After spending 10 days in the south, Florida to be exact, I found a new level of crazy real estate prices. We knew that many snow birds have purchased homes in the southern parts of the U.S., but what really surprised me is how many have made it their permanent residence, not just seniors, but families, and what it has done to prices.

I think a lot more has to do with weather and politics than the pandemic. We found the market spike in our area as a direct result from COVID-19 and people exiting NYC in droves, but now people here aren't as eager to overpay or get in a bidding war to purchase a home. Even with our low inventory of homes on the market, it seems that our buyers are more conservative. But to buy in the south, oh my, homes are still in great demand, and selling within days. The prices have increased in ridiculous increments.

I have to admit, while being in the warm beautiful winter weather, I too looked at homes with personal interest, but reality set in and I know that is not in my stars.

A nice renovated home listed at $360,000 enticed me to go look. Sure it was nice, but look around, that neighborhood was a $200k area at best, and I'm sure it went pending before we left the state. Other homes that I looked up were also more money than I thought correctly priced, but the law of supply and demand is a pure example of how the theory works, what people are willing to pay, when they want something bad enough and there isn't an abundant of homes for sale, the price will go up. I want the warm winter weather too, but can't figure out how to buy it and keep it here in NY where I love to live, three of the four seasons anyway.

To sum up my trip, it was great, but the ride home, in that snow storm, I don't know when I will be willing to do that again!

Remember, I love what I do! Please call me at 845-901-4553 if you are interested in listing your home, or are ready to buy.

Gail M. Vesely is New York State Licensed Real Estate Broker and owner of Lucille Hand Real Estate, located in Napanoch. She has a Certified Negotiation Expert designation, is a current member of the Board of Directors of the Hudson Valley Catskill region MLS (formally the Ulster County MLS), Chairperson for the MLS Wawarsing Caravan, serves on the MLS Grievance committee and past Board of Directors member on the Ellenville/Wawarsing Chamber of Commerce. Gail has been recognized for her sales achievements for the past 6 years from the Ulster County Board of Realtors.