a strong seller’s market a nice home may sell within weeks, days or even hours.
When there are more buyers than available homes, prices go up. In Florida, it’s not uncommon for demand to far outstrip the supply of homes for sale and push list prices skyward. During a strong seller’s market you may notice fewer for sale signs in the front yard of homes every week.
Seller’s markets are not fun for buyers. Prices are high. There is less inventory to chose from. Buyers may feel pressured to buy now because if they don’t prices may even be higher next month. During strong seller’s markets, many buyers may end up paying far more than they want for a home they really don’t like very much, simply because they believe it will be even worse if they don’t act now.
Strong Seller’s markets are fun for sellers, real estate agents that can still successfully compete for listings as inventory gets scarce, flippers (investors that buy homes, do no or minimal improvements, then jack up price and put it right back on the market) and new construction builders.
Regardless of “where” the market is, becoming a home can be the rewarding feeling knowing that you are stabilizing your family’s future and creating a legacy of building wealth and living the American Dream. We are standing by ready to help you achieve your home dreams!