Douglas Elliman in conjunction with Miller Samuel, a leading independent appraisal firm, has just released their Q1 2020 Market Reports for South Florida. It reveals noticeably stronger results for listing inventory growth in the first two and a half months of the quarter until market awareness of COVID-19 occurred in mid-March, which slowed growth across South Florida in areas such as Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach, and the Miami Coastal Mainland. The report reflects pre-pandemic strengths in the South Florida market and even an increase in some areas’ average sales price and number of sales compared to the previous quarter, especially in Palm Beach, which saw a 46.7% rise in number of closed condo sales and had the most significant year over year increase in single-family sales in six years.

“The same fundamentals that have made Florida attractive, and have supported the relatively long-term stability in our markets over the past few years, all remained in place during the first quarter as much as they will once we get past this pandemic. Overall Q1 reflected the pre-pandemic strengths we have been enjoying, with most markets realizing steady sales volume and pricing. As we come out of this global crisis, I believe that the desirability for Florida’s lifestyle coupled with tax reform, and the maturation of our markets, will continue to support the trajectory the markets were on prior to COVID-19,” said Jay Phillip Parker, CEO of Douglas Elliman Florida brokerage.

Miami Beach/Barrier Islands

Overview:

·      Overall listing inventory declined year over year for condos and single-family properties

·      Condo price trend indicators declined from the year-ago quarter

·      Single-family price trend indicators declined annually, partially skewed by the decline in average sales size

·      A sharp drop in average sales size for both luxury condos and luxury single-family properties skewed price trend indicators lower

Key Trend Metrics (Year to Year)

Overall:

·      Median sales price slipped 1.1% to $435,000

·      Average price per square foot decreased by 12.4% to $621

·      Number of sales slipped by 0.4% to 769

·      Listing inventory decreased by 4.5% to 6,425 

Luxury Condo:

·      Median sales price fell 20.8% to $2,553,000

·      Average price per square foot decreased by 9.5% to $1,175

·      Listing inventory rose 12.2% to 1,129 units

·      Average square footage declined 13.8% to 3,429

Luxury Single Family:

·      Median sales price fell 32.9% to $9,766,667

·      Average price per square foot decreased by 22.3% to $1,184

·      Listing inventory dropped 19.1% to 169 units

·      Average square footage declined 13.6% to 8,249

Miami Coastal Mainland

Overview: 

·      Overall listing inventory declined sharply on a year over year basis for both condos and single-family properties

·      Condo sales rose annually for the fourth straight quarter as price trend indicators pressed higher

·      Single-family price trend indicators rose annually, and sales extended its year over year growth streak to the fourth straight quarter

·      A significant decline in listing inventory on a year over year basis for both luxury condos and luxury single-family properties

Key Trend Metrics (Year to Year)

Overall: 

·      Median sales price rose 9% to $340,000

·      Average sales price increased by 7.6% to $458,287

·      Number of sales rose 7.7% to 3,343

·      Listing inventory fell 14.1% to 10,519 units

Luxury Condo

·      Median sales price increased by 20% to $1,195,545

·      Average price per square foot rose 5.1% to $492

·      Listing inventory declined 19.8% to 2,212 units

·      Average square footage increased by 12.9% to 2,430

Luxury Single Family

·      Median sales price rose 13.7% to $1,600,000

·      Average price per square foot edged up 1.1% to $444

·      Listing inventory fell 24.4% to 925 units

·      Average square footage slipped 3.3% to 4,037

Fort Lauderdale

Overview:

·      Condo price trend indicators pressed higher as sales slipped year over year

·      Single-family sales and price trend indicators posted large annual gains

·      Luxury condo price trend indicators showed mixed year over year results

·      Luxury single-family price trend indicators surged, skewed by large increase in average sales size

Key Trend Metrics (Year to Year)

Luxury Condo:

·      Median sales price slipped 1.3% to $1,210,000

·      Average price per square foot edged up 1.3% to $558

·      Listing inventory decreased by 2.6% to 339 units

·      Average square footage declined 3.6% to 2,604

Luxury Single Family:

·      Median sales price jumped 44% to $3,225,000

·      Average price per square foot rose 47.7% to $783

·      Listing inventory fell 25.3% to 296 units

·      Average square footage rose 17% to 5,778

Boca Raton/Highland Beach 

Overall:

·      Condo listing inventory fell year over year for sixth straight quarters with the most significant decline in the current quarter

·      Single-family listing inventory declined annually over the past four quarters at a rising rate

·      Luxury condo and luxury single-family inventory fell short of year-ago levels

Key Trend Metrics (Year to Year)

Luxury Condo: 

·      Median sales price slipped 0.3% to $900,000 

·      Average price per square foot decreased by 0.2% to $465

·      Listing inventory fell 15.6% to 260 units

·      Average square footage declined by 4.8% to 2,666

Luxury Single Family

·      Median sales price fell 10.3% to $1,895,000

·      Average price per square foot rose 1.2% to $407

·      Listing inventory fell 16.9% to 339 units

·      Average square footage declined 0.4% to 7,267

Delray Beach

Overview:

·      Single-family median sales price hasn’t shown a year over year decline in four quarters 

·      Condo listings fell annually for four straight quarters 

·      Luxury single-family price trend indicators showed mixed results

·      Luxury condo price trend indicators showed substantial annual gains, partially aided by the increase in sales size 

Key Trend Metrics (Year to Year)

Luxury Condo:

·      Median sales price jumped 40.3% to $754,000

·      Average price per square foot rose 48.9% to $530

·      Listing inventory fell 36.3% to 163 units

·      Average square footage increased by 2.4% to 1,827

Luxury Single Family:

·      Median sales price fell 19.6% to $1,400,000

·      Average price per square foot rose 5.5% to $439

·      Listing inventory declined 7.1% to 91 units

·      Average square footage declined 1.8% to 4,781

Wellington 

Overview:

·      Condo price trend indicators and sales rose as listing inventory declined from the prior year

·      Single-family sales and price trend indicators moved higher year over year as listing inventory dropped sharply

·      Luxury price trend indicators for both property types showed mixed results

Key Trend Metrics (Year to Year)

Luxury Condo:

·      Median sales price rose 22% to $730,000

·      Average price per square foot decreased by 3.3% to $348

·      Listing inventory increased by 9.1% to 36 units

·      Average square footage declined 10.9% to 2,038

Luxury Single Family: 

·      Median sales price fell 45.5% to $1,500,000

·      Average price per square foot rose 18.1% to $654

·      Listing inventory declined 12.3% to 207 units

·      Average square footage declined 21.9% to 4,465

Palm Beach

Overview: 

·      Listing inventory for condos, single-family properties and luxury fell sharply from year-ago levels

·      All three condo price trend indicators rose year over year for the third straight quarter

·      The most significant year over year increase in single-family sales in six years

·      All three price trend indicators for the luxury market were skewed higher year over year by the surge in average sales size

Key Trend Metrics (Year to Year)

Luxury Condo and Single Family: 

·      Median sales price surged 48.1% to $10,517,500

·      Average price per square foot rose 12.2% to $1,841

·      Listing inventory dropped 49.6% to 64 units

·      Average square footage surged 49.4% to 7,344

Jupiter/Palm Beach Gardens

Jupiter Overview:

·      Single-family sales price trend indicators and sales showed substantial annual gains

·      Condo sales declined as price trend indicators press higher from year-ago levels

Palm Beach Gardens Overview:

·      Single-family sales price trend indicators were mixed as sales jumped year over year

·      Condo sales and price trend indicators showed robust annual increases

Key Trend Metrics (Year to Year)

Jupiter Luxury Condo:

·      Median sales price slipped 5.4% to $915,000

·      Average price per square foot rose 2.7% to $452

·      Listing inventory rose 17.4% to 54 units

·      Average square footage edged up 0.3% to 2,378

Jupiter Luxury Single Family:

·      Median sales price rose 8.5% to $2,600,000

·      Average price per square foot increased by 9.2% to $666

·      Listing inventory rose 7.4% to 131 units

·      Average square footage increased by 17.1% to 5,699 

Palm Beach Gardens Luxury Condo:

·      Median sales price surged 39.5% to $600,000

·      Average price per square foot rose 46.5% to $315

·      Listing inventory fell 44.2% to 43 units

·      Average square footage increased by 18.6% to 2,588

Palm Beach Gardens Luxury Single Family:

·      Median sales price fell 22.6% to $1,937,500

·      Average price per square foot decreased by 1.5% to $461

·      Listing inventory declined 12.1% to 131 units

·      Average square footage declined 18.5% to 4,837

Article by Isabella Zimmermann