Florida’s existing condo sales rose 8 percent in June with a total of 7,922 units sold statewide compared to 7,330 sold in June 2010, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors. The statewide existing condo median sales for the month was $94,100; a year earlier, it was $92,300 for a 2 percent increase. The national median existing condo sales price was $165,400 in May 2011, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Nine of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas reported higher existing condo sales in June; six MSAs had higher existing home sales.
In Florida’s year-to-year comparison for existing home sales, a total of 17,597 homes sold last month compared to 18,402 homes sold in June 2010 for a decrease of 4 percent. The statewide median sales price for existing homes last month was $138,000; a year earlier, it was $141,200 for a 2 percent decrease.
However, June’s statewide existing home median price was about 1.8 percent higher than it was in May. Sales of foreclosures and other distressed properties continue to downwardly distort the median price because they generally sell at a discount relative to traditional homes, according to NAR analysts. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.
The national median sales price for existing single-family homes in May 2011 was $166,700, down 4.5 percent from a year ago, according to NAR.
NAR’s latest industry outlook points to the still-sluggish job market and overly restrictive lending requirements as factors constraining housing’s recovery.