In this episode, I share some of the latest insights on the housing market, covering nationwide and local trends impacting buyers and sellers.

Key Highlights:

• Nationwide Trends:

  • 4 million real estate transactions in 2023, the lowest in three decades despite a 24% population increase since 1993.

• Local Insights:

  • Pinellas County saw an 11% sales decrease, while St. Pete experienced a 6.4% decline year-over-year.

• Impact of Interest Rates:

  • Rising rates have prompt homeowners to hold onto low pandemic-era rates, leading to pent-up demand.

• Cash Purchases:

  • Nationwide, cash transactions hit a 10-year high, comprising one-third of sales in January 2024. Locally, Pinellas County and St. Pete saw 51% and 48% cash transactions, respectively.

• Price Appreciation:

  • Home prices continue to rise, with over 85% of metro areas seeing increases in Q4 2023. Tampa Bay maintains double-digit growth and Florida has experienced the largest home equity growth nationwide since Q1 2020.

• Condo Market Shift:

  • The passage of Senate Bill 4D in the spring of 2022 has created notable changes in the condo market

• Market Dynamics:

  • By definition the market is still considered to ba a seller's market though, in many ways, it is acting like a buyer's market. However, real estate and market trends are hyper local and what happens in one neighborhood may not be the same trend in another neighborood.

If you are thinking of buying or selling I would recommend seeking professional guidance for personalized strategies in navigating the evolving market landscape. If you would like to schedule a consultation, you can call or text me at 727-282-4335 or email at nicole@nicolesaunches.com