Sunday, May 3, 2020

Keyes/Illustrated Luxury Report: South Florida High-End Sales Surge in First Quarter with COVID-19 Impact Looming

Mike Pappas


Pandemic likely to result in down second quarter, but pent-up demand for $1 million-and-up homes and condos should fuel quick rebound once travel resumes

MIAMI, FL and PALM BEACH, FL  – Luxury single-family home and condominium sales increased significantly during the first quarter of 2020, according to the quarterly South Florida Luxury Market Report produced by The Keyes Company and Illustrated Properties.

The region’s high-end residential market is expected to have a rough second quarter due to COVID-19, however, before bouncing back in a major way once travel bans are lifted.




Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties had a year-over-year transaction increase of 21% for $1 million-and-up single-family homes, from 677 in the first quarter of 2019 to 819 in the first quarter of 2020.

The high-end single-family sector also posted a 21% year-over-year jump in cash sales, from 376 to 456.

On the condo side, South Florida’s year-over-year sales rose nearly 13%, from 358 to 404. Cash sales increased by 9.4% to 290 during that span.



The region’s average sales price for condos dropped by 12% to $2.19 million, a sign that sellers and buyers were able to close pricing gaps during the first quarter.

Palm Beach County led the way in overall gains for both luxury single-family and condo sales. The county had a 24.5% year-over-year jump in single-family sales to 345 in the first quarter, and a 35% spike in condo sales to 147.

Each sector experienced a surge of cash buyers, with single-family cash sales increasing 20.3% to 231 and condo cash sales rising 27% to 113.



 The second quarter of 2020 is likely to paint a different picture, with the COVID-19 outbreak resulting in a dramatic short-term transaction slowdown. Looking long-term, South Florida luxury sellers should benefit from pent-up buyer demand and tight inventory levels.

“Once travel returns to pre-COVID-19 levels, we will see even more domestic migration from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other high-tax states in the Northeast,” said Keyes and Illustrated President and CEO Mike Pappas



“The pandemic’s devastating impact in those dense Northeast markets is going to be the last straw for those who hadn’t already relocated here following the SALT deduction cap. Palm Beach County continues to be the top relocation target for such buyers.”


CONTACT:

Eric Kalis
Vice President, BoardroomPR
O 954-370-8999 
C 305-794-5123
Bank of America Plaza | 1776 N Pine Island Road
Suite 320 | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33322

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