Boca Raton Feb 18, 2009

Florida’s existing home sales rose in December, making it the fourth consecutive month that sales activity demonstrated gains in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). December’s statewide sales also increased over November’s figures in both the existing home and existing condo markets.Locally Boca Raton has been bustling with Buyers and showing are brisk. Lowball offers are still rampant, but every so often, negotiations bear fruit if Buyers really want a home and the Sellers really want to sell!

The freeze on Florida home sales is thawing a bit, but home prices are still very much depressed.
Statewide, sales of existing, single-family homes were up 13 percent in the fourth quarter, compared to the same period a year prior, according to the latest statistics from the Florida Association of Realtors.
It marks the second consecutive quarter that the Sunshine State has reported a rise in home sales.
A total of 30,163 existing homes sold statewide in the fourth quarter, up from 26,635 existing homes sold during the same quarter in the previous year.
FAR also reported a 3 percent gain in statewide sales of existing condominiums in the fourth quarter, compared to the same time the previous year.
Foreclosures and a continued glut of homes on the market are keeping home prices down.