Increased Demand in February Shows Homebuyers Recognize a Great Value

Wednesday, March 24, 2021   /   by Naples Ultimate Selling Team

Increased Demand in February Shows Homebuyers Recognize a Great Value

Naples, FL (March 24, 2021) – The February 2021 Market Report, released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), marks the last month of comparative activity before the pandemic shuttered the global economy in March 2020. That said, overall closed sales of existing homes in Naples for February increased 62 percent to 1,307 closed sales from 807 closed sales in February 2020.
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Broker analysts reviewing the February 2021 Market Report were not surprised at the increased momentum as many report buyers are scooping up the available inventory of homes in all geographic locations within Naples almost as fast as they come onto the market. Inventory fell 68.8 percent in February to 2,224 homes from 7,127 homes in February 2020.
 
Single-family homes continue to be in high demand so, according to the report, many buyers pivoted to condominiums in February. As a result, the condominium market experienced a 75.7 percent increase in closed sales and a 66.6 percent decrease in inventory. In fact, condominium sales in February 2021 eclipsed its comparable sales in any month over the past 15 years.
 
“This is not a housing boom as many people suggest,” said Spencer Haynes, Vice President of Business Development and Broker with John R. Wood Properties. “I consider it a ‘market correction,’ as our area has simply been undervalued until now and it is finally experiencing its due appreciation.”
 
Haynes added that “in many desirable locations like California and Atlanta, high buyer demand, low inventory, and rising prices have been a reality for years. And unlike 2005/2006, activity is not a result of ‘manufactured wealth’. Sales today are done with real money, which is why home values in our area are finally increasing. Besides, we have what everyone is looking for as it’s now possible to work from anywhere in the world so why not live and work in paradise.”
 
In addition to the struggle to find existing properties for sale in all price categories, buyers are also finding new home purchasing options are diminishing.
 
“Builders are reporting a big shortage in materials for new home construction,” said Jeff Jones, Broker at Keller Williams Naples. “For example, orders for new windows are out 14 months because there’s not enough glass for production. And there’s also a shortage of resin for pipe production and lumber has been scarce too.”
 
Corey McCloskey, NABOR® President and VP of Operations at John R. Wood Properties concurred, commenting that she’s heard from REALTORS® in South Carolina and Arizona that hundreds of new homes in their towns are sitting finished without windows.
 
Another result of high buyer demand in Naples: “New home communities are nearly sold out so were seeing many put their last lots up for bid,” said Dominic Pallini, Broker at Vanderbilt Realty.
 
It’s not surprising then that February saw pending sales of existing homes in Naples skyrocket 50.7 percent to 2,299 pending sales from 1,526 pending sales in February 2020. In comparison, there were more pending sales (2,299) at the end of February than inventory (2,224). This resulted in a drastic drop in supply as the February report revealed our area now has only a 2-months supply of homes available to buyers.
 
The NABOR® February 2021 Market Reports provide comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the Southwest Florida MLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. NABOR® sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings: 

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In February, the median closed price increased 17.4 percent to $405,000 from $345,000 in February 2020. As such, the average closed price also increased in February by 25.7 percent to $796,936 from $633,898 in February 2020. The luxury single-family home market continues to drive sales in Naples as reflected in the average closed price for single-family homes in the Naples Beach area, which increased 35.4 percent to $3,270,814 from $2,414,826 in February 2020.
According to Wes Kunkle, President and Managing Broker at Kunkle International Realty, even though interest rates are low, “many buyers are purchasing homes with cash as it provides leverage during the sale.” This occurrence often happens in multiple offer situations because financing can often weaken an offer. So buyers use cash to make the purchase with the intent of refinancing to enjoy the low interest rates once the sale is complete. Not surprising, cash sales accounted for 57.9 percent of all closed sales during February.
Whether new listings – which fell 8.6 percent in February to 1,435 new listings from 1,570 new listings in February 2021 – can meet the demand in the coming months will depend on seller motivation. In a tight inventory climate, brokers said it’s not uncommon for REALTORS® to approach a homeowner in a desirable community and ask: “I know your home is not for sale but how much do you want to sell it because I have a buyer?”
Jones added that it’s important the public understand “our market today is based on equity – not speculative lending like we saw in 2005 leading up to the housing market bubble.”
The demand for single-family homes in Naples is so high right now that its convincing many homeowners to downsize in order to take advantage of the market’s demand and enjoy a nice profit. That’s one reason condominium sales increased in February and why properties in 55 and older communities also saw increased activity.
If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Naples, contact a Naples REALTOR® who has the ability to provide a virtual showing, an accurate market comparison or negotiate a sale. A REALTOR® can ensure your next purchase or sale in the Naples area is a success. Search for your dream home and find a Naples REALTOR® on Naplesarea.com.

View the February 2021 Market Statistics

Naples Ultimate Selling Team at Realty One Group MVP
Anna Eckstein
1495 Pine Ridge Rd. Suite 1
Naples, FL 34109
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The source of this real property information is the copyrighted and proprietary database compilation of the Southwest Florida MLS organizations Copyright 2024. Southwest Florida MLS organizations. All rights reserved. The accuracy of this information is not warranted or guaranteed. This information should be independently verified if any person intends to engage in a transaction in reliance upon it. The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification.
2024 Royal Palm Coast REALTOR® Association. All rights reserved. Information has not been verified, is not guaranteed, and is subject to change. The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) of the Florida Gulf Coast Multiple Listing Service, Inc. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than IDX logo and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers. The information being provided is for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Last Updated: 12/9/2024 3:51 AM CST
The data relating to real estate for sale on this limited electronic display comes in part from the Southwest Florida Multiple Listing Services. Properties listed with brokerage firms other than are marked with the BR Program Icon or the BR House Icon and detailed information about them includes the name of the Listing Brokers. The properties displayed may not be all the properties available through the BR Program. The source of this real property information is the copyrighted and proprietary database compilation of the participating Southwest Florida MLS organizations and is Copyright 2017 Southwest Florida MLS organizations. All rights reserved. The accuracy of this information is not warranted or guaranteed. This information should be independently verified if any person intends to engage in a transaction in reliance upon it. Some properties that appear for sale on this limited electronic display may no longer be available. For the most current information, contact Data last updated 12/9/2024 3:51 AM CST.
The source of this real property information is the copyrighted and proprietary database compilation of the Southwest Florida MLS organizations Copyright 2024. Southwest Florida MLS organizations. All rights reserved. The accuracy of this information is not warranted or guaranteed. This information should be independently verified if any person intends to engage in a transaction in reliance upon it. The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification.
mls logo© 2024 My Florida Regional MLS DBA Stellar MLS, Inc.. All rights reserved. The data relating to real estate displayed on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) Program of My Florida Regional MLS DBA Stellar MLS, Inc. All listing information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified through personal inspection by appropriate professionals. Listings displayed on this website may be subject to prior sale or removal from sale; availability of any listing should always be independently verified. Listing information is provided for consumers' personal, non-commercial use, solely to identify potential properties for potential purchase; all other use is strictly prohibited and may violate relevant federal and state law.12/9/2024 3:51 AM CST
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