May 19, 2012

Sarasota Downtown Condo Update

It is active in downtown Sarasota, Florida. Since we are in the midst of our busy winter selling season there are quite a few condos under contract in downtown Sarasota. The overall mood by people who closely observe the Sarasota market is that we are scraping along the bottom with prices remaining flat. Demand remains strong and supplies are near a 10 year low. Our office is located at 100 Central Avenue in the heart of downtown. Activity is brisk as we spot Realtors frequently taking their buyers in the 100 Central condos.

Here are pending statistics as of March 10, 2011.

  • 61 condos under contract
  • Lowest asking price – $49,000 – Dolphin Tower
  • Highest asking price – $5,400,000 – La Bellasara
  • Average asking price – $691,398
  • Median asking price – $395,000

There are several luxury condos downtown that have recently gone under contract. Of the 61 condos under contract 25 of them have an asking price over $500,000.

Although, the Sarasota condo market is active there are still some great opportunities. Below are statistics for active listings:

  • 172 condos for sale
  • Highest asking price – $6,995,000 – Beau Ciel
  • Lowest asking price – $34,500 – Dolphin Tower
  • Average asking price – $926,597
  • Median asking price – $527,000

With 172 condos for sale in the downtown area it sounds like there is an oversupply of properties. This is not really true. If you want to be within a short walk to Main Street, need 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and want to spend less than $400,000 you have fewer than 30 condos for sale.

Closed sales since January 1, 2012:

  • 35 condos sold
  • Highest sales price – $1,930,000 – La Bellasara
  • Lowest sales price – $15,000 – Dolphin Tower
  • Average sales price – $526,533
  • Median sales price – $349,000

Ironically, when compared to the same period in 2011 there have been exactly 35 sales as well. However, in 2011 the average sales price was $433,784 and the median sales price is $339,000.

If you are interested in buying or selling in Sarasota give Marc Rasmussen a call at 941.812.6272.

Tampa Condo Market is Tightening

According to the Tampa Bay Times, inventory is starting to tighten up for high-rise condos with views in the Tampa area.   The original developers of several towers went bankrupt allowing for investors to come in and buy the units and sell them for more realistic 2012 prices.  So while the number of sales have gone up, the average price has gone down.  We feel the net result of that activity is good for the market.  First, empty units and foreclosed condos are a drag on the HOA and can affect the building negatively.  Second, if inventory tightens up we hope that the pricing will stabilize to current market levels.

The activity we’re seeing in Tampa Condos is also happening in cities around the country.  Higher construction costs and tougher lending standards are keeping many developers from breaking ground on new condo towers, so existing units are selling a little faster.  This is going to be the trend for the near future since even when developers do decide to pull the trigger and plan new buildings there will be around five years before any new inventory is ready for move-in.

Good News and Bad News For Condo Buyers in Orlando

If only the planets could all align in Central Florida.  In the mid-2000′s, condos were so expensive that they weren’t really an option for most first-time home buyers.  However mortgages were plentiful for those that could afford them, even with nothing down.  Now the pendulum has swung in completely the opposite direction, and the pricing is great for first time home buyers.  According to the Orlando Sentinel, the median condo price has dropped from $166,100 in 2006 to only $60,500 this past September putting condos directly in the sweet spot for first-time buyers.  The bad news for buyers?  lending has dried up to the point that in order to buy one of these cheap condos you have to pay cash.  And that’s just not in the cards for most first time buyers.  The article in the Sentinel goes on to explain the reasons for the lack of funding but what’s most notable is the idea that Fannie and Freddie overreacted.  We would venture to say that the overreaction probably put negative pressure on the prices of all Orlando Condos.

 

 

Wave of New Condos set to Hit Miami

The Miami Herald is reporting that at least SIX new condo towers are slated to go up in Miami over the next few years.  This is a sharp 180 degree turn from what was occurring just a few short years ago, when entire towers sat nearly empty and developers filed bankruptcy one after another.  According to the article demand is coming almost exclusively from outside of the Miami area, as foreign investors take advantage of the lower dollar and weak market to create their own American dream.

Read More here:  http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/29/2478900/condo-mania-20.html

Brickell House: First new Miami high-rise in years

Wait, what?  Somebody is actually building a new high-rise condo tower in Miami?  Well, according to this story in the Miami Herald it’s true.  Brickell House is scheduled to have 374 condos across 46 floors and will cost around $170M.  The developer claims that the existing inventory in Miami which used to be excessive has largely been absorbed (!) so the timing will be right for this building to hit the market in 2014.    This could be true as Miami, like Las Vegas, has seen a lot of international buyers come in the market because of the weak dollar and relatively low housing prices.  Your friends at the condo blog are skeptical, but hopeful that this is a sign that the market is turning.