The six-county First Coast region saw a drop in single family home sales in February compared to a year ago.

New figures released by the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) show a sizable dip in closed sales on houses last month compared to February 2024. There was a 19.2% decline in homes sold in the year-over-year comparison. There were 1,271 houses sold last month, down from 1,573 sold a year ago.

The monthly comparison did see an 8.7% increase, up from January’s figure of 1,169 houses sold. January, though, is typically one of the most sluggish months of the year coming out of the holiday stretch.

While sales dropped from a year ago, the median sales price did see a nominal increase. In the year-over-year comparison, the Northeast Florida typical sales price increased by 1.1%, to $389,989. The monthly price increased 4% compared to January, which at $375,000 was the lowest figure in the past 12 months.

A nagging issue for First Coast home sales in recent months is the number of houses on the market, which has been ballooning for much of the past year. Northeast Florida’s inventory of homes for sale in February jumped by 69.9% compared to the same time in 2024. That amounts to 7,954 single-family homes on the market. That figure is a 10.7% increase from January’s figure.

Duval County, the First Coast’s most populous county and home to Jacksonville, saw a drop in home sales in February compared to last year, going from to 780 closings to 667. That’s down by 14.5% compared to February 2024, but is up by 8.5% from last month.

Active inventory skyrocketed year-to-year by 89.7%, to 3,893 homes for sale in Duval compared to the active inventory of 2,052 a year ago. It’s also a 10.2% increase from January. Median home sale prices dropped by 4.4% from a year ago to $334,000, though that figure is up by 5.4% over January.

St. Johns County’s home sales dropped to 303 in February, a 26.8% decline from a year ago, but a 7.8% increase from January. The median sales price did go up to $549,000, an 11.5% increase from a year ago and a 4.6% jump from January. Inventory went up too, coming in at 2,081 houses on the market, or a 39.7% increase from a year ago and a 15.4% jump from January.

Nassau County’s monthly figures were mixed, with 82 closed sales in February. That’s a 13.7% decline from a year ago, but a 22.4% increase from January. The median sales price increased slightly compared to a year ago, up by 1.7% from to $457,450. That spelled a 2.7% dip from January. Inventory went up to 486 homes on the market, a 29.9% increase from a year ago and a 5.7% uptick from January.

Clay County saw a notable drop in annual home sales in February with 177 closings, a 22.7% plunge from a year ago, but a 10.6% increase compared to January. Median home sale prices remained fairly steady, coming in at $352,900. That’s a 1.7% increase from a year ago and a 0.2% dip compared to January. Inventory went way up, ending with 1,137 homes on the market, accounting for a 102.3% increase from a year ago and a 10.1% jump from January.

Putnam County saw nominal changes with only 32 homes sold in February, the same figure as January but a 30.4% decrease from last year. Median sales prices were $257,500, a 6% increase from a year ago and a 10.8% increase from January. The inventory figure was still notable in Putnam with 277 homes on the market, a 71% jump from a year ago and a 1.1% decline from January.

Baker County, the least populous county in the Northeast Florida region, recorded only 10 home sales last month. That’s an 11.1% increase from a year ago and a 2.5% decline from January. The median home sales price was $311,500, which is a 25.1% increase from a year ago and a 2.5% drop from January. There were 80 homes on the market in February, which is a 90.5% jump from a year ago and a 6.7% uptick from January.

Post Views: 0

On Wednesday, the Senate Transportation Committee gave “Lucy’s Law” its second unanimous OK.

This proposed law would strengthen penalties for reckless boating and require safety training for all boaters.

Republican Sen. Jonathan Martin is carrying the bill (SB 628). The Senate Criminal Justice Committee voted to approve the measure earlier this month.

“We need to make sure our boaters are responsible out on the water,” said Transportation Vice Chair Bryan Ávila of Miami-Dade.

The legislation is named after 17-year-old Luciana Fernandez, who died during a September 2022 boat crash that left other passengers injured, including 18-year-old Katerina Puig, now permanently disabled.

George Pino is facing homicide charges after operating a boat where Fernandez, Puig and others were on board when it violently struck a channel marker. Puig refused a Breathalyzer at the time.

Per the legislation, if someone leaves the scene of an accident where someone is hurt, but it’s not a serious bodily injury, prosecutors can charge a third-degree felony. In the event of a serious bodily injury, it’s a second-degree felony, up from a third-degree felony. Such accidents involving death would be punishable as first-degree felonies.

The bill sets up similar penalties for accidents where a person is operating a vessel recklessly.

The companion legislation (HB 289) is scheduled to be taken up by the House State Affairs Committee on Thursday. Republican Reps. Vicki Lopez and Vanessa Oliver support it.

The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee has already signed off on the legislation. If the State Affairs Committee agrees, the bill would have one more stop before the House Judiciary Committee.

“The power to pass Lucy’s Law is in your hands, and the next generation is counting on us to create a safer future,” read a statement from bLU CREW, an initiative of the Lucy Fernandez Foundation.

There remain some differences between the two versions. For instance, the House bill now sets up a mandatory minimum of four years in prison for someone involved in a deadly crash who leaves the scene or fails to notify law enforcement.

Post Views: 0

Florida’s most recent former “Top Cop” is sticking up for her former colleagues and other public servants in her first bill filed in the U.S. Senate.

Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody’s Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act seeks to provide Federal Housing Administration home loan assistance to teachers, cops, firefighters and other first responders.

She’s reaching across party lines and state lines with this introduction, teaming up with Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia.

Moody invokes her half-dozen years as Florida Attorney General in explaining why this legislation, which was previously introduced by her predecessor Marco Rubio, is so meaningful to her.

“Florida is the most pro law enforcement state in the nation,” the Plant City Republican said.

“Over the past six years, while many other states and cities disparaged and cut funding for law enforcement, I fought for raises, bonuses, relocation assistance, and other benefits to show these officers that we value their service. The HELPER Act is the next great step in ensuring these heroes know we appreciate their hard work and sacrifices. It will also help them purchase a home in the community where they serve.”

Yet it’s not just her political history that inspires this bill. It’s also a personal connection, she relates, that drives her to fight for cops’ well-being.

“As the wife of a law enforcement officer, I see firsthand the sacrifices made each day. Standing up for the LEO community will always be a top priority of mine, and I am proud that my first bill in the U.S. Senate will help them make their dream of homeownership a reality,” Moody said.

Ossoff notes that he is “working across the aisle to support Georgia’s teachers, first responders, and law enforcement officers by making homeownership more affordable for public servants who teach our kids and protect our families.”

There’s a Florida connection to the House companion legislation as well.

U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, a former Jacksonville Sheriff, is one of four co-sponsoring that launch.

Post Views: 0