Is There Good News on the Horizon?

In an article posted today on MarketWatch.com, Florida’s existing home sales in 2008 have remained level compared to 2007. A total of 11,498 existing homes sold statewide last month while 11,492 homes sold in July 2007, maintaining the same level of sales activity in the year-to-year comparison, according to FAR (Florida Association of Realtors).

More than half of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported increased sales of existing homes in July; seven MSAs also showed gains in condo sales. Realtors around the state reported increased business activity, including more telephone calls, more home showings and a rise in pending sales.

Below please find a chart indicating statistics for Florida and its 20 MSAs (Metropolitian Statistical Areas). The chart compares the volume of existing, single-family home sales and median sales prices in July 2008 to July 2007 based on Realtor transactions

 Florida Sales Report - July 2008
 Single-Family, Existing Homes

                                  Realtor Sales       Median Sales Price
        Statewide &
    Metropolitan Statistical   July   July    %      July      July        %
        Areas (MSAs)           2008   2007  Chge     2008      2007      Chge

    STATEWIDE* (1)           11,498  11,492    -   $193,600   $238,900    -19
    STATEWIDE-YEAR-TO-DATE   72,347  83,598  -13   $201,000   $240,100    -16
    Daytona Beach               595     575    3   $171,100   $204,600    -16
    Fort Lauderdale             581     559    4   $303,600   $373,700    -19
    Fort Myers-Cape Coral       768     426   80   $154,900   $246,100    -37
    Fort Pierce-
     Port St. Lucie             415     371   12   $159,300   $231,300    -31
    Fort Walton Beach           217     257  -16   $218,200   $228,800     -5
    Gainesville                 205     319  -36   $187,800   $199,200     -6
    Jacksonville (2)            831   1,073  -23   $180,800   $193,100     -6
    Lakeland-Winter Haven       267     253    6   $138,300   $172,600    -20
    Melbourne-Titusville-
     Palm Bay                   478     458    4   $152,600   $195,800    -22
    Miami                       392     505  -22   $322,700   $377,400    -14
    Marco Island (3)             31      26   19   $462,500   $540,900    -14
    Ocala                       167     236  -29   $140,600   $166,500    -16
    Orlando                   1,656   1,484   12   $209,100   $258,000    -19
    Panama City                 111     147  -24   $204,400   $215,000     -5
    Pensacola                   321     427  -25   $157,300   $173,600     -9
    Punta Gorda                 200     185    8   $141,800   $179,600    -21
    Sarasota-Bradenton          657     711   -8   $230,100   $277,700    -17
    Tallahassee                 218     250  -13   $205,900   $210,200     -2
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-
     Clearwater               2,174   2,068    5   $176,500   $215,600    -18
    West Palm Beach-
     Boca Raton                 652     605    8   $291,300   $372,200    -22

    (1) * Statewide figure includes data from the Naples Area Board of
          Realtors.
    (2) Data from the St. Augustine & St. Johns County Board of Realtors was
        not available.
    (3) Data is only from the Marco Island Association of Realtors.