Once again, the number of homes for sale in Flagler County has dropped to lower than 1,000. There are 964 homes for sale in all of Flagler County and only 592 in Palm Coast. Foreclosures and Short Sales, which just 2 years ago made up 35% of all listings and sales in the area, are slowly becoming non-existent.
The total number of home sales is almost at pace with last year through June coming in at about 2% down. From January thru June 30th, 104 sold in 2013 versus 1031 that have sold in 2014. But June of this year saw roughly an 8% gain in the number of homes sold (184) versus June of 2013.
What gets interesting is where average days on the market have dropped to 96 for 2014 versus 109 for the same period in 2013. That number has been steadily dropping over the last 2 years is is more in the range that is typical with a healthy market. 90 days is typically time frame that sellers should look to close.
Click here for more detailed market statistics.
Seller Home Tip: Be Ready To Move
When you are ready to sell it’s important that you are also ready to move. Right now the average time from listing to close in the area is 96 days so far this year, but it’s not uncommon for that number to be even less.
There are a couple of things you can do prior to listing that will not only make things easier when you sell, but also help in the sale of the house. Let’s take a look:
- Pack away as much as possible and store neatly in boxes in the garage. Buyers want to envision living in the home and that means clutter-free presentation. The garage is low on the priority list with typical buyers and storing boxes in there neatly is understandable. This way you improve presentation, reduce packing, and are put in a far better packing position later.
- Start shopping for that place to live now. Although you might not be in a position to make an offer just yet, it’s a good idea to be looking for properties in the area you want to move right away. This way you’ll have some properties you are interested in even if they aren’t available later, you keep up with new proeprties on the market, know the trends, and are much more prepared to make an informed offer when you have a contract on your home.
- Have a reserve for unexpected repair items. We all think we know our homes inside and out, but things can come up on a home inspection that need to be addressed. So it’s smart to be able to address those items when necessary. This will reduce a lot of stress.
- Keep the spending in check if you are financing. It’s as easy to spend a lot on a move as it is on a purchase sometimes. We start getting exciting about the move and we start buying. Keep those credit cards in check and wait until the move is over to make those purchases. The last thing you want to have financing fall through at the last minute and be left scrambling to find a place to live. Pre-Approvals DO NOT guarantee loans. They are merely a guide to what you might be approved for based upon generic financial information. The under-writing process for actual loan approval after a contract is made.
The bottom line is that is you are ready to list, you also need to be ready to move.
What things have you done to make your moves easier in the past?