Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Blog

Looking at the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Market Report for October 2009, there is a continued trend for leveling off to a more balanced market.  Closed Sales for both Single Family homes and Condominiums are in the positive territory; REO Bank foreclosures and Fort Lauderdale Short Sales contributing to approximately 1/3 of the overall sales.  Inventory for single family homes is back to levels associated with a normal real estate market while condominium inventory is slightly above a normal market level.

Closings for Single Family Homes in October were up 6% compared to last month and up 36% from same period last year.  Of the total closings, 33% were classified as REO Bank foreclosures in Fort Lauderdale.

The Average Sales Price for a Single Family Home in October dropped slightly by 1% as compared to September and down 25% from October 2008.

The Median Sales Price in October for a Single Family Home was up 5% from last month and down 16% from same period last year.

Pending Sales in October dropped just 4% from September and up 59% from October 2008.

Single Family Available Inventory down 5% from last month and down 46% from same period last year.  Number of Months of available inventory dropped 1 month to 7 months in October, down 61% from same time last year when there was 18 months of available inventory.  REO bank foreclosures and short sales make up 1/3 of available inventory.

Closed Sales in October for Fort Lauderdale Condos and townhouses dropped just 3% as compared to September and up 66% from same period last year.  Of these closed sales, 37% represented Fort Lauderdale Condo Foreclosures.

The Average Sales Price for a Condo in October was up 3% from last month and down just 11% from October 2008.

Median Sales Price was up 6% in October over September and down 28% from same period last year.

Pending Condo Sales were up 1% from last month and up 110% from October 2008!!!

Available Condo inventory dropped 3% in October from September level and down 35% from same period last year.  At present there is an 11 month supply of condominium inventory, down from 12 months in September.  This time last year there was a 28 month supply of condos on the market, which represents a reduction of 61%.  Of the present Condo inventory, 1/3 of these properties are either short sales or bank foreclosures.

With inventory levels decreasing and total number of sales increasing, it sure looks as though a balancing out in the market place is taking place.  We are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were this time last year.  Interest rates are still very competitive and the tax credit has been extended into 2010 for First Time homebuyers.

For more information about buying or selling real estate in Fort Lauderdale, contact me today at 954-850-2397.

Begin your home buying search by viewing Fort Lauderdale MLS available property listings for sale sorted by price and location including short sales and foreclosures.

Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Market Report - September 2009

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March 2009 Home Sales figures in Fort Lauderdale continue in positive territory.

Closed Sales were up for for both single family homes and condos.  Pending Sales were up for single family homes, however, Pending Condo Sales were down slightly in March.  Total Inventory continues to shrink.

Closed Sales for Single Family Homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale in March were up 30% from last month and up 19% from same time last year.

March single family Average Sales Price is up 12% from February 2009, however, down 27% from last year.  A huge improvement from February 2009 versus February 2008 Average sales price which was down 42%.  Again, mainly due to the number of bank owned foreclosures and short sales.

Single family Median Sales Price was up 3% in March over last month, down 27% from same time last year.

Pending Sales for single family homes were up 3% over last month and up 86% over same period last year!

Inventory for single family homes was down 5% in March over February and down 27% from last year.

Closed Sales for Fort Lauderdale Condos were up 20% in March over February and up 5% from March 2008.

Average Sales Price for condos was down 4% from last month and down 29% from same time last year.

Median Sales Price was up 2% over last month and down 37% from March 2008.

Pending Condo Sales were down 4% over February, however, up 61% from February 2008!

Inventory for Condos is down 2% from last month and down 19% from last year.

It is still too early to tell for sure if we’ve reached bottom, however, it certainly looks like we have.  We need to continue to monitor the next few months.

If you are interested in condos for sale in Fort Lauderdale or buying a home in Fort Lauderdale, it may be time to consider stepping up to the plate.  Low interest rates, low prices and tax incentives may make it the right decision for you.

Contact me at 954-850-2397 if you are considering a home purchase or if you are interested in selling your home.

You can search Fort Lauderdale MLS available property listings including Fort Lauderdale Foreclosures and Fort Lauderdale Short Sales.

February Home Sales Up, Pending Sales Up and Inventory Down

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February Home Sales figures for Fort Lauderdale Real Estate report very positive news for home sales, pending sales and inventory levels for both single family and condominiums.

Single Family home sales are up 5% from last month and up 47% from same time last year.

Average sales price is up 3% from last month, however, it is down (-42%) from February 2008, no doubt due to the number of short sales and foreclosures.

Single Family Pending Sales are up 36% from January and up 128% from same period last year.  This is incredible!

Single Family Inventory is down (-4%) from January and down (-22%) from February 2008.  Awesome!

Fort Lauderdale Condos  - February condo sales are up 16% from last month and up 24% from February 2008.

Average Sales Price for Condos is up 14% from January, however, it is down (-32%) from February 2008.

Condo Pending Sales are up 33% over last month and up 97% from same period last year.  Again, fantastic news!

Condo Inventory is down (-2%) from last month and down (-18%) from February 2008.

In December I posted Have we reached the bottom in the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Market? 

There are many opinions on this and many are conflicting.  If you remember, I quoted Suze Orman, “It is only when prices start to go up that we’ve reached a bottom.”

I will be watching the next few months closely to see if figures, specifically pending sales continue on an upward trend.

If you have been on the fence about buying, it may be time to consider that interest rates are attractively low and home prices for the most part have rolled back to 2004 levels.

If you are interested in homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale or considering selling your home, contact me today at 954-850-2397.

You can search Fort Lauderdale MLS available property listings including Fort Lauderdale Foreclosures and Fort Lauderdale Short Sales.

If you are an agent in another area noticing similar trends for your market, please post a link to your blog post in comments.

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Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR) report home sales up across the state of Florida for the 4th quarter of 2008, signaling the second straight quarter for an upward swing on sales.  However, statewide, Florida home prices remain down.

Contributing factors to prices remaining low are the number of short sales and foreclosures statewide and the strict lending guidelines.

Locally, Fort Lauderdale Home sales rose 42% to 1,764 from 1,244 for same time last year and the median price for a single family home was $234,100 down 32% from $344,000. *

Sales for Fort Lauderdale condos rose 21%  to 1,588 from1,309 same time last year.  The median price dropped 35% to $107,200 from $166,100.*

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*Source: Triangle Businss Journal.

Good news for investors.  Fannie Mae has modified their investor guidelines to allow up to 10 financed properties to the same borrower.

Previous guidelines allowed financing for only 5 properties and additional property purchases had to be paid for in cash.

The modifications to the guidelines come with a stipulation; the borrower has to have money in the bank for reserves.

• When the borrower will own a total of one to four financed properties, the reserve requirements for PITI (Principle, Interest Taxes and Insurance) are:

1. Two months reserves if new property is a 2nd home or
2. Six months reserves if new property is an investment property and
3. Two months reserves on each other financed second home or investment property.

• When the borrower will own five to ten financed properties, the reserve requirements (PITI) are:

1. Two months reserves on new property if it is a second home or
2. Six months reserves on new property if it is an investment property and
3. Six months of reserves on each other financed second home or investment property.

This guideline change is good news for investors allowing them to purchase additional properties they may not have been able to purchase under the previous guidelines and a welcomed positive step in the right direction to help in reducing some of the excess inventory especially short sales and foreclosure properties.

For more information about Fort Lauderdale Homes for Sale , Investment properties and available Fort Lauderdale condos for sale, contact John Sabia at 954-850-2397.

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South Florida real estate may be turning around and heading in a positive direction according to several Real Estate analysts, however, not before a possible further 10-15% decline in 2009.

It is important to understand, that South Florida encompasses a large area and many smaller parts; cities, neighborhoods, communities and condominiums, may face less of a decline and rebound sooner.

With huge property inventory levels including foreclosures and short sales, it will take time for these homes and condos for sale to eventually be absorbed.

Once the rebound begins, real estate values should return to realistic sustainable yearly gains of 3-6% instead of the unrealistic gains of recent years, which along with other elements lead to the real estate bubble bursting.

Real Estate will once again return to its inherent value; a home, a roof over your head, a neighborhood, etc., not the get rich quick opportunity.

If you have been patiently waiting on the sidelines searching Fort Lauderdale homes and condos for sale, contemplating a purchase and are planning to stay in the property for at least 5 years, this may now be the perfect time for you to buy.

Buyers can take advantage of rock bottom real estate prices down 30-40% or more, rolled back to 2004 levels.  Interest rates are still at historic lows. First time home buyers including those who have not owned a home for 3 years prior to a purchase may be eligible for a tax credit which is expiring soon.

Do your homework.  As with any great opportunity, the best time to get in for maximum benefit is at the beginning.

For more information about buying a home or condo, contact me today at 954-850-2397 or visit my Fort Lauderdale Real Estate website where you can search the Fort Lauderdale MLS for available homes and condos for sale.

Great opportunity to rent at the Village at Sailboat Bend community just minutes to everything downtown Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas and beaches.  This 3 bedroom 3 bath 2-story townhome is only 1 of 4 similar townhomes.

This townhouse features a fenced in courtyard, perfect for entertaining, front porch at entry and an open porch off the master bedroom.  Lots of natural light from the many windows, wood flooring throughout, Chef-style gourmet kitchen with granite counters and stainless appliances.

There are also available condos and townhomes for sale at Village at Sailboat Bend and this community is located in Sailboat Bend, just west of Downtown Fort Lauderdale and east of I-95 and Broward Blvd.

For more information on this rental contact John Sabia at 954-850-2397.

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The 2 most common questions I hear over and over about the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate market are “Is now the time to buy?” and “have we reached the bottom?”

Every day we read and hear about real estate statistics and figures, inventory levels, foreclosures, sales projections and all sorts of experts claiming we’ve hit the bottom, the bottom is near or those claiming the bottom isn’t even close.

So how can you be certain that we’ve hit the real estate bottom? Financial Expert Suze Orman, in my opinion, gave the most clear and concise answer.

During a recent broadcast of her show, Suze explained “the absolute way to know for sure is prices always dictate if we have reached the bottom or not.”

Suze further explains that in her opinion, it does not matter how many properties are for sale, whether inventory levels are decreasing  or any other statistics.  If prices are continuing to decline, we have not reached the bottom.  “It is only when prices start to go up that we’ve reached the bottom.  

“Since real estate is local, it is important to understand what is happening with home prices in the area you want to buy in.  When home prices start to increase and begin to sell for more than in previous months instead of staying flat or declining, then and only then, can you be certain that the bottom has been reached.  No other facts or figures will accurately reveal the bottom.  Prices speak the truth.”

Home prices in Fort Lauderdale have declined on average approximately 30% +/-.  In most areas, prices have adjusted back to 2004 levels.  Opportunities exist today to buy condos and homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale that were considered unaffordable just a few years ago. Unfortunately, obtaining loans to buy these properties is not easy and it appears the government may step in further to ease this burden.

As with any market, in my opinion, the time to buy is not after, but before the real estate bottom has been reached and before the market begins to rebound.  Unfortunately, timing any market is impossible and we won’t know the bottom has been reached until several months have passed and we are well into recovery.

I think it is safe to say that we are much closer to a bottom than we are to the top.  Many buyers feel the same way and are scooping up great bargains from short sales, foreclosures and sellers who just want to sell and have priced their home competitively.

As with any buying decision, before making any sizable purchase, you must look at your own situation.  Do your own homework.  Does it make good financial and emotional sense for you to buy now?  If you will be staying in the property for a long time, even if prices decline a bit further, you may still be well ahead in the long run.

If you are considering buying or selling a home in Fort Lauderdale or buying one of the many Fort Lauderdale condos for sale, contact me today at 954-850-2397.

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If you are looking for real estate foreclosures in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and properties offered for sale as short sales, you can search these listings on the Short Sales page and REO Foreclosures page of the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate website.

Both foreclosure properties and short sale properties are sorted by single family and condo/townhomes.

If you are interested in viewing any of these properties, contact me at 954-850-2397.

Snowbirds and current residents alike can save big by buying a new home in Fort Lauderdale or any one of South Florida’s most affordable neighborhoods.

From South Beach to Palm Beach, millions of tourists flock to South Florida in droves every year to soak up gorgeous weather, take in breath-taking scenery and experience endless outdoor activities.

Clearly, South Florida cities, such as Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach and Boca Raton, have a lot to offer those that visit — and those that already live here. Tourists and snowbirds looking for a place to settle down or reside for an extended vacation should consider owning residential real estate in Fort Lauderdale. In the current unnerving economy, it’s smarter than leasing a property or overspending at an expensive hotel.

While the Fort Lauderdale area, for instance, boasts a large concentration of wealthy neighborhoods such as Las Olas, Bay Colony, Coral Ridge, Harbor Beach, Rio Vista Lauderdale by the Sea, Sea Ranch Lakes and Fort Lauderdale Beach lined with luxurious homes and exclusive properties, a good chunk of this extraordinary city offers plenty of affordable homes in premiere neighborhoods.

If you’re considering purchasing a home or buying a condo in Fort Lauderdale, every cent counts in today’s market, so it’s critical to invest in a property that will create long-term wealth. Buying a new home makes good financial sense. For consumers who want to save money, new construction homes save them the headache of dealing with maintenance woes that come with buying older properties. Because mortgage interest and real estate taxes are tax deductible, consumers have another big opportunity to save.

A knowledgeable Realtor can show you a variety of homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas that feature the latest and greatest in energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems. Buying new construction in Fort Lauderdale also allows you to chose the exact home you want — from the layout design, crown molding in the living room to the appliances and kitchen counter tops. With pre-owned homes, it can be difficult to adjust to the past owner’s taste.

A Fort Lauderdale Realtor can not only show you a wide variety of homes but they can also show you an array of Fort Lauderdale condos in the heart of the city as well as Fort Lauderdale beach condos. Fort Lauderdale’s most modern facilities offer just the right mix of design and practicality — all just blocks from the city’s entertainment and recreational hub. For those with a desire for waterfront views, Fort Lauderdale has plenty of waterfront properties on canals and other waterways.

Once you’ve settle into your new home, you have time to sit back and enjoy all the exciting events and activities Fort Lauderdale has to offer, including air and boat shows, arts and crafts fairs, fashion shows, boat parades, street parties, concerts, food festivals and so many more outdoor activities.

For more information about buying or selling real estate in Fort Lauderdale, contact John Sabia at 954-850-2397 or visit the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate website.