Closed home sales climbed across Sarasota and Manatee counties in September while prices generally moderated and listings took longer to go under contract—a mix that points to a market “shifting toward balance,” says Nikki Taylor, an agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
According to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee’s (RASM) latest state-of-the-market report, September numbers saw single-family home sales in Sarasota County rise 25.9 percent, to 646 transactions, from 513 transactions a year earlier. The county’s median sale price fell 8.2 percent, to $450,000, the lowest since early 2022, and cash buyers accounted for 40.4 percent of closings. Inventory ended the month at 3,137 active listings, up 10.4 percent year over year, with a 4.8-month supply; the median time to contract lengthened to 64 days from 48.
“Some buyers were waiting for storm season to wrap up, and although it’s technically not over, we’re picking up speed,” says Taylor. “People who delayed [purchases] are coming out, and cash buyers are back. Things are rosier than a year ago, even if shoppers are taking their time, especially near the water.”…