Are you considering a purchase or sale in Lakewood Ranch? The charts below may assist in your decision.
5 Years of Lakewood Ranch Activity
If you remember back in economics class prices are primarily dictated by supply and demand. Obviously, with an increase in the number of homes for sale in Lakewood Ranch there will be downward pressure on price. That does not mean prices will decline. If demand stays strong prices could stay the same or continue to rise.
Recent Sales Activity in Lakewood Ranch
Below is a chart of sold, pended sales and active listings for the last 18 months in Lakewood Ranch.
Months of Inventory in Lakewood Ranch
In the last three months Lakewood Ranch's months of inventory rose and is hovering between 6 and 8 months. Prior to January inventory was hovering around 4 months. That is a pretty substantial increase. This is something to definitely keep in mind if you are currently trying to sell your home.
What Should Sellers Do?
If your Lakewood Ranch home is currently listed then you should reassess your position in the market. Here are some questions...
Sarasota County booms with arts and culture and is celebrated as Florida’s “Cultural Coast” and renders endless opportunity to amplify and support community development through the performing arts. No wonder that Sarasota is ranked No.3 as one of the 100 Best Art Towns in America.
The dynamic cultural scene distinguishes Sarasota as a refined hub for business and tourism. It is undisputable that arts, culture and humanities can be inspiring in the development of any successful community.
Below are some of the fun activities you can enjoy in Sarasota, Florida.
Circus Museum
The Circus Museum that was founded in 1948 commemorates the affluent history of the American family circus and its rapport with Sarasota. Visitors can experience a narrated circus and all its brilliance in sequined costumes, baggage wagons, colossal parades and side show banner lines. John Ringling as the Circus King is epitomized in relics and memorabilia in the museum that harks back to the greatest circus movie ever, The Greatest Show on Earth that was filmed in Sarasota.
The private rail car of Mable and John Ringling, The Wisconsin that was built in 1905 during the golden age of the rail is on display in the museum. The Wisconsin gives visitors a matchless insight into the journeys of John and Mable around the country on business and with the circus.
A major attraction in the museum is the Tibbals Learning Center with a myriad of posters that were used to broadcast that the circus was coming to town. The key attribute in the museum is The Howard Bros. Circus Model, the...
Is this the end of a boom cycle in the real estate market? It is too early to tell but some believe so. Below I provided graphs of inventories levels in Sarasota, Manatee, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lakewood Ranch and the downtown area.
What We Don't Want
It is part of our job to monitor real estate market stats like inventory levels, sold properties and pending transactions. We just don't want to see this happen again:
The above graph shows January 2004 to January 2006 inventories. They went from a low of 5,002 in September 2004 to 17,457 in January 2006. That is a 349% increase in inventories which ultimately caused the real estate bubble to burst.
Personally, I don't see this happening. There are several differences between these two markets. Many of the buyers today paid cash which creates a stronger market. Lending guidelines did tighten so most people who bought had to prove income and the ability to repay their loan. Prices escalated but not as quickly as they did from 2003 to 2005.
We will keep watching and reporting what we see. Stay tuned.
Sarasota & Manatee Counties Combined - Inventories up 6.3%
Sarasota County - Inventories up 5.6%
Manatee County - Inventories up 7.3%
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The post below is from our other blog at DwellingWell.com. You can read it here - Season Update - How is the Sarasota Market?
Last month we were one of the first brokerages to start talking about the slow down in the Sarasota real estate market. After I wrote the blog post I received phone calls from many area Realtors confirming the slow down. Some real estate professionals will only talk about a slow down behind closed doors but are afraid to discuss it publicly. The Sarasota Herald Tribune decided to write about it as well - Read here. Here is my original post talking about how January 2016 had fewer home sales than January 2015 - January 2015 vs January 2016.
Below you will find data showing sales stats comparing February 2015 to February 2016 as well as comparisons over a longer time period of both January + February of each year. If you want to skip all of the gritty details and just see the conclusions click here.
Sarasota County
Below is a chart showing sold, pended and properties for sale in Sarasota county. Compared to February 2015, Sarasota county has 5.6% more homes and condos for sale, 7.8% fewer sales and roughly the same number of properties pended this year.
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#1 - Walk, Bike or Run the Ringling Bridge - Take a voyage over to the highest point in Sarasota, Florida - The John Ringling Causeway. Capture spectacular views of the Sarasota bay, downtown skyline, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key and Bird Key. What a great way to get some exercise.
#2 - Charter a Boat - Charter a Boat in Sarasota and explore the bays and islands. The boats are often used for deep sea fishing excursions, snorkeling and scuba diving. Some people charter a boat simply to go sightseeing or sailing. Coastal Sarasota is a beautiful area to explore
#3 - Tour Ca d'Zan - Go see the winter residence of one of Sarasota's most influential residents - John and Mable Ringling. A self-guided tour of the first floor of this Venetian Gothic waterfront palace is included with a general admission ticket to the John and Ringling Museum of Art.
#4 - Shop in a Circle - No trip to Sarasota would be complete without a shopping trip to the world-renown St. Armands Circle. The area was dedicated to John Ringling and is stocked full of sophisticated restaurants, shops and nightclubs. Numerous exclusive boutiques are also in the area.
#5 - Go Back in Time - Take a spin down main street in downtown Sarasota and catch a glimpse of buildings from the 1920's and 30's like the Sarasota Opera House, Frances Carlton Apartments, Sarasota Times Building, Mira Mar building and Orange Blossom Condos.
#6 - DeSoto National Memorial...
If you’re looking for luxury with a rich history, established neighborhoods, and an elegant mix of old-world glamour and modern sophistication, living West of the Trail in Sarasota is the perfect option for you. Retirees, young professionals, families, and those who wish to live somewhere the weather is warm all year and an upscale lifestyle is prominent fall in love with the idea of a home West of the Trail. The neighborhoods located here are upscale, elegant, and sophisticated. They are the epitome of high-end living with the casual feel of waterfront living.
The homes West of the Trail are the homes dreams are made of. Many of the neighborhoods in this area of Sarasota are decades old, but that doesn’t detract from the contemporary elegance each one portrays. Older, elegant homes with a Spanish flair have been completely remodeled to bring buyers all of the modern upgrades needed to live the most luxurious lifestyle available. New homes feature spacious terraces and wraparound porches with outdoor kitchens and uninterrupted views of the oceans. Each neighborhood is designed to perfection, with homes large enough to accommodate big families and cozier homes perfect for a retired couple.
What’s so wonderful about living West of the Trail is the lifestyle it provides residents. Here, it is all about chic outdoor living. Many of the homes here are waterfront homes, which means you’ll spend the vast majority of your time on the water. You can decide between taking the boat out into the bay or over to the barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico, where you can dine at waterfront restaurants, play on white sand beaches, and...
Hidden away, south of Sarasota, is Casey Key delights the eye with every view. An eight mile long barrier island, gorgeous views of the Gulf of Mexico can be had from the exclusive homes that line Casey Key Road. Old growth landscaping comprised of palms, oaks and pine gently shade the older beach homes and estates. Privacy and the beach at the door are features included with this island lifestyle. Your neighbor might be a very famous writer or celebrity who has chose this idyllic gem. Waterfront living is at its pinnacle in Casey Key, with only 400 residents amidst this quiet and serene beauty. Whether its walking on the beach hand-in-hand or dining superbly al-fresco on your deck overlooking the Gulf or Bay, Casey Key will enchant.
The history of Casey Key is an interesting one; assigned with the task of removing the Seminole Indians from the area in the middle 1800s, Army Captain John Charles Casey surveyed the area. Originally called Chaise's Key, it was published as Casey Key by mistake in 1856, when Casey produced a map. Building trust with the Seminoles, he forged a peace with Billy Bowlegs, the Seminole Chief. That peace lasted until the Seminole Wars, when the Chief was exiled out to the Western United States. Casey Key began to see its first settlers after the Civil War, and in 1923 the northern end gained a bridge, the Treasure Island Bridge.
Old Florida can still be found in today's Casey Key, with winding roads and gated fronts, giving an air of privacy to the luxury homes and older cottages. Waterfront estates are common here and one can walk the beach to find shark's teeth and seaglass, as well as shells....
