Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Blog

October 20, 2011

Fort Lauderdale Condos | Year To Date Market Report

Filed under: Florida real estate,Fort Lauderdale Condos,Fort Lauderdale Real Estate News,Fort Lauderdale Townhomes,Market Report,South Florida Real Estate,foreclosure properties — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — john sabia @ 3:51 pm

Condos in Fort Lauderdale

Inventory for available Fort Lauderdale Condos For Sale including townhouses were down 29.4% year-to-date.  Closed Sales for condos were down 1.3% and pending sales down 29.3%.

Condos For Sale, Sold & Pending

For Sale / Sold / Pending

Average Price per square foot ranged from $178.00 – $208.00; up 2.4% year to date.

Average price per sq ft Condos

Average Price per Sq Ft

Average Days on the market for a condo has shrunk 18% to just under 4 months.  Sales Price versus Listed Price has remained consistent and ranged from 88% – 92%.

Average Days on Market & Sales price vs List Price %

Days on Market & Sales Price vs List Price

The Average List Price for a condominium/ townhouse ranged from $492,000 – $525,000; up 6.7% year to date.  The Average Closed Sales Price ranged from $214,000 – $275,000; up 5.6%.  The Median Sales Price for a condominium ranged from $150,000 – $193,000 and year to date is up 14.7%.

The Condominium Average Price for Sale/ Sold

Average Price For Sale / Sold

Median Sales Price for a condo

Median Sales Price

Months of Inventory based on closed sales were down 28.5% with a 7.7 months supply of condos/ townhomes for sale.

Months of Condo Inventory

Months of Inventory

Fort Lauderdale Condo Foreclosures decreased from under 6% of inventory down to under 3% of inventory; -67%.   Condo Short Sales in Fort Lauderdale made up approximately 10-13% of inventory and have decreased by 46.5% year-to-date.

Condo Foreclosures

Condo Foreclosures

Condo Short Sales

Condo Short Sales

Comparing August 2011 vs August 2010

  • Inventory is down 36.4%
  • Closed Sales are up 12.6%
  • Median Sales Price down 6.6%
  • Months of Inventory down 43.5%

In summary, the condo market continues to improve as inventory has decreased significantly from January.  Closed sales had trended upward in the 2nd quarter, however, they have since slowed down.   Inventory is on the climb again barely under 8 months.

Sellers need to focus on the list price as competition is growing each month.  Buyers continue to have a choice of properties to choose from, however, the sales versus listed price is within 10-20%.

Until next month….

Note: The above commentary is the personal opinion of the author only and should not be construed as “financial advice”.  The market changes from day to day.  Always consult with a professional realtor® before making any decisions about Real Estate.

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Fort Lauderdale Home Sales | Market Update Year to date

Filed under: Florida real estate,Fort Lauderdale Real Estate News,Market Report,foreclosure properties,short sales — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — john sabia @ 2:45 pm

Homes For Sale in Fort Lauderdale

Inventory for available Fort Lauderdale Homes for sale has decreased by 27.3% year-to-date.  Closed single family home sales are up 9.3% and pending sales are up 29.4% for same period.

Non waterfront Homes for sale, pending and closed

For Sale / Sold / Pending

Average Price per square foot has ranged from $147 to $188; up 10.6% year-to-date.

Average price per square foot - non waterfront homes

Average Price per Sq Foot

Average Days on the Market has decreased by 2.2% to just under 3 months.  Sales Price versus Listed Price is up 1.1% at 92%.

Average Days on market

Days on Mkt - Sold/ List Price %

The Average List Price for a non-waterfront home ranged from $465,000  – $520,000; up 11.8% year-to-date.  The Average Closed Price ranged from $252,000 – $350,000 year-to-date; up 23%.  The Median Sales Price ranged from $170,000 – $279,000; up 52.9% year-to-date.

Average Price For Sale / Sold

Average Price For Sale / Sold

Median Sales Price

Median Sales Price

Total Months of Inventory is down 33.5% with a 6.2 months supply of available homes for sale.  A normal balanced market is 6-8 months supply of homes for sale.

Months of available Inventory

Months of Inventory

Inventory for Home foreclosures in Fort Lauderdale were less than 5% and decreased 51.7% year to date.  Fort Lauderdale Short Sales were approximately 20% of inventory and have decreased by 34.3%.

Home Foreclosures

Home Foreclosures

Home Short Sales

Short Sales

Comparing August 2011 vs August 20110

  • Inventory is down 30%
  • Closed Sales are up 25%
  • Median Sales Price is up 40.7%
  • Months of Inventory down -44%

In summary the trend for Fort Lauderdale homes is very good.  Sales continue to be strong while distressed properties are not significant.  The Median Sales Price has increased sharply and months of available inventory are within the normal range.

Sellers need to be mindful of pricing a home competitively and buyers who are on the fence may want to consider whether it is time to jump into the market.

Until next month…

Note: The above commentary is the personal opinion of the author only and should not be construed as “financial advice”.  The market changes from day to day.  Always consult with a professional realtor® before making any decisions about Real Estate.

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October 13, 2011

Fort Lauderdale Waterfront Market Report – Year to Date

Filed under: Market Report,Real Estate News — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — john sabia @ 6:30 pm

Waterfront Homes in Fort Lauderdale

Inventory for Fort Lauderdale waterfront homes for sale is down 23.7% year-to-date.  Closed Sales are up 60% and Pending home sales are down 36.7%.

For Sale/ Sold/ Pending Sales

For Sale / Sold / Pending Sales Year-To-Date

Average Price per square foot with the exception of July has remained constant in the low to high $300′s, down 3.6% year-to-date.

Average price per square foot for waterfront homes

Waterfront Homes Average price per square feet

Average Days on the Market has reduced by 48.4% to just over 4 months.  Sales Price versus Listed Price has remained in the high 80%range up 4.7%.  (does not take into account price reductions).

Average Days on the market

Average Days on the Market

The Average Listed Price for a waterfront home was just under 3 Million, up 8.4% year-to-date.  The Average Sold Price was under $1.3 Million, down 38.9% year-to-date.  The Median Sales Price ranged from $748,000 to 1,035,000, down 25.3% year-to-date.

Average Price For Sale vs Sold

Average Sales Price vs Closed Sales Price

Median Sales Price

Median Sales Price

Months of Inventory based on Closed Sales are down 52.3% with an 11.4 months supply of waterfront homes for sale in August.

Months of Inventory

Months of Inventory

Waterfront home Foreclosures were less than 1% of inventory and Waterfront Short Sales were approximately 5- 10% of inventory.  Not a significant factor.

Foreclosure waterfront homes in Fort Lauderdale

Foreclosure Waterfront Homes

Short Sales

Short Sale Waterfront Home

Comparing August 2011 vs August 2010:

  • Inventory is down 23.5%
  • Closed sales are up 14.3%.
  • Median Price is up 25.2%.
  • Months of Inventory is down 33.1%.

In summary, the waterfront home market appears to be trending favorably. Sales and Pending Sales are strong, while inventory has shrunk significantly. Months of inventory is above the ideal 6-8 months, however, it is going in the right direction.

Sellers need to keep in mind, pricing a home correctly and monitoring the activity is key to a successful outcome.  Buyers while enjoying lower priced homes may find competition for the best priced homes.

Until next month….

Note: The above commentary is the personal opinion of the author only and should not be construed as “financial advice”.  The market changes from day to day.  Always consult with a professional realtor® before making any decisions about Real Estate.

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August 31, 2011

Canadians Continue to Invest In South Florida Real Estate Market

Filed under: Fort Lauderdale Real Estate News — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — john sabia @ 4:29 pm

While the Average price of a Canadian home has doubled over the past 15 years, prices in South Florida – and much of the United States – have dropped as much as 50% since the 2004-2006 peak years.

In Canada, the average price of a home sold for just over $339,000 in 2010, up from $151,000 in 1995 according to an article earlier this year in the Montreal Gazette.  Price appreciation has resulted in significant increases in equity in Canadian homes.  This has made South Florida’s fire sale a great temptation for Canadian home buyers.

Canadians, by far, make up the largest percentage of international buyers and investors in the Sunshine State,” reports Patricia Fitzerald, president of trade group Florida Realtors.  Fitzerald accompanied Florida Governor, Rick Scott to Canada in June in an attempt to convince Canadian investors to come to Florida.  Thirty-six percent of all international real estate sales in Florida go to Canadians.

Fitzerald described the trip as a “trade mission,” stating that it offered “a prime opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of doing business – and living – in Florida.”  Scott added that many Canadian companies see Florida as having a “favorable business climate” and emphasized his own administrations “commitment to cut taxes” as one of the reasons many international buyers invest here.”

The primary reason for Canadians to purchase properties in Florida is the buying power.  The decline in the local real estate market combined with the buying power of the Canadian Dollar offers Canadians an opportunity not seen in past years.  Plus, the proximity and the warm climate make it an ideal winter vacation place.

With the rise in their home equity, many Canadians have chosen to refinance their existing home to access capital and then purchase their Florida property with cash, avoiding the need for financing.

For more information about buying or selling real estate in Fort Lauderdale, contact John Sabia to day at 954.850.2397.

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May 25, 2011

Fort Lauderdale Waterfront Homes | Jan – March 2011 Market Report

Filed under: Florida real estate,Fort Lauderdale Real Estate News,Market Report,South Florida Real Estate,foreclosure properties,short sales — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — john sabia @ 4:13 pm

First Quarter 2011 Market Report for east side Waterfront homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale show inventory levels are about 75 fewer homes for sale, which is not much of a reduction in the amount of homes available for sale over the past year.  The number of closed sales and pending sales have increased month over month for this quarter; however, they remain consistent with same time last year.

graph of waterfront homes Waterfront home Foreclosures in Fort Lauderdale represented .03% of available inventory and .05% of closed sales in the first quarter 2011.

Foreclosure Listing & SalesWaterfront Short Sales in Fort Lauderdale made up approximately 24% of inventory and .08% of sales in the first quarter 2011.

graph of short sale waterfront homesThe Average Price Per Square Foot is trending upward this quarter at roughly $341.00 per foot.  This includes all waterfront homes with fixed bridges and no fixed bridges.  No fixed bridges would have a higher amount.

Average Price per square foot for waterfron homesAverage Price For Sale trended upward slowly over the past year while Average Sales Price had a bumpy ride over the past year trending up for the first quarter 2011.  The Median Sales Price this quarter remained fairly consistent at about $993,000.

Average Price for Sale & Average Price SoldMedian Sales Price for a waterfront homeAverage days on the market is a little over six months.  The percentage a home sold versus the listed price is roughly 84%.

Average Days on Market for a waterfront homeMonths of Inventory is the big shocker here.  In the first quarter of this year, inventory dropped by almost 1 year.  A peak into April inventory reveals the level dropped another month to the lowest level over the past year.  Very encouraging.

If you are interested in selling or buying a waterfront home for sale in Fort Lauderdale, call me at 954.850.2397.   You can view property listings by searching the Fort Lauderdale MLS.

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May 12, 2011

Fort Lauderdale Real Estate – Market Report | January to March 2011

Filed under: Florida real estate,Fort Lauderdale Condos,Fort Lauderdale Real Estate News,Market Report — Tags: , , , , , , , , — john sabia @ 6:17 pm

First quarter Market Report for Fort Lauderdale Real Estate show continued improvement for the Fort Lauderdale Beach, Northeast and Southeast areas for both single family and condominium/townhouse properties.

Inventory was down, Sales were up and pending sales were also up.  The number of properties for sale has trended down across the graph and there are almost 1,000 fewer properties for sale in March 2011 than there were in January 2010.

For Sale, Sold, Pending and New Listing Graph

Number of Homes For Sale, Sold, Pending and Newly Listed

Foreclosures represented 0.04% of inventory and 24% of sales in the first quarter of 2011 :

Foreclosures

Fort Lauderdale REO Foreclosures

Short Sales made up approximately 13% of inventory and 38% of sales in the first quarter of 2011:

Short Sales Graph

Fort Lauderdale Short Sales

Average Price for a property for sale trended up, Average sales price bumped up and down and the Median Price Sold trended upward.

Average Price For Sale and Average Price Sold

Average Price For Sale / Average Price Sold

Median Price for Properties Sold

Median Price Sold

Months of Inventory shrunk significantly.  Look at January 2010 and September 2010 when the months of inventory was 1.5 years.  Even from January to March of this year, months of inventory has reduced by almost half:

Months of Inventory

Months of Inventory

There is still room for improvement, however, these are encouraging signs that the market is rebounding.

If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, call me at 954.850.2397.

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April 7, 2011

Limited Inventory Makes For A Healthy Condo Market In Fort Lauderdale

Filed under: Fort Lauderdale Condos,Fort Lauderdale Real Estate News,South Florida Real Estate — Tags: , , , , , — john sabia @ 5:04 pm

As temperatures begin to rise and beaches continue to swell with tourists and locals alike, the Fort Lauderdale condo market along the beach and downtown has cooked up quite a buying frenzy in the past six months.

At the end of 2010, only 160 new units remained unsold out of the 5,100 units created in downtown Fort Lauderdale and the beach since 2003, according to a recent article published in The Miami Herald. This number excludes the 298-unit condo-hotel project previously known as Trump International Hotel & Tower. Sales for these new units have not yet begun. In February, a bulk buyer purchased 68 units in the Village East condominium complex near the 17th Street Causeway.

Surrounded by Sunrise Boulevard south to State Road 84 (Southeast 24th Street) and the Atlantic Ocean west to Northwest 7th (Southwest 4th avenues), this area has a significantly low number of unsold homes compared to other coastal cities, such as Greater Downtown Miami. Developers in this area have close to 3,600 unsold condo units, according to the article.

In the past six months, buyers purchased 62 units per month for a total of 372 units in the downtown Fort Lauderdale and beach markets. At this rate, some experts believe the downtown Fort Lauderdale and beach condo markets have less than a 10-month supply of available product.  6-8 months is considered to be a normal balanced market.

Peter Zalewski, a principal with Condo Vultures, a Bal Harbour-based real estate consultancy reports anti-development opposition as a major reason behind the under supply. Former Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle and commission members opposed multiple new construction projects proposed during the boom. This resulted in many of the condo developments in downtown Fort Lauderdale and the beach being approved, constructed and then sold out before the South Florida real estate crashed in 2007.

Prices for new condos in the downtown Fort Lauderdale and the beach markets have fluctuated significantly since the real estate boom. According to Zalewski, the average price per square foot for a new condo rose from $235 in 2003 to $309 in 2004 to $339 in 2005 to $372 in 2006, just before peaking at $499 in 2007.

In 2008, Fort Lauderdale condo prices per square foot dropped to approximately $356 in 2008 and 2009, and later sunk to $185 in 2010. Some believe prices could fall even more, considering the Village East bulk deal sold at $121 per square foot.

Even with an under supply of new condos, resales are always a possibility. Today, 550 condos are available for resale in downtown Fort Lauderdale and the beach markets, according to the Florida Realtors Association. An extra 162 units are currently under contract waiting to transact.

For more information about buying or selling homes and condos in Fort Lauderdale, contact John Sabia today at 954.850.2397.

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January 12, 2011

Hiring a Real Estate Agent

Filed under: Real Estate News — Tim Ryan @ 5:09 pm

Hiring a Real Estate Agent

Purchasing a new home is a tremendous undertaking, and one that should be done under the guidance of an experienced and knowledgeable real estate agent. Mid-to-large size cities will have a heavy pool of agents, and it is important that you choose one who best fits your specific needs. The ideal candidate will have expertise in the community or neighborhood you have targeted. If you are also selling a property, be sure the Realtor handles both buying and selling, as it complicates things considerably to be dealing with multiple agents.

There are several things you want to uncover through research, discussions with the potential Realtor and even a formal interview before making a decision to move forward. The most important qualities to look for are:

Knowledge – does the agent know the market and can provide suggestions and guidance based on your desires and needs? When you say you want a fixer-upper near the business district with classic styling, the Realtor should be able to readily identify available matches.

Sophistication – is the Realtor and/or her agency leading edge when it comes to technology, giving you immediate access to the most updated listings, and creating a high quality, engaging listing for the house you are selling?

Responsiveness – are your inquiries, emails and phone calls answered in a timely manner? If the time comes to put in an offer, or receive an offer, the deal could be made or lost in a matter of minutes, so open communications with the realtor is essential.

Negotiation – does this agent have the skills required to get you the best price, whether buying or selling? He or she should have some bargaining chips that can be used to your advantage, like paying some of the buyer’s closing costs or getting patio furniture and the outdoor grill thrown in.

Loyalty – does the agent have your best interest in mind? If he/she is only showing you listings from his own company, you are missing out. Also be careful of someone trying to get you to sell below your pre-determined threshold. Their commission will only be incrementally affected, but your proceeds could take a real hit.

While your Realtor is a trusted adviser, you should educate yourself as well. Ask for comps in the neighborhood where you are most interested. Also ask the agent for his or her sales history. If selling, ask what the average time on the market is for the agent’s listings. If buying, a good indicator would be sales price compared to asking price.

There are so many complexities associated with home buying, like the mortgage process, inspections and insurance. The right Realtor can help to clear through the clutter so that you can stay focused on the most important element – finding the home of your dreams!

About the author – Tim Ryan is a Naples Real Estate Agent.   Visit his website to search thousands of Naples homes for sale.

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October 23, 2010

Fort Lauderdale Condos | Market Update – 3rd Quarter 2010

Filed under: Florida real estate,Fort Lauderdale Condos,Market Report,Real Estate News,South Florida Real Estate — Tags: , , , , , , , — john sabia @ 8:23 pm

Fort Lauderdale Condos

Fort Lauderdale Real Estate – Third Quarter Market Trends for Fort Lauderdale Beach, Northeast and Southeast condominiums.

In September, inventory for Fort Lauderdale Condos for sale increased by 1% month over month and were down -7.6% from  January this year.  New Listings were up 8% in September; however they were down -24.4% as compared to January.  Closed Sales were down -20.3% from the previous month and were also down -2.5% as compared to January.  Pending Condo Sales were up 8.3% from August and were down -20.4% from January.

For Sale/ Sold/ Pending/ New Listing - Condominiums/Townhomes

    1 Month   9 Months    
  Sep 10 Aug 10 % Change Sep 10 Jan 10 % Change
For Sale 1900 1881 1% 1900 2056 -7.6%
New Listing 338 313 8% 338 447 -24.4%
Sold 118 148 -20.3% 118 121 -2.5%
Pending 195 180 8.3% 195 245 -20.4%

Of these figures, Inventory for Fort Lauderdale Condo Foreclosures was up 7.8% in September from August with a total of 110 properties classified as bank owned (5%).  As compared to January, REO inventory was also up 64.2%.  Closed Sales categorized  as foreclosures remained the same month over month and were up 20% as compared to January.

Condo Short Sales Inventory was down -0.9% in September from August with 321 properties (16%); however, inventory was up 7% as compared to January.  Closed short sales were down -12.5% in September from August and up 21.7% as compared to January.

The Average Price per square foot for a condo in September was $178.00, down -13.7% month over month and down -24.4% as compared to January.


The Average Days on the Market was down -24.3% in September and down -22.9% as compared to January.  Sales Price versus List Price differential ranges from 84% – 91%.


The Average Closed  Sales Price for condominiums in September was $224.00; down -14.8% from previous month and down -19.1% from January.  The Median Sales Price in September was $166.00; down 8.3% from August and down -7.8% as compared to January.


In September, there were 16.1 months of available condo inventory, up 26.7% from previous month and down -5.2% from January.

As we head into the winter season combined with the weak US dollar, I suspect we will see an influx of foreign investors and 2nd home buyers looking to take advantage of attractively priced condominiums on the sand or near the beach that on average are approximately 40-50% less than they were during the boom years.

The graph below illustrates Average Price For Sale and Average Price of Closed Sales from September 2002 to present day.  As you can see, we are basically back to 2003 prices.  I think we may very well be seeing a leveling off.


Fort Lauderdale Waterfront Homes | Market Report – 3rd Quarter 2010

Fort Lauderdale Homes For Sale | Market Report – 3rd Quarter 2010

For more information about Buying  or Selling Fort Lauderdale Condos, contact me today at 954.850.2397.

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October 17, 2010

Fort Lauderdale Homes For Sale | Market Report – 3rd Quarter 2010

Filed under: Florida real estate,Just Listed,Just Sold,Market Report,Real Estate News,South Florida Real Estate,short sales — Tags: , , , , — john sabia @ 12:58 pm

Fort Lauderdale Homes For Sale

Third Quarter Market trends for non-waterfront Fort Lauderdale Homes For Sale in Northeast and Southeast Fort Lauderdale; and Fort Lauderdale Beach communities.

Inventory in September increased by 2.5% from August and was up 4.7% from January of this year.  New Listing inventory increased 7.8% month over month and was up 9.5% as compared to January.  Pending homes (under contract)  increased 1.4% from August to September; however, they were down 6.4% as compared to January.   Closed Sales were up 27.7% month over month and were up 53.8% as compared to January!

For Sale/ Sold/ Pending/ New Listing - Non Waterfront

    1 Month   9 Months    
  Aug 10 Sep 10 % Change Jan 10 Sep 10 % Change
For Sale 520 533 2.5% 509 533 4.7%
New Listing 128 138 7.5% 126 138 9.5%
Sold 47 60 27.7% 39 60 53.8
Pending 72 73 1.4% 78 73 -6.4%

Of these figures, inventory for home foreclosures for sale was down 7.9% in September from  August with a total of 35 properties classified as bank foreclosures. However, inventory is up 59.1% as compared to January.  Closed Sales classified as reo bank owned were up 27.3% in September from August and were up 40% as compared to January.

Inventory for Short Sales was up 16.1% in September from August with a total of 108 properties; and up 10.2% as compared to January.  Closed Sales classified as short sales were down 25% in September from August; and were down 25% as compared to January.

The Average Price per square foot for a non-waterfront home in September was $191.00, up 8.6% from August; and up 21% as compared to January 2010.

In September, the Average Days on the Market for a non-waterfront home was 98 days; up 24.1% from August and was down 14% as compared to January.  Sales Price versus Listing Price differential ranged from 89 – 98%.

The Average Closed Sales Price for a non-waterfront home in September was $351.00; up 38.7% from August and was 36% as compared to Janaury.  Median Sales Price in September was $232.00; up 24.1% from August and up 36.5% as compared to January 2010.

In September, there were 8.9 months of non-waterfront  homes for sale, down 19.7% from August; and down 31.9% as compared to January.  Pundits agree that a normal balanced market with regards to inventory is when there are 6-8 months of inventory.

Fort Lauderdale Waterfront Homes | Market Report – 3rd Quarter 2010

Fort Lauderdale Condos | Market Report – 3rd Quarter 2010

For more information about buying or selling homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale, contact me today at 954.850.2397.

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