For December 2010 (sales figures through Nov. 30, 2010)

Single Family Homes

Average Sales Price (Homes) for Nov. 2010: $225,132

This is up 7.1% from the same month 2009.

Average Sales Price for 2010 YTD: $227,336

This is up 3.5% over 2009.

Unit sales are up 4.2% over last year.

Condos

Average Sales Price (Condos) for November 2010: $127,623

This is down 17.2% from the same month 2009.

Average Sales Price for 2010 YTD: $154,807

This is down 21.2% from 2009.

Unit sales are up 26% over last year.

Notes:

Homes: if you're waiting for home sales to drop further you've already missed the boat. Homes are appreciating again in the St. Augustine Market. The appreciation is modest, however, as the average home sale cost only about $7000 more in 2010 than it did in 2009.

Condos: if you're looking to buy in the lower ranges, you better move fast. Condos under $100,000 accounted for 37% of all sales while the group > $100,000 and < $140,000 accounted for 46% of all sales. If you are a buyer the next place to bargain hunt may be the beach condos above $200,000...lots and lots of inventory and only 13% of sales. If you're looking in the $400,000s, you may take a chance on a condo above $500,000. As these only represent 1% of sales yet have plenty of inventory, you may get a seller to go way down. If you're a seller of one of these units above $200,000 you must be realistic about price, because inventory is fat.