After years of low inventory, the number of homes for sale in Nocatee and St. Augustine is now higher than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Citizen.

In October, there were 239 homes for sale in Nocatee, based on data from Realtor.com. This is more than the 232 homes available in October 2018.

During the pandemic, inventory dropped sharply. In October 2019, there were 214 homes for sale, but by October 2020, that number fell to just 73. The situation got even worse in 2021, with only 40 homes on the market.

With so few options, home prices skyrocketed. Buyers often skipped inspections and made offers far above the asking price just to secure a home.

St. Augustine has also seen a big increase in available homes, reaching 457 in October. This is higher than the pre-pandemic peak of 418 in October 2018. Inventory in the Old City hit a low of 131 in October 2021 but has been rising over the last three years.

Across St. Johns County, the total number of homes for sale is still slightly below pre-pandemic levels. Last month, there were 2,620 homes on the market, compared to 2,736 in October 2018.

However, Ponte Vedra Beach is an exception. Inventory there is still much lower than before the pandemic. Last month, there were 242 homes for sale, far below the 368 available in October 2018.

While home prices continue to climb in Ponte Vedra Beach, sales in other parts of the county are starting to slow down.