There’s a common theme amongst these 2016 market reviews. Yes, the markets we’ve reviewed so far all preformed quite well in the year just ended. And, yes, each market is low on inventory to start 2017. But beyond that, we have a very similar ratio of performance to inventory in each and every one of the markets we’ve reviewed to date. Abbey Springs had a tremendous 2016, which is not something especially rare. Abbey Springs tends to have good years often, and if you’ll remember when the broad market stalled it seemed as though Abbey Springs kept churning forward. Abbey Springs has a way about it, and that’s because it’s the only association of its kind in our market. Country Club amenities with resort features and actual frontage on Geneva Lake. It’s rare, it’s special, and the market knows it.
There were 40 (per MLS) sales in Abbey Springs during 2016. Lest you think that’s somewhat normal, 2015 featured just 20 sales. That’s double the volume year over year. In 2015 there were five sales over $500k, and in 2016 there were seven such sales. As we enter 2017, inventory is low, with just 19 active listings and one pending sale. The top end inventory is a bit heavy, with nine homes over $450k available this morning. Current inventory starts in the $150k range and runs all the way up to $1MM. It’s a unique association that can function and thrive with such a diverse grouping of condominiums and single family homes.
With 40 sales last year and just 19 homes available, those numbers mirror the lake access and the lakefront supply ratios. In all of these markets we have approximately six months of inventory. That’s a healthy ratio no matter the market, though I’d really prefer we have 8-10 months of inventory so that buyers can feel a bit better about their choices. I think it’s a testament to our broad Lake Geneva vacation home market that we can have such solid activity across all price ranges and all ownership types. Why did Abbey Springs have such a dynamic 2016? Was it because of interest rates or inventory choices or all that summer sunshine? It’s likely due to all of that, but the simple truth of Abbey Springs is that it is without equal in our market and rare inventory will always find an audience.
Abbey Springs will follow the same path as the rest of our local markets. If inventory allows, sales should be solid. If inventory stays low, there’s no way we’ll have a repeat of 2016. That seems obvious, but most markets cannot push their volume totals higher just because inventory exists. It’s a healthy market that can effectively consume as much inventory as it is dosed. Next up, Geneva National, which won’t feel nearly as good about itself after Monday’s post.