By Cindi Choi.
Updated Jul 22, 2021
MIAMI (PRWEB) July 22, 2021 - Martin County real estate posted another robust month of total home sales in June 2021 as pent-up demand and record-low mortgage rates continue fueling transactions, according to the MIAMI Association of Realtors (MIAMI) and the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system.
Martin County total home sales rose 20.6% year-over-year in June 2021, from 339 to 409. Martin County single-family home transactions rose 13.2%, from 243 to 275. Martin existing condo sales increased 39.6%, from 96 to 134.
Stuart and Martin County offer an award-winning small-town Florida lifestyle with proximity to the water and the big cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, JTHS-MIAMI President Bill Mate said. Record-low mortgage rates and high demand continue to fuel Martin County home sales.
Lack of inventory in certain price points is impacting sales, particularly for single-family homes. Increased housing starts and more sellers listing properties in 2021 should help alleviate the lack of supply. More inventory is expected to come to the market later this year as potential home sellers become more comfortable listing and showing their homes. The falling number of homeowners in mortgage forbearance will also bring about more inventory.
Martin County Luxury Sales Jump as Tax-Burdened High-Net-Worth Buyers Relocate Martin County single-family luxury ($1-million-and-up) transactions jumped 120.8% year-over-year to 53 sales in June 2021. Martin County existing condo luxury ($1-million-and-up) sales stayed even at 4 transactions.
Luxury months of supply continues to trend downward for all property types, month-over-month, and year-over-year.
Low interest rates; a robust S&P 500; the appeal of stable assets in a volatile economy; homebuyers leaving tax-burdened Northeastern states to purchase in Florida (no state income tax); and work-from-home and remote-learning policies have all combined to create a robust market for luxury single-family properties.
Martin single-family homes priced between $400K to $600K surged 20.3% year-over-year to 83 transactions in June 2021. Martin existing condo sales priced between $400K to $600K increased 133.3% to 7 transactions.
Martin Homeowners Home Equity Surges as Many Pay Lower Mortgage Payments With interest rates still at record lows, many South Florida homeowners have refinanced their home loans. So not only are many homeowners paying lower mortgage payments today; they are doing so while their wealth (home equity) has significantly increased. Home equity can be tapped for renovations, college loans and more.
Martin County single-family median home prices increased 19.5% year-over-year in June 2021, increasing from $410,000 to $490,000. Existing condo median prices increased 18.8% year-over-year, from $164,500 to $195,450.
The greater share of luxury sales in the current market is part of the reason for the large year-over-year increase in median prices.
Rising median prices is a trend nationwide as record-low mortgages rates and the increased availability of remote work and education has accelerated the demand for housing. Low inventory relative to high demand leads to prices rising.
Should mortgage rates resume their upward climb, home price growth is likely to slow in response. Also, as more sellers list properties in 2021, the increased inventory should ease the growth of median prices.
Lower mortgage rates are making home purchases more affordable. According to Freddie Mac, the average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage was 2.98% in June, slightly up from 2.96% in May. The average commitment rate across all of 2020 was 3.11%. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun expects the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage to remain below 3.5% in 2021.
Martin Dollar Volume Totals $240 Million, Showcasing Impact Housing Plays in Economy While other industries struggled over the past year, housing lifted the economy nationally and locally. For every two homes sold in the U.S., one job is created. Dollar volume showcases the impact housing plays in the local economy.
Single-family home dollar volume increased 24.9% year-over-year, from $174.2 million to $217.4 million. Condo dollar volume increased 76.6% year-over-year, from $19.3 million to $34.2 million.
Lack of access to mortgage loans continues to inhibit further growth of the existing condominium market. Only 19 of the 1,912 condominium buildings in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are approved for Federal Housing Administration loans as of July 16, 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Martin Distressed Sales Keep Dropping, Reflecting Healthy Market Only 0.2% of all closed residential sales in Martin County were distressed last month, including REO (bank-owned properties) and short sales, compared to 2.4% in June 2020.
Total Martin distressed sales decreased 87.5%, from 8 to 1.
Short sales and REOs accounted for 0% and 0.2% year-over-year, respectively, of total Martin sales in June 2021. Short sale transactions stayed even at 0 year-over-year while REOs decreased 87.5%.
Nationally, distressed sales represented less than 1% of sales in June 2021, down from 3% in June 2020.
National, State Housing Demand Robust as More Inventory Expected to Arrive Nationally, total existing-home sales transactions completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, grew 1.4% from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.86 million in June. Sales climbed year-over-year, up 22.9% from a year ago (4.77 million in June 2020).
Statewide, closed sales of single-family homes in June totaled 34,165, up 23.6% year-over-year, while existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 16,155, up 79.6% over June 2020. Closed sales may occur from 30- to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.
Nationally, the median existing-home price for all housing types in June was $363,300, up 23.4% from June 2020 ($294,400), as every region recorded price jumps. This marks 112 straight months of year-over-year gains.
The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in June was $351,000, up 24.5% from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Last months statewide median price for condo-townhouse units was $256,945, up 22.4% over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.
Sellers Market for Martin Real Estate Inventory of single-family homes decreased 48.7% in June 2021 from 712 active listings last year to 365 last month. Condominium inventory decreased 55.7% to 167 from 377 listings during the same period in 2020.
Months supply of inventory for single-family homes decreased 63.2% to 1.4 months, which indicates a sellers market. Inventory for existing condominiums decreased 68.2% to 1.4 months, which indicates a sellers market. A balanced market between buyers and sellers offers between six- and nine-months supply.
Months supply of inventory is down since July 2019 for single-family, reflecting strong demand. Total active listings at the end of June 2021 decreased 51.1% year-over-year, from 1,089 to 532.
New listings of Martin single-family homes increased 14.9% to 277 from 241. New listings of condominiums increased 9.1%, from 110 to 120.
Nationally, total housing inventory at the end of June amounted to 1.25 million units, up 3.3% from May's inventory and down 18.8% from one year ago (1.54 million). Unsold inventory sits at a 2.6-month supply at the current sales pace, modestly up from May's 2.5-month supply but down from 3.9 months in June 2020.
Martin Real Estate Attracting Multiple Bids, Buyers Going Over-List Price The median percent of original list price received for single-family homes was 98.7% in June 2021, up 4.4% from 94.5% last year. The median percent of original list price received for existing condominiums was 98.1%, up 3.2% from 95.1% last year.
The median number of days between listing and contract dates for Martin single-family home sales was 11 days, an 82.8% decrease from 64 days last year. The median time to sale for single-family homes was 59 days, a 42.2% decrease from 102 days last year.
The median number of days between the listing date and closing date for condos was 19 days, down 59.6% from 47 days. The median number of days to sale for condos was 61 days, a 31.5% decrease from 89 days.
Martin Cash Sales More than Double National Figure Cash sales represented 48.2% of Martin closed sales in June 2021, compared to 40.7% in June 2020. About 23 percent of U.S. home sales are made in cash, according to the latest NAR statistics.
The high percentage of cash buyers reflects South Floridas top position as the preeminent American real estate market for foreign buyers, who tend to purchase with all cash as well as some moving from more expensive U.S. markets who can buy more with their profits from real estate sales.
Cash sales accounted for 58.9% of all Martin existing condo sales and 42.9% of single-family transactions.
To access June 2021 Martin County Statistical Reports, visit http://www.SFMarketIntel.com
Note: Statistics in this news release may vary depending on reporting dates. MIAMI reports exact statistics directly from its MLS system.
About the MIAMI Association of Realtors The MIAMI Association of Realtors was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 101 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of six organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward-MIAMI Association of Realtors, the Jupiter Tequesta Hobe Sound (JTHS-MIAMI) Council, the Young Professionals Network (YPN) Council and the award-winning International Council, it represents 52,000 total real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S. and has official partnerships with 223 international organizations worldwide. MIAMIs official website is http://www.MiamiRealtors.com
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