MIAMI REAL ESTATE TODAY

MIAMI REAL ESTATE TODAY

According to the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR) sales of existing homes and condos in Florida were up again in May for the ninth consecutive month. Even better news: The statewide median sales price in May for existing homes and condos rose over the previous month phenomenon that has occured for nine consecutive months which is a strong step in the right direction.

In these last couple of months Realtors are feeling elated with the pretty nice increase in the number of buyers that are requesting to buy properties in the Southeast Florida area and Miami seems to be leading the pack in volume with a large increase in the sale of existing single-family homes: 597 homes sold in May, compared to 339 in the previous same-year period; Miami also led in condo sales, which were up 36 percent from a year ago.

According to Sean Snaith, director for the University of Central Florida's Institute for Economic Competitiveness, "The improving sales of existing single-family homes and condos is a trend we have been seeing for several months in Florida - what is new in this month's data release is that we are seeing evidence of prices beginning to firm."

Another situation that has come into play refers to the loan market: Realtors are noticing that more home buyers who can get financing are paying full list price for bank-owned properties in an effort to outbid investors with lots of cash. Consequently, these cash investors are being pushed to the condo market where they can bully-down prices because average buyers are having a tough time getting condo loans.