For the first time in three years, both existing home and condominium sales rose on a year over year basis throughout Florida. It was also the third month in a row that a large number of the state’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) noted higher sales activity. In addition, pending sales were up again in many markets indicating stabilization is definitely taking hold in Florida’s housing sector.

Tags: Florida, real estate, sales

The January thru September Ft. Myers Beach real estate market statistics for both home and condominium sales are listed below. The Beach is the “happening” locale in the Ft. Myers area. It offers every amenity you can imagine - from seven miles of wide sandy beaches, golf, boating, fishing, nightlife and more than anything else - relaxing. Ft. Myers Beach is eclectic and diverse - there’s nothing quite like it anywhere else in Southwest Florida.

Ft. Myers Beach Real Estate Sales Data

Ft. Myers Beach Home Sales January-September 2008*:

• 74 Closed Sales
• Average Sales Price - $565,135
• Median Sales Price - $390,000
• Average Days on Market - 140
• Price/Square Foot - $353.35

Tags: real estate, sales, SW Florida

Unfortunately in today’s real estate marketplace, foreclosures are all too common. In fact, in many areas including Southwest Florida, foreclosed homes and condos make up a large portion of the available property listings for sale. Depending on the circumstances, these properties can be an opportunity for home buyers to purchase a home or condo that may not otherwise be available in their price range.

To that end, we decided to set up pages on our website dedicated specifically for foreclosure listings. The pages are broken out by city and give viewers a sampling of the areas foreclosed homes and condos for sale. In addition, the pages also provide easy access to our sites most appropriate local Southwest Florida listing search feature in order to allow users to search for all available foreclosure listings in that particlular area.

Tags: foreclosures, real estate, SW Florida

The January thru September Estero real estate market statistics for both home and condominium sales are listed below. Estero is ideally located between Ft. Myers and Bonita Springs and is currently in the process of building and developing wherever you travel in the area. Developers are offering every type of community you can imagine, from large gated and planned communities, to smaller town centre type projects where the amenities are built around a self-contained lifestyle.

Estero Real Estate Sales Data

Estero Home Sales January-September 2008*:

• 374 Closed Sales
• Average Sales Price - $374,174
• Median Sales Price - $297,225
• Average Days on Market - 151
• Price/Square Foot - $160.91

Estero Condominium Sales January-September 2008*:

• 284 Closed Sales

Tags: real estate, sales, SW Florida

The January thru September Vineyards real estate market statistics for both home and condominium sales are listed below. The Vineyards is an upscale gated golf community and is considered one of Naples premier developments.

The community has numerous amenities and features the Vineyards Country Club, which gives residents a selection of two 18-hole PGA championship golf courses. In addition, The Vineyards also includes a 32 acre community park with miles of walking and biking paths that wind throughout the areas majestic oaks, cypress stands and nature preserves. The development offers a variety of single family homes, villas and condominiums from which to choose and it epitomizes the Southwest Florida living experience.

The Vineyards Sales Data

The Vineyards Home Sales January-September 2008*:

• 34 Closed Sales

Tags: real estate, sales, SW Florida

Imagine the surprise of over a million Florida residents who received their proposed 2008 real estate tax assessments expecting to see a tax decrease (based on the passage of the Amendment I) and finding out their taxable value has actually may have gone up by 3 percent. How is this possible you say, especially considering almost everyone’s market value has dropped in the last two years? Welcome to the world of the state’s “down-means-up recapture rule”.

The rule was adopted way back in 1995 by the state’s Department of Revenue with the full backing of then Governor Lawton Chiles. In fact, they even went to court when a group of county property appraisers challenged the rule prior to its being passed by the Florida Cabinet. Unfortunately, the administrative law judge hearing the case approved the rule calling it “an appropriate way to apply the Save our Homes Amendment when property values go down (try and figure this one out).

Tags: Florida, real estate, taxes

The mid year 2008 Lely Resort real estate market statistics for both homes and condominium sales are listed below. Lely Resort is an upscale gated golf community with excellent amenities and is considered one of Naples premier communities.

Encompassing 3,000 acres of lakes and preserves, Lely Resort is a sophisticated and luxurious style of living conveniently located near Naples’ beaches and 5th Avenue shopping. In addition, the community has 54 holes of truly championship golf designed by Robert Trent Jones, Lee Trevino and Gary Player and features the completely renovated Players Club & Spa. The development offers a variety of single family homes, villas and condominiums from which to choose and its ambiance epitomizes the Southwest Florida living experience.

Tags: real estate, sales, SW Florida