The Ocala real estate market report provides monthly sales statistics and commentary for buyers and sellers.

Ocala Real Estate Market Report for November 2015

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Home sales in November are down quite a bit from October when we had 520 sales. I have no explanation for this. I definitely don’t think it is a trend and November sales are from contracts written 30 to 60 days earlier so it isn’t the holidays. If you go back and look at October you will see that most of the difference is in sales under $100K and sales in the $100K to $200K range are pretty close to October.  As I’ve been saying all year the inventory of low priced homes isn’t what it used to be a couple of years ago. The median home price for this November was $122,000.00 as opposed to $98,900.00 in November 2014

Ocala Real Estate Market Report for October 2015

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Home sales in October are a little down from September. There seems to be no accounting for small fluctuations from month to month. This month I added “months supply of inventory”. This is an indication of the type of market that exists. Under 4 months is a sellers market. From 5-6 months is neutral with neither side having an advantage. Over 6 months supply is a buyers market. We have transitioned into a neutral market this year. If you’re read my blog you know that I’m predicting a sellers market at some point because there has been so little new construction since he market crash in 2007.

Ocala Real Estate Market Report for September 2015

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Ocala area home sales in September were pretty similar to August. The exception being the $200K to $300K price range which is seeing more action. These are newer homes in pretty much pristine condition. Even though this is a higher price range for Ocala compared to other parts of the country homes like these represent a tremendous value.

Ocala Real Estate Market Report for August 2015

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Sales for August were down a little from July. That’s not surprising seeing those are contracts written over the summer. Ocala doesn’t have a true slow season like winter up north but summer sales are usually slower than winter and spring here.

As I keep saying the market is changing. We are no longer in a buyers market. I was recently trying to find someone homes under $100K in 55+ communities and had a hard time. As soon as a nice house got listed it had an offer in a couple of weeks. There was a time when cheap 55+ homes were a dime a dozen. Not only are they getting harder to find but prices are going up every time a new one gets listed. I think there are still deals out there just not below $100K. I just sold a 2006 house in Ocala Palms for example for $125K that I thought was a steal.

Ocala Real Estate Market Report for July 2015

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Well it was another good month for sales here in Ocala. I feel like every month I write the same thing but it’s true, we are finally out of a buyers market and sales are way up. Not only are sales up the the average price of homes that I’m selling are up. That’s great news for someone like me who is on commission. There are still good deals out there. Just this Monday I closed on a home in Del Webb Stone Creek. I think my buyers got that home for below market value because we found a motivated seller that had to previous offers fall thru.

Ocala Real Estate Market Report for June 2015

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June sales were great considering we are going into the summer months. The market has recovered. We are no longer in a buyers market and have entered a neutral market where neither side has a big advantage. In my work in the 55+ communities I see the inventory of under $100K homes shrinking and prices increasing. My average sale went way up this year from previous years and I attribute it to changes in the market as opposed to something that I’m doing different.  If you’re thinking about buying now is the time. In a year or 2 we will be in a full blown sellers market.

Ocala Florida Real Estate Market Report for May 2015

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Sales in May were down a little from the 631 closings we had in April but it was still a good month. May is probably the last month where sales can be attributed to snowbird contracts. At least until we get going again in the late fall.

I know I’ve said this before but I may not have said it recently so here it goes. I think the Ocala area is going to have a housing shortage and a sellers market. Building almost stopped after the crash in 07. No one has started a significant new development until this year. That’s 8 years without new homes adding to the inventory in an area that attracts buyers from outside the area.

Ocala Real Estate Market Report April 2015

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It was an excellent month for home sales in Ocala. As I keep saying the buyers market is coming to an end here in Marion County. Inventory has been going down. The median price of homes being sold is going up.

As a buyers agent I don’t see the same selection as a couple of years ago especially in the lower priced homes. List prices are going up and selection is beginning to go down. Houses in pristine move in condition are in demand.

Ocala real estate market report for March 2015

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March was a huge month for home sales here in Ocala and surrounding Marion County Florida. It shouldn’t be surprising March is always a good month as a result of sales to snowbirds.

As I’ve been saying for a while now from my personal observations the market is changing. Just like several years ago sellers didn’t realize that the market had changed now buyers are going through the same thing. I recently had a buyer who thought making an offer 30% below list price was reasonable. He was disappointed that the seller didn’t take him seriously. The days of low ball offers are over. Nice homes in good condition are selling and the best actually get multiple offers.

Ocala Florida Real Estate Market Report for February 2015

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February was a pretty good month with 457 sales but nothing to brag about. I expected it would be well north of 500 this being snowbird season. We were in the 500 range several times last summer.

Someone asked me if we have a slow season when prices go down. The summer used to be slower a few years ago but nothing like winter up north. We even sell homes here during the holidays.

From my own personal experience as a buyers agent I’m seeing list prices increasing. In the 55+ communities where I do about 90% of my work homes are selling pretty close to list price. We are almost out of a buyers market and moving towards a more neutral market. Well priced homes in good condition are selling. Last year was my best year ever in real estate here in Ocala and this year is even better.