The property taxes and taxation in the northern states have been on a steady increase, and civil unrest in some states have scared homeowners. This summer and fall, a spike in interest from out-of-town buyers and near-zero interest rates have fueled a dramatic real estate turnaround for an industry that was shaken in the spring by the pandemic. People have stormed into the Sarasota area from places like Chicago, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut—dense communities that were either hard hit by the pandemic or underwent strict lockdowns to fight the disease. Inventory in Sarasota is at dramatic lows and prices have spiked to their highest point in at least a decade, making for a hot seller’s market.

The boom is being caused in part by a major shift in how Americans work. As the pandemic has killed more than 242,000 Americans and sickened millions more, dozens of major corporations and many small businesses have made the decision to shutter offices and permit or even require some employees to work from home. That has allowed some workers to move to places like the Sarasota area, where, like Sherman, they can work from afar with tools such as zoom. The trend isn’t just for people who are working remotely. Buyers near retirement age are making faster decisions about their futures. This pandemic has sped up people’s plans for the future, ultimately deciding to retire early. Even buying the home before even stepping foot in it has been the decision for some people moving in the area because they are too afraid of losing the opportunity. With the growing interest and low inventory the best time for the unsure seller is NOW.