Fort Lauderdale is the hottest single-family market in the U.S., according to a ranking provided by Ten-X, an internet based real estate ad site – and the state boasts four of the top five hottest real estate metro areas in the nation.
Ten-X released its Top Single-Family Housing Markets Report for Fall 2016, which ranks the country’s 50 largest housing markets in accordance with current and forecasted housing fundamentals. Among the 50 largest U.S. markets, the top five (in order) were Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach County, Tampa, Orlando and Las Vegas. Ten-X says each demonstrates a “vigorous combination of consistently strong demand, home price appreciation, and economic and demographic growth.”
Though Florida markets dominated the rankings for a second season, there was some movement within the top five: Fort Lauderdale overtook Palm Beach County as being the hottest market, dropping Palm Beach down a notch and Tampa remains in third place. Orlando fell from second place to fourth place, while Las Vegas climbed to fifth, edging Seattle out from the top five for the first time in more than a year.
“Florida’s housing market continues to set the pace for the nation, with five of the top ten metros on our report,” says Ten-X Executive Vice President Rick Sharga. “While all of the top five markets took substantial hits during the housing crash, especially Las Vegas, the continued road to recovery for these destination cities is looking even brighter.”
In spite of being hit hard while in the housing crisis, Florida metros have seen their market fundamentals surge as a result of solid economic and demographic expansion that stimulated robust price gains and increasing home sales. Las Vegas tells a comparable story, recuperating from the housing bust to turn into on the list of hottest markets in the nation. Though Seattle continues to be a leader in terms of home prices, sales and job growth, its housing affordability has dipped, dropping the marketplace to seventh place.
“This quarter’s report is a strong reminder of how uneven the housing recovery has been, with strong performance by cities in the South, Southeast, West and Pacific Northwest, and much weaker trends in the Northeast and Midwest,” sys Sharga.
Ten-X study: 4 of 5 hottest home markets are in Florida
Top Florida markets at a glance
1. Fort Lauderdale
11.9% one-year price growth, 3.6% one-year home sales growth
Fort Lauderdale’s comeback from the housing bust has been considerable. Seasonally adjusted home values reached nearly $240,000 last quarter, up nearly 12 percent from a year ago. Home prices now are at their highest level since 2007 yet remain 17.6 percent below their prior peak, leaving more than enough room for growth. The city’s economic expansion continues to ramp up in 2016, as payrolls hit an all-time high up 4.4 % year-over-year, notably faster than the 3% pace seen this past year. Fueled by rapid boost in key sectors – professional/business services, leisure/hospitality and financial services – overall job growth has accelerated to the 6 % range. Metro population growth has outpaced the U.S. average for six consecutive years, most recently measuring 1.4 % in 2015.
2. Palm Beach County
10.5% one-year price growth, 4.1% one-year home sales growth
After fallout from the housing crisis, Palm Beach County continues to makes strides in its recovery efforts. Existing home prices are a robust 10.5 % higher than a year ago, and sales are making upward progress toward prior peaks, up 4.1 percent year-over-year. Home buying remains affordable considering significant price gains recently, particularly in comparison to local apartment rentals. Employment is up 2.3 percent bolstered by its two largest sectors, professional/business services and education/healthcare. The metro’s population grew 1.7 percent in 2015, more than double the US average. With permit activity yet to signal a threat for overbuilding, Palm Beach is poised to enjoy more growth ahead.
3. Tampa
11.2% one-year price growth, 4.2% one-year home sales growth
Tampa’s economic expansion is advancing unabated. Payrolls have reached an all-time high, up 3.1 % year-over year following 32 consecutive monthly gains. Professional/business services, the metro’s largest sector, is currently 6 % higher than a year ago, even though the out sized leisure/hospitality industry is up 5.5 percent. In tandem, seasonally adjusted home prices have surpassed $175,000 after 10 consecutive quarterly gains, up 11.2% from a year ago. Population growth has accelerated for 3 straight years, measuring two percent in 2015 and far outpacing the U.S. average. Boosted by an economy that can make room for growing numbers of new workers and home prices still 14 percent below their prior peak, Tampa’s real estate market should continue to thrive.
4. Orlando
9.0% one-year price growth, 4.7% one-year home sales growth
Orlando is seeing outstanding rise in its housing market, with sales posting 4.7 percent year-over-year increases after solid gains the last two quarters, moving within range of their pre-bust peak. Seasonally adjusted prices eclipsed $195,000 this past quarter but remain 20.5 % below their 2007 peak, suggesting more than enough room for growth. Single-family homes remain safely more cost-effective than apartment rentals, which should keep demand high and allow for additional price gains. Meanwhile, payrolls hit an all-time high with year-over-year growth measuring 4.5 % amid 43 consecutive monthly gains. Population growth has been fantastic at 2.6 %, more than triple the US rate and among the strongest in America
“The U.S. economy continues to expand in the face of multiple headwinds, including uncertainty in global markets and the upcoming US election,” says Ten-X Chief Economist Peter Muoio. “While inventory and affordability continue to put a damper on sales growth, solid underlying demand should keep sales at a high level and continue driving the housing market. A firm labor market, wage growth, low unemployment and low mortgage rates remain supportive for home buyers.”
U.S. top 50 hottest metro areas
1 Fort Lauderdale
2 Palm Beach County
3 Tampa
4 Orlando
5 Las Vegas
6 Phoenix
7 Seattle
8 Nashville
9 Dallas
10 Jacksonville
11 Denver
12 Portland
13 Oakland
14 Atlanta
15 Columbus
16 Raleigh
17 San Francisco
18 San Jose
19 Miami
20 Boston
21 Austin
22 San Diego
23 Charlotte
24 Salt Lake City
25 Washington, D.C.
26 Riverside
27 Los Angeles
28 Indianapolis
29 Sacramento
30 Minneapolis
31 Fort Worth
32 Orange County
33 San Antonio
34 Kansas City
35 Detroit
36 Pittsburgh
37 Cincinnati
38 Milwaukee
39 Northern Virginia
40 St. Louis
41 Suburban Maryland
42 Houston
43 Memphis
44 Philadelphia
45 Long Island
46 Northern New Jersey
47 Chicago
48 Cleveland
49 Central New Jersey
50 Baltimore