Naples Area November Market Report

November Home Activity Shows Buyers were Trying to Beat the Pack

Naples, Fla. (December 20, 2019) – An increase in traffic on roads and beaches, and in restaurants, hotels, and open houses during November was reflected in a 27 percent increase in overall pending sales (homes under contract), and a 46 percent increase in showings for the month compared to November 2018. Several broker analysts who reviewed the November 2019 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), said they saw a noticeable increase in buyer interest starting back in October. The presence of more eager buyers before our traditional high season has contributed to the depletion of inventory, which decreased 19.4 percent in November to 5,563 properties compared to 6,896 properties in November 2018.

“We currently have a six-month supply of inventory,” said Brenda Fioretti, Managing Broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, who added that there were price reductions in 28 percent of all homes on the market in November. But according to Budge Huskey, President, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, “Six months of inventory offers Naples a great advantage when compared to other popular Florida areas like Tampa and Orlando, which currently average two to three months of inventory, as buyers have more options.”

“Naples is not a major business center where demand is driven by significant employment gains,” added Huskey, “yet we continue to enjoy another solid year in real estate sales due to all the unique offerings which make Naples such as special destination to so many around the country.”

But these inventory reductions aren’t necessarily coming from just the resale market. “A portion of our inventory is made up of new listings available by builders,” said Adam Vellano, West Coast Sales Manager, BEX Realty – Florida. “Many big, new home developments are now complete and just about sold out so there is less new product available, thus contributing to some of the decrease in overall home inventory.”

Overall closed sales in November increased 2.4 percent, but it was the single-family home market that led the month’s closed sales with a 5.3 percent increase compared to closed sales in the condominium market, which decreased 0.6 percent.

In response to slow sales in the condominium market, Coco Amar, a managing broker at John R. Wood Properties remarked, “We’ve had such huge activity in the condominium market over the last three years, it was bound to slow down a bit.” But despite closed sales of condominiums being tepid in November, the report showed pending sales in the condominium market were up 26 percent compared to an increase in pending sales in the single-family homes market of 28 percent. This substantial increase is a direct result of the early influx of buyers.

Inventory levels for the single-family and condominium markets were about even in November; with 2,771 properties and 2,792 properties, respectively. Inventory declines during November were highest in the low end of the single-family home market (under $300,000), which saw a 35.4 percent decline in November. But inventory increased 19.6 percent in the $2 million and above condominium market.

“With overall inventory down and showings up, now is a great time to put your home on the market,” said Fioretti, who added that her agents were extremely busy in November and she’s anticipating they will be even busier during the upcoming winter season.

SOURCE: Naples Area Board of Realtors