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Palm Beaches Real Estate Market
Mid-Year Update 2023

Mid-Year Condition of the Palm Beaches Real Estate Market

Home Sales are Expected to Pick Up by Early Next Year 2024

The weather isn’t the only thing that heats up in the summer. Nationally, it tends to be the busiest time in real estate. But this year, the peak season got off to a slow start, with sales declining in March, April and May.^1,2 Nationally, existing home sales in May were down 3.4% from the previous month—and 23.2% from a year earlier.² What’s causing this market slowdown? Industry experts attribute it to several factors, including near-record home prices, high mortgage rates, and low inventory. According to National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, “Home sales are trying to recover and are highly sensitive to changes in mortgage rates. Yet, at the same time, multiple offers on starter homes are quite common, implying more supply is needed to fully satisfy demand. It’s a unique housing market.”¹ However, some industry experts believe the market is poised for a comeback. Forecasters at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) predict that home sales will continue to fall through Q3 before rising in Q4 and throughout next year.³ Analysts at Fannie Mae expect the recovery to take a bit longer, picking up in early 2024. Meanwhile, home builder confidence is already up, as purchases of new single-family homes surged in March and April to a 13-month high.⁵ Builder incentives are helping to boost sales: According to the National Association of Home Builders, in May, 54% reported using them to win over budget-conscious buyers.⁶

What does it mean for you?

A slower pace of sales has given buyers some breathing room. If you hated the frenzy of the pandemic-era real estate market, now might be a better time for you to shop for a home. We can help you evaluate your options and make an informed purchase. If you plan to sell your home, prepare yourself for less foot traffic and a longer sales timeline than you may have found a year ago. It will also be crucial to enlist the help of a skilled agent who knows how to draw in buyers. Reach out for a copy of our multi-step Property Marketing Plan

Property Values Remain Relatively Stable

Some good news for buyers: While home builder sales climbed in April, the median new-house price fell to $420,800, an 8.2% decrease from a year ago.⁵ Meanwhile, the median existing-home price dropped to $388,800, down 1.7% year-over-year. Notably, existing-home prices rose in parts of the country but fell in the South and West.²

“Roughly half of the country is experiencing price gains,” explains Yun. “Multiple-offer situations have returned in the spring buying season following the calmer winter market. Distressed and forced property sales are virtually nonexistent.”²

The average national home price remains about 40% higher than it was in early 2020, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index.⁷ A tight housing supply has helped to buoy prices amidst a slowdown in sales.

“While it varies from region to region, home prices at the national level may fall 1% or 1.5% by the end of the year, so not much,” Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae, told Yahoo Finance in April.⁸

Record levels of home equity will help to stabilize the sector and prevent a wave of foreclosures, even as prices moderate, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics.⁹

“But for those who have owned a home for more than a year or two, their home will remain a rock-solid investment. And once affordability is restored, the next generation of households can become homeowners.

Getting there is critical to the financial well-being of those households, their communities, and the broader economy,” writes Zandi in The Washington Post.⁹

What does it mean for you?

Prices have softened in certain market segments—and motivated sellers are out there and willing to make deals. We can help you find your next home and negotiate a great price.

If you’re a homeowner, the surge in home values has slowed, but you’re likely still sitting on a nice pile of equity. Reach out for a free assessment to find out how much your home is currently worth.