Duluth, GA, Market Report, June 2013

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Market stats for Duluth, June, 2013 indicated that there were 291 properties on the market, up 15 from last month. Overall, there was about a 4.0 month supply of properties. Sales in June were 79, down from 98 a year earlier. Sales were down compared to the last month (80). Duluth had been slightly leading Gwinnett County as a whole, but not so much over the last few months. It is still in the Seller’s Market zone.

In the Under $200k arena, there were 78 listings in Duluth, GA, with about a 2.5 month supply. The Absorption Rate for last June was 2.8. Sales were WAY down this year v last year (35 v 52), and up compared to last month (31). The Absorption Rate (A/R) is a bit better than much of the county…

Between $200k and $400k, there are 83 listings for sale, and about 3.5 months of supply. Absorption rates have similarly risen, dropped and then risen again. Sales were up compared to June, 2012 (28 v 21) and compared to last month (25). Duluth is a market that favors luxury, but this segment is not doing as well as I would have expected… but it might be constrained somewhat due to low inventories. It is still a Seller’s Market.

From $400k to $600k, there were 31 homes on the market. The Absorption Rate was around 3.7 months. June brought in 5 sales. There were 13 last year and 11 last month. Unlike many of the market areas, Duluth is a luxury centric market, and it is doing better than the rest of Gwinnett County, GA, especially at this price level. Last month saw a HUGE drop in the A/R. We’ve spent the last few months wandering around in Buyer’s Market territory. However, because of the drop in listings and increase in sales, this is ostensibly the best Seller’s Market in the county.

In the $600k to $800k arena, there were 33 listings, with about 7.1 months of supply. Sales were 4 for June… 5 for last year. And month to month sales were down a little (4 v 5). I would like to see three consecutive months with strong sales, and haven’t seen that for a while. Since Duluth does favor luxury sales, it has been looking better than the much of the rest of the County at this price level. That A/R is great, and getting better.

In Duluth, GA, from $800k to $1m, there were 23 homes listed and approximately 8.6 months of inventory on the market. The 5 sales for June were worse than the 6 last year and the 0 last month. Sales haven’t been moving much for the last couple of months, but 8 sales for the last 3 months were well under the same 3 months from last year (13 sales).

Above $1m, there were 43 properties listed. The current absorption rate indicated about 11.7 months of inventory. A couple of sales at this level could have a large impact on the Absorption Rates. There were 11 sales in the Apr-Jun period this year, and 8 for the same time last year. We should be posting four sales a month here regularly… and we fell short the last few months but barely had a start with it this month with 2 sales. There was 1 sale last year and there was 8 last month.

Duluth, GA is a suburb of Atlanta, in the heart of Gwinnett County. It actually straddles the county line and has unincorporated portions in South Forsyth County. The population of Duluth is estimated as about 26,000 people as of 2008, but this doesn’t include unincorporated areas outside the city limits, but with a Duluth mailing address. It is also home to Sugarloaf Country Club, a PGA stop until recently. Forbes Magazine rated Duluth 26th in their nationwide survey of the best places to move, and it is one of the wealthiest parts of Georgia. It is also home to the Arena at Gwinnett Center (Home of the ECHL Gwinnett Gladiators) and the former Atlanta Thrashers practice facility (the Duluth Ice Forum). There is a LONG list of celebrities and athletes that call Duluth home, largely because of the country clubs and proximity to Atlanta.