Gainesville FL Real Estate Blog

The National Association of Realtors^® has stepped up its challenge to lawmakers encouraging them to take new, decisive actions to address the continuing problems in the housing industry, as well as the ongoing economic crisis.Let’s take a look at the sales statistics for September 2008 to see how the Gainsville FL real estate market looks: 

“Our members see firsthand the impact that an unstable housing market is having on communities all across this great country,” said Richard F. Gaylord, NAR president. “The U.S. Treasury and Congress need to work together to ensure that the American people - not Wall Street and large banks - benefit from the economic recovery plan.”

NAR sent a letter last week to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson calling on him to refocus the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s efforts on restoring strength to the mortgage-backed securities market, which would help lower mortgage rates for all home buyers and for those who need to refinance.

Let’s take a look at the Gainesville FL real estate sales statistics for October 2008 to see how the market looks in our area:

The Gainesville FL area single family home sales experienced a 29% decline in new listings in October 2008, when compared against October 2007.  Pending listings were down 40% and the average sales price was down 5% to $215,480 while market times increased by 27 days. 

The Gainesville FL area Condo/TH market saw the average sales price decrease by 5% to $138,249 in October 2008 compared to October 2007.  Likewise, new listings were down 37% and sold listings were down by 55% this October.  Pending sales decreased by 62%, while the average market times increased by 64 days. 

For the latest Gainesville FL real estate sales statistics and market conditions in your area, please call me at 888-424-8841 or visit MyGatorCondo.com.

Pending home sales activity surged as buyers took advantage of low home prices and affordable interest rates, according to the National Association of Realtors^®.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in August, jumped 7.4 percent to 93.4 from an upwardly revised reading of 87.0 in July, and is 8.8 percent higher than August 2007 when it stood at 85.8. The index is at the highest level since June 2007 when it stood at 101.4.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home buyers were responding to improved affordability. “What we’re seeing is the momentum of people taking advantage of low home prices, with pending home sales up strongly in California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Rhode Island and the Washington, D.C., region,” he said. “It’s unclear how much contract activity may be impacted by the credit disruptions on Wall Street, but we’re hopeful most of the increase will translate into closed existing-home sales.”

Let’s take a look at the sales statistics for September 2008 to see how the Gainsville FL real estate market looks: 

The Gainesville FL area single family home sales experienced a 13% decline in new listings in September 2008, when compared against September 2007.  Pending listings were down 11% and sold $208,520 while market times increased by 7 days. 

The Gainesville FL area Condo/TH market saw a  23% drop in pending sales in September 2008, compared to September 2007.  Likewise, new listings were down 41% and sold listings were down by 49% this September.  The average sales price, decreased by 16% to $157,520 while the average market times increased by only 102 days. 

For the latest Gainesville FL real estate market conditions in your area, please call me at 888-424-8841 or visit MyGatorCondo.com.

The level of home sales is expected to show little movement in the months ahead, according to the latest projections by the National Association of Realtors^®.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in July, fell 3.2 percent to 86.5 from an upwardly revised reading of 89.4 in June, which had risen 5.8 percent from May. The July index remains 6.8 percent below July 2007 when it stood at 92.8.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home sales continue to edge up and down. “Pending home sales are oscillating month-to-month, with the long-term trend essentially flat,” he said. “Overly stringent lending criteria imposed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the past month no doubt held back contract signings.”

Let’s take a look at the sales statistics for August 2008 to see how the Gainsville FL real estate market looks: 

Gainesville FL Real Estate Sales Statistics:

The Gainesville FL area single family home sales experienced a 41% decline in new listings in August 2008, when compared against August 2007.  Pending listings were down 38% and sold listings were also down, by 26%.  The average sales price dropped 16% to $208,262 while market times increased by 24 days. 

The Gainesville FL area Condo/TH market saw a  32% drop in pending sales in August 2008, compared to August 2007.  Likewise, new listings were down 11% and sold listings were down by 29% this August.  The average sales price, decreased by 12% to $156,922 while the average market times increased by only 10 days. 

For the latest Gainesville FL real estate market conditions in your area, please call me at 888-424-8841 or visit MyGatorCondo.com.

Existing-home sales rose from the first quarter in 13 states, largely from buyers responding to discounted home prices, according to the latest quarterly survey by the National Association of Realtors®. Nearly one-quarter of metropolitan areas showed rising home prices in the second quarter from a year ago, with greatly mixed conditions continuing around the country.

NAR President Richard Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said foreclosures are distorting the price data. “In many areas with large concentrations of foreclosure sales, homes are being purchased below replacement cost values,” Gaylord said. “Many buyers with long-term expectations are getting exceptional value in the current market. Once the inventory is drawn down, price pressure will return because the costs of construction are rising - today’s buyers are very well positioned to build wealth over time.” National Association of Realtors®.

Let’s take a look at the sales statistics for July 2008 to see how the Gainsville FL real estate market looks: 
 
The Gainesville FL area single family home sales experienced a 14% decline in new listings in July 2008, when compared against July 2007.  Pending listings were down 19% and sold listings were also down, by 39%.  The average sales price dropped 9% to $212,683 while market times increased by 22 days.

The Gainesville FL area Condo/TH market saw a more dramatic 63% drop in pending sales in July 2008, compared to July 2007.  Likewise, new listings were down 54% and sold listings were down by 31% this July.  The average sales price, meanwhile remained fairly consistant, while the average market times increased by 25 days. 

Again, as Gaylord said, real estate prices are declining in some areas, even within the same city. 

For the latest Gainesville FL real estate market conditions in your area, please call me at 888-424-8841 or visit MyGatorCondo.com.

A modest gain in the level of Gainsville real estate sales is possible over the next couple months, and an improvement is forecast for the second half of this year as more buyers are able to access affordable mortgages, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors^®. 

The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in April, rose 6.3 percent to 88.2 from a reading of 83.0 in March. It’s the highest index since last October, but remains 13.1 percent lower than April 2007 when it stood at 101.5.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said pending sales contracts have picked up notably in areas undergoing significant price drops. “Bargain hunters have entered the market en masse, especially in areas that have experienced double-digit price declines, but it’s unclear if they are investors or owner-occupants,” he said. 

Let’s take a look at the May sales statistics to see how things are looking in the Gainsville real estate market: 

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