Recent data shows that U.S. home sales increased slightly in February, as buyers took advantage of a brief dip in mortgage rates and a modest rise in available inventory.

Existing home sales rose 1.7% from January, reaching an annual pace of approximately 4.09 million homes sold.

However, despite this monthly improvement, sales are still 1.4% lower than this time last year, highlighting that the market remains cautious overall.

📊 Prices Continue to Rise - Even in a Slower Market

The national median home price reached $398,000 in February, marking a record high for this time of year.

This also represents:

• 32 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases

👉 In simple terms:
Even though sales have slowed over the past couple of years, prices have continued to hold strong

📉 Inventory Is Improving… But Still Tight

One of the biggest factors shaping today’s market is inventory.

At the end of February:

• 1.29 million homes were available for sale
• This is still well below the ~2 million homes typically seen in a balanced market

This equates to roughly:

• 3.8 months of supply

👉 A balanced market usually sits closer to 5–6 months

💰 Mortgage Rates: A Key Driver

Mortgage rates briefly dipped below 6%, which encouraged more buyers to re-enter the market.

However, recent global events have already pushed rates slightly higher again, creating some uncertainty as we move into the spring season.

👉 This means:

• Buyer demand can shift quickly
• Timing and positioning are becoming increasingly important

👥 First-Time Buyers Are Returning

Interestingly, first-time buyers accounted for 34% of purchases, the highest level seen in the past five years.

This suggests:

• More buyers are re-engaging
• Confidence is slowly returning

⚖️ What This Means for Today’s Market

Overall, the housing market is showing early signs of recovery, but remains:

• Price-sensitive
• Inventory-constrained
• Highly selective from a buyer’s perspective

👉 Well-positioned homes are still attracting attention
👉 Others are taking longer and requiring price adjustments

🏡 What This Means for Disney Vacation Home Owners

For vacation home owners in the Disney/Orlando market, this national trend is important.

We are seeing a similar pattern locally:

• Buyers are active, but more selective
• Pricing strategy matters more than ever
• Presentation and positioning are key to attracting offers

Many long-term owners are now reviewing:

• How their property fits into today’s market
• Whether it is still performing as expected
• And how buyer behaviour has evolved

The market isn’t “down”, it has simply shifted.

Opportunities still exist for sellers, particularly those who understand how to align their property with current buyer expectations.

Taking a fresh look at your position in today’s market can often provide valuable clarity, whether you plan to hold, optimise, or eventually sell.

📩 If You’d Like a Clear Picture of Where You Stand

If you’d ever like a simple, no-pressure overview of how your property fits into today’s market, I’m always happy to share insight.

📞 Contact Information

Michelle Baydemir
Vacay & Co Real Estate

📧 [email protected]
📞 321-333-1338
🌐 www.vacayreflorida.com