By now, you may have seen this piece of local real estate literary gold from Susan Taylor Martin at the Tampa Bay Times making its rounds – and fast. But if you haven’t – or if you’d prefer the abridged version – we’ve collected some of the piece’s most impactful expert predictions, forecasts and opinions here so you can make the most informed real estate decisions this new year.

“I see Tampa Bay shaping up similar to what we’re seeing in many markets, which is a cooling trend in 2019 with the rate of price appreciation slowing down … which I think is a good thing. We were seeing unsustainable price growth over the last six years, and if it continued, we’d be talking about, ‘Are we in another housing bubble?’ What really stands out is not just the price increase but that the increase in wages has not kept up.”

– Daren Blomquist, senior vice president of ATTOM Data Solutions

“I think 2019 is going to be a more natural year … but prices are going to remain high.

“There is no getting around this fundamental shortage of shelter at almost all prices. Land is expensive, land development costs are expensive, subcontractors are more expensive. Buildable lots are decreasing, things like floodplain and wetlands preservation take up a lot more land than is commonly considered. We have been affected a little bit by the Canadian lumber tariffs, but the China tariffs could make sourcing certain items more expensive, such as lighting and countertops.”

– Willy Nunn, president of Homes by WestBay and past president of the Tampa Bay Builders Association

“I think 2019 is going to be a decent year, but it’s all about price point. Affordable housing is always going to have a strong market … [and] inventory is going to continue constricting.

“What sells is what’s showing on the internet. [Houses] that have the HGTV look, the look that Joanna Gaines does with the grays, the whites, the (white-ish) Carrara marble … it’s the trend now, it has been the last four or five years, and I think it’s going to continue. The beiges and yellows and gold colors are gone.”

– Joni L. Herndon, Tampa-based senior residential appraiser

“I’m relatively optimistic (about 2019). We still have excellent pricing when you compare our market to other markets around Florida and the country.

“That said, inventory is growing right now. There is a little bit of a shift from everything selling in a week to people being very judicious with their evaluations of pricing. There is a great deal of knowledge by buyers because of their access — they can see every listing and all details so buyers are very concerned about making sure they are making the right purchase at the right price.”

– Charles Richardson, regional senior vice president of West Central Florida, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

Our prediction? Buyers and sellers who partner with the right real estate professionals – hint, hint – to walk them through the process of either buying or selling – or both – and help them navigate the real estate terrain of 2019 will be happy, successful and sure to find their next Home Sweet Home.

Because at DeLeon Sheffield Company, ‘We’re More Than Realty; We’re Family.’

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