Treasure Coast agent wins Stuart pool home bidding war

Joe Tumolo of RE/MAX GOLD helped buyers beat multiple offers on a $556,000 Stuart pool home by using an escalation clause. The sale underscores how accurately priced homes are still drawing competition even as the Martin County market softens overall.

Why it matters: - The Stuart sale shows buyers can still face bidding wars in Martin County when a home is priced right and shows well. - The deal also highlights how offer strategy can decide outcomes in a market where overall sales are slowing. - The home closed at more than 101% of list price, above the county’s August average sale-to-list ratio of 94.2%.

What happened: - Joe Tumolo, a broker associate with RE/MAX GOLD, helped buyers win a multiple-offer battle for a 4-bedroom, 2-bath pool home at 9034 SW Caprice Circle in Stuart’s River Forest community. - The home sold for $556,000 against a $549,999 list price. - Tumolo structured the offer with an escalation clause, which raises an offer above a competing bid up to a preset limit. - The property is a single-story home built in 2003 with 1,625 square feet, vaulted ceilings, a 2-car garage and a pool.

The details: - The home includes a remodeled kitchen with quartz counters, a large island and stainless appliances. - The layout also includes a den or home office with French doors. - River Forest amenities include a clubhouse, pool, fitness center, dock and RV parking. - The MLS number is A12072548. - Martin County single-family closed sales fell 11.3% in August 2026 from a year earlier. - Median time to contract in the county fell to 56 days from 77. - Active listings dropped to 644 from 823. - County inventory measured 3.4 months of supply. - Tumolo said desirable homes priced accurately still attract competition and that the escalation clause let his clients compete without guessing other bids.

Between the lines: - The Martin County market is split: overpriced homes can linger, but well-priced homes can still move fast. - The result suggests buyers who come in with a clear strategy may have an edge even in a slower market. - The sale also shows how local conditions can diverge from broad market headlines.

What's next: - The Caprice Circle closing adds another example to Tumolo’s recent run of transactions. - Two homes tied to Tumolo’s July announcement have now closed, including a Stuart Yacht & Country Club waterfront estate at 3374 SE Fairway E for $1,275,000. - For buyers in the Treasure Coast market, pricing and offer structure are likely to stay critical as inventory remains tight.