Orlando Home Sales Up 11% in August, Median Price Plummets 22% from Last Year

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(ORLANDO, FL) -- According to the Orlando Regional Realtor Association (ORRA), Central Florida's completed homes sales topped 2,429 in August, which is a 10.91 percent increase over the August 2009 mark of 2,109 unit sales. To date, Orlando area home sales are up 36.12 percent over this time in 2009.

"As expected, sales have been softer following the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit, "explains ORRA Chairman of the Board Kathleen Gallagher McIver, RE/MAX Town & Country Realty. "However, since May, the number of new contracts has continued to climb as consumers take advantage of record-low mortgage rates and historically high housing affordability."

The number of new contracts filed in August 2010 (3,892) represents an increase of 17.09 percent more than were filed in August 2009 (3,324). The area's pending sales statistic -- also an indicator of future sales activity - is likewise remaining at a record high with 8.60 percent more homes (8,945) under contract and awaiting closing in August of this year than in August of last year (8,237).

The median price of all existing homes combined sold in August 2010 decreased 21.95 percent to $99,900 from the $128,000 recorded in August 2009. August 2010's median price is a decrease of 8.10 percent compared to July 2010's median of $108,700.

"With foreclosures and short sales dominating the market, the median price continues to be lowered," says Gallagher McIver. "Plus, the rise in popularity of lower-priced condominiums has put additional downward pressure on prices." Gallagher McIver adds that one in four home sales during the month of August was a condo sale, and the median price for all August condo sales was $44,000.

The median price for "normal" sales is $165,900 (down 5.20 percent from last month's $175,000). The median price for bank-owned sales is $70,000 (down 2.78 percent from last month's $72,000), and the median price for short sales is $100,000 (down from last month's $116,000).

Of the 2,429 sales in August, 691 "normal" sales accounted for 28.45 percent of all sales, while 1,187 bank-owned and 551 short sales made up 71.55 percent.

The Orlando affordability index increased to 270.30 percent in August. (An affordability index of 99 percent means that buyers earning the state-reported median income are 1 percent short of the income necessary to purchase a median-priced home. Conversely, an affordability index that is over 100 means that median-income earners make more than is necessary to qualify for a median-priced home.) Buyers who earn the reported median income of $53,219 can qualify to purchase one of 9,932 homes in Orange and Seminole counties currently listed in the local multiple listing service for $270,031 or less.

First-time homebuyer affordability in August increased to 192.21 percent. First-time buyers who earn the reported median income of $36,189 can qualify to purchase one of 6,885 homes in Orange and Seminole counties currently listed in the local multiple listing service for $163,219 or less.

Homes of all types spent an average of 84 days on the market before coming under contract in August 2010, and the average home sold for 95.04 percent of its listing price. In August 2009 those numbers were 94 and 94.44 percent, respectively. The area's average interest rate decreased in August to 4.61 percent.

Inventory

There are currently 16,535 homes available for purchase through the MLS. Inventory decreased by 28 homes from July 2010, which means that 28 more homes exited the market than entered the market. The August 2010 inventory level is 1.06 percent lower than it was in August 2009 (16,361). The current pace of sales translates into 6.81 months of supply; August 2009 recorded 7.47 months of supply.

There are 12,769 single-family homes currently listed in the MLS, a number that is 859 (7.21 percent) more than in August of last year. Condos currently make up 2,342 offerings in the MLS, while duplexes/town homes/villas make up the remaining 1,424.

Condos and Town Homes/Duplexes/Villas

The sales of condos in the Orlando area increased by 43.28 percent in August when compared to August of 2009 and increased by 5.89 percent compared to July of this year. To date, condo sales are up 74.09 percent (4,596 condos sold to date in 2010, compared to 2,640 by this time in 2009).

The most (361) condos in a single price category that changed hands in August were yet again in the $1 - $50,000 price range, which accounted for 57.39 percent of all condo sales.

Orlando homebuyers purchased 208 duplexes, town homes, and villas in August 2010, which is a 1.96 percent increase from August 2009 when 204 of these alternative housing types were purchased.

MSA Numbers

Sales of existing homes within the entire Orlando MSA (Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties) in August were up by 5.32 percent when compared to August of 2009. Throughout the MSA, 2,968 homes were sold in August 2010 compared with 2,818 in August 2009.

To date, sales throughout the MSA are 28.72 percent above this time in 2009 with 24,127 homes exchanging hands compared to 18,744. Each individual county's year-to-date sales comparisons are as follows:

Lake: 14.22 percent above 2009 (2,923 homes sold to date in 2010 compared to 2,559 in 2009);

Orange: 31.86 percent above 2009 (13,045 homes sold to date in 2010 compared to 9,893 in 2009);

Osceola: 18.09 percent above 2009 (4,223 homes sold to date in 2010 compared to 3,576 in 2009); and

Seminole: 44.92 percent above 2009 (3,936 sold to date in 2010 compared to 2,716 in 2009).US$43.19); Orlando (+25.3 percent to US$34.08); and Oahu Island (+22.5 percent to US$128.49).

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