Tampa Bay’s largest independently owned real estate company, Smith & Associates Real Estate, announced a record year of sales volume for 2020 — this is a good sign for the Sunshine City. The company posted sales of $1.63 billion, marking a sales growth of 8.5% for the organization according to a release.
“The pandemic hit and we all took a deep breath, but as a company that has been entrenched in Tampa Bay for over fifty years, we understood the bigger picture and how to pivot intelligently. We had been implementing technology for a more enhanced digital experience and were ready when the pandemic forced virtual interactions. Our team of professional, expert associates pulled together like a family to support each other and make this another banner year of success,” says Bob Glaser, President and CEO, Smith & Associates Real Estate.
A $2.7 million property hits the market in Tampa
Tampa is the 4th hottest real estate market in the country
Smith & Associates maintains a firm grasp on the luxury real estate market. Smith accredits their team of agents who are deeply embedded in the community and known for their impeccable client service as the reason that they continue to lead in the Tampa Bay luxury real estate.
Individual Smith agents and teams of agents also reported record-breaking sales. Mary Pond and Ed Gunning sold over $100M in real estate for the year. The team has consistently been top multimillion-dollar producers for over two decades but this is the first year that they topped the $100M sales mark. This set a company record for associate sales. Smith also celebrated the closing of The Virage Bayshore with $134 million of sales volume in 2020.
Tampa is currently the 4th hottest market according to a year end report from Zillow.
“We have the unique combination of diverse and historic neighborhoods and new world-class developments that are bringing good paying jobs and exciting opportunities to our region every day,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “It comes as no surprise that people are discovering all that Tampa has to offer, which has resulted in our landing as one of the ‘hottest’ housing markets in the nation.”
View this massive $29 million waterfront home for sale in Tampa
Smith honors those who contribute to their communities
Along with honoring the sales successes of the year, Smith awarded Tia Hockensmith with the coveted Mary Smith Conover Community Impact Award. The Mary Smith Conover Community Impact Award is given annually to the Smith employee who most embodies that company’s philanthropic spirit and is a nod to the history of the company. Hockensmith has headed the Puppy Bank at the Smith Beach Drive Office to raise money for Southeastern Guide Dogs. She is active in beach area community committees and opened her home to people displaced by the hurricane last Summer.
According to realtor.com, the volume of home sales in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan market is expected to outpace the national average in the coming year. The forecast expects the Tampa metro to see 7.5 percent year-over-year price growth in 2021, the eighth highest among the 100 metros evaluated.
$5.2 million property for sale on Bayshore Boulevard
Local agents breaking records
Smith sales leader Mary Pond says that while last year was record-breaking, her team is not seeing any slowdown in the market. She adds, “We are in a seller’s market with tight inventory and we don’t anticipate that changing. Echoing the sentiment, her partner Ed Gunning shared that “Tampa is a leading city in what is predicted to be “a Sunbelt surge” and will continue to attract people looking for a warmer climate and plenty of spacious options for outdoor enjoyments.”
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Disclaimer: The contributor, Dex Fabian, is the co-founder of I Love the Burg and That’s So Tampa. He is also a Realtor® at Smith and Associates Real Estate. A marketing expert by trade, Dex has been witness to Tampa Bay’s explosion to become one of the hottest regions in the nation. For inquiries, you can reach Dex Fabian here.