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ocal Realtors say family events and outdoor activities in Charlotte County could boost the real estate market this year. Cindy Marsh-Tichy, president of Realtors of Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port-DeSoto Inc., notes that families with children often move during summer when school is out, allowing them to settle into new homes before the start of the new school year.

    Some of these families are drawn to Florida and Charlotte County. Despite this interest from new buyers, Marsh-Tichy says the area remains a buyer's market with available bargains for those looking to purchase.

    Carla Nix, part of the Nix Team at Coldwell Banker Sunstar Realty, attributes summer's influx of visitors to activities like fishing, golfing, boating, and beach-going. Some of these visitors decide to buy property while in the area.

    The state of Florida extended its Gulf red snapper fishing season to a record 126 days, starting Memorial Day weekend, and the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament off Boca Grande attracted anglers worldwide. Nix agrees with Marsh-Tichy that the market offers good buying opportunities, but this is less favorable for sellers.

    According to Realtors association statistics, in April, 548 single-family homes sold, a 10% increase from the previous year. The median sale price was $349,970, down 10.3% from last year and slightly lower than March's $358,972. Inventory levels dropped to 9.5 months in April, but this could be due to sellers removing their listings for the fall tourist season.

    Active listings stood at 4,041 in April, up 29.2% from the same month last year. Sellers received better offers and homes sold faster in April compared to March. The condo and townhome market showed even deeper buyer advantages, with a median sale price drop of 14.9% year over year to $251,000 in April.