Naples Home Prices Climb in May
Naples, Fla. (June 25, 2021) – Homes in the Naples area were being sold at 99.1 percent of the list price in May. A tight inventory and buyer demand continued to push prices upward, which resulted in an overall median closed price increase of 29.4 percent to $433,500 from $335,000 in May 2020, according to the May 2021 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island). Broker analysts reviewing the report predict continued price increases in 2021, but noted monthly showing and sales activity is beginning to show signs of deceleration from the remarkable market experienced during the first quarter of 2021.
Interestingly, the May Market Report showed the same number of list price increases for the month of May (247) as decreases (247), which, according to Mike Hughes, Vice President and General Manager for Downing- Frye Realty, Inc., is a reflection of behaviors from two types of sellers: “the ones who, despite comparable pricing recommendations from a REALTOR®, seem to pick a high listing price and eventually have to decrease the home’s price to attract buyers; and those who listen to a REALTOR® and price the home right, but because of rising prices due to strong buyer demand in our market right now, end up selling the home at a higher price.”
“Some sellers have been asking about price wars,” said Molly Lane, Senior Vice President at William Raveis Real Estate. “This may not always be the best strategy as some buyers are weary of losing out and the seller may not get the desired result. It’s always best to consult with a REALTOR® as to the best strategy when pricing a home.”
Spencer Haynes, Vice President of Business Development and Broker with John R. Wood Properties, agreed with Lane and added, “A REALTOR® will help a seller price a home dead on the money or just a little below market to drive in offers. Buyers are getting keen on the tactic by some sellers to price way above value, and those sellers may not get the action they expect.”
Cash sales in May accounted for 58.4 percent of the closed sales transactions. The cash buyers continued to create challenges for competing buyers who required financing. It took an average of 90 days for a home to go from list to contract in May 2020, but in May 2021, the average days on the market was reduced to 43 days, a 52.2 percent decrease.
But the trend of paying cash for a home does not preclude those buyers who want to finance from purchasing a home. Buyers who are prequalified for a mortgage often fare well during negotiations and enjoy a faster closing process than those who are not prequalified. Also, as pointed out by Phil Wood, President & CEO of John R. Wood Properties, “Many capable cash buyers are leaving their money in the stock market because they can achieve a higher return there as compared to the low mortgage rates, of approximately 3.2%.”
The May Market Report showed that overall closed sales increased 164.4 percent to 1,618 from 612 in May 2020 (a month when all the world was in COVID-19 lockdown). For perspective, closed sales increased 36 percent in May 2021 compared to May 2019 (a non-pandemic lockdown month). Nevertheless, closed sales activity in May 2021 outperformed any other May in the history of NABOR®’s market statistics reports.
Notice: Attempts to compare the performance of the Naples area housing market using month-over-month statistics is not recommended at this time. Mandatory COVID-19 restrictions during the Spring of 2020 disrupted the market resulting in inequitable statistical comparisons. Report courtesy of the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®).
