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When real estate articles refer to the median sale price of a single-family home in a city, county or regional market, the question is what does that median price buy?
Each month the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors releases sales data that includes the median price of homes for the Jacksonville market that includes Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties.
In June, the median price for the region was $410,000, up 3.8% from a year ago.
Within the market there is a $308,900 difference between the highest (St. Johns) and lowest (Putnam) median sales prices.
An examination of the June sales figures found an anomaly in Baker County. In June, its median sales price was $400,000, about $100,000 higher than usual. The January-May average median price is $283,650.
NEFAR 2024 President Rory Dubin explained the unexpected June number in an email.
“Although Baker County showed a month-over-month increase of 32.2% in median price to $400,000 from May, the median price for June was based on an extremely low number of actual sales (13), meaning if there were one or two relatively very expensive homes that sold, it would affect the entire median for the county.”
The number of closed sales in Baker County went down 27.8% in June.
“This also affected the home affordability change for the month. It bears watching Baker County to see if normal sales pricing and volume for July reverse the changes we’ve seen for June for the slightly over a dozen homes that sold,” he said.
Here are homes in Baker and Clay County. The homes listed have a plus or minus of $10,000 of each county’s median sale price. Because there are only two homes in Baker County for sale that are within its median sale price, a third home was chosen that reflects the January through May average median sales price.
July sales numbers will be released by NEFAR on its website around August 10.
9173 Noah Davis Road, Glen St. Mary, 32040
Size: 1,040 square feet
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 2
HOA fee: None
Built: 1976
This house is on 2.5 acres in a country setting. There are two commercial metal buildings totaling 5,500 square-feet on the property suitable for farming, manufacturing or carpentry uses.
The main house has three bedrooms and one bath. There is a one-bedroom, one-bath studio apartment for family or guests.
The main house has a new roof and doors. It features crown moulding. The flooring, bathroom kitchen cabinets and backsplash have been redone. The septic tank has been replaced.
“If you are looking for a town house or a cookie cutter on a quarter-acre lot this is not for you,” said Lance Barnett of LPT Realty.
“But if you are looking for acreage for animals and room for kids to play this is awesome.”
A lack of inventory is stalling the Baker County real estate market, he said. It has yet to rebound to the pre-pandemic days in 2019.
That said, he has four first-time buyers under contract. Barnett sees Baker County having the potential to become a bedroom community much like Clay County.
“This is a property for people who want to be a little farther away from Jacksonville. It is an easy commute,” he said.
“This is Baker County’s time to shine.”
10859 U.S, Highway 90, Glen St. Mary, 32040
Size: 1,620 square feet
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 3
HOA fee: None
Built: 1970
Three acres with mature trees and a pond. One of three baths is in the two-car garage. It has a wood-burning fireplace in a separate living room. The patio is covered. There is a commercially zoned building on the property.
5966 J B Hines Road, Macclenny, 32063
Size: 1,688 square feet
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 2
HOA fee: None
Built: 1995
This one-story home is on 1.08 acres. The house has carpet and tile floors. It is a block home with vinyl siding. The sewer is connected. There is no garage but there is a storage shed. There is room for family outdoor activities.
*The sale price is within the January-May average median sales price in Baker County of $283,650.
3115 Angora Bay Drive, Middleburg, 32068
Size: 1,992 square feet
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 2
HOA fee: $325 annually
Built: 2016
Built on a 0.13-acre lot. It is an open design with the primary living area incorporating the kitchen, living room and dining room. The primary bedroom and bath are in the back of the house. It has a 16-square-foot walk-in closet with a smaller adjoining closet.
The primary bath has a separate tub and shower and dual vanity.
One of the bedrooms can be used as a home office. There is a separate laundry room. It has a two-car garage.
The backyard overlooks water. The patio is made of pavers and a pergola provides shade.
It has 9-foot ceilings and 8-foot doors.
This is the home most buyers want these days, said Paula Hollingsworth of Florida Homes Realty.
“People are looking for a good yard and good schools. Most people want four bedrooms,” she said.
Business in Clay County has been busy, she said.
“They are building out in the Lake Asbury area. That area is really popping.”
2841 Brookwood Road, Orange Park, 32073
Size: 1,935 square feet
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 2
HOA fee: None
Built: 1969
This house is on a 0.37-acre lot and has an oversized two-car garage. It has a new roof with a wind mitigation report. The bedroom areas have hardwood parquet floors. The bath in the primary bedroom has been remodeled with elderly or physically challenged owner’s safety in mind.
2551 Creekfront Drive, Green Cove Springs, 32043
Size: 2,138 square feet
Bedrooms: 5
Baths: 3
HOA fee: $50 per month
Built: 2006
The home is built on 0.17 acre. The bedroom near the dining room can be used as an office. The family room has a wood-burning fireplace. The primary bedroom has dual vanities and a separate tub and shower. The lanai looks out over the preserve.
Coming July 29: What you get for the median in Duval and Nassau County