As Reopening Talk Begins, Fewer Home Buyers Are Canceling Sales Contracts

\"\"Confidence in South Florida’s housing market may be gaining, as a greater percentage of sales contracts are going forward.

Or, put another way, the percentage of canceled sales contracts has dropped to the lowest point since the pandemic started, according to a study by Coconut Grove-based Compass brokerage firm Jo-Ann Forster based on the Miami Association of Realtors’ Multiple Listing System for the dates April 19-25.

“Last week, the percentage of canceled contracts dipped to 28%,” said the firm’s senior vice president Brian Shapiro. “People are starting to feel comfortable to close and lenders are starting to feel comfortable about lending. Increased access to and comfort with online tools, including digital notary services, is adding to that confidence.”

For the period March 22- April 4, an average 48% of contracts were canceled — up from 30% in the two weeks from March 15 to March 30. Cancelations slowed to 33% from April 5 to April 18.

“Investors were the first to back out of a pending sale,” said Anthony Askowitz, broker and owner of Remax Advance Realty. “They are more skittish and do not have the emotional attachment. Then come home buyers.”

For the most recent period, homes priced from $500,000 to $1 million had the highest cancellation rate, 36%. Those priced under $500,000 had a 27% cancellation rate, while only 12% of those homes priced over $1 million canceled.

“Those going to contract with the higher-priced homes typically have the reserves in funds and understand that the pandemic will end,” Askowitz said. “And those buying homes priced at $10 million and up risk losing large deposits.”

Still, when compared with 2019, this year hasn’t been bad. Askowitz said his team had 10 canceled sales in March 2019 versus three in March 2020. In April 2019, seven sales were canceled versus five in April 2020.

“In 2019, things falling through were from people making multiple offers on more than one property and then choosing. For the sales that go on in March in 2020, the buyers are not making frivolous offers and really want to close,” Askowitz said.

“Regardless of the market conditions, a canceled sale has a ripple-effect on the parties involved,” Shapiro said. “You have buyers who spend money on deposits that can’t recoup it. There’s the history on the home that it didn’t close — a forever blemish — that causes concern for future buyers. There’s those factors and more when a deal falls through.”

 

Source: Miami Herald

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