Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... A CONTINUING upsurge in market activity!!

Orlando area home sales are continuing to experience an increase in activity. Members of the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association were involved in the sale of over 28 percent more homes in February of this year than February of last year.

I have been reporting on this trend for many months;
here are just the last 6 months of my posts about the
central Florida real estate market:

• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... The Median Sales price is Even LOWER!!  Authored 12/11/08
• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... wondering if things are happening in Orlando... heres some news!! Authored 12/03/08
• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... 2 months of GREAT THINGS happening in the market!!  Authored 11/20/08 
• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... Orlando and central Florida real estate Market report 9.19.2008  Authored 09/19/08
• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings --- The Market report for central Florida July 2008  Authored on 08/24/08
• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... The Market CONTINUES to strengthen!!  Authored 07/11/08
• Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... The market is slowly turning around... Authored 06/10/08

In addition, Orlando REALTORS® filed over 58 percent more contracts in February 2009 than in the month of February last year. Pending sales - considered to be a reliable indicator of future sales - continued it's upward trend in February. There are twice as many more homes under contract in February 2009 than compared to February 2008.

 "Conditions are aligning very favorably in Orlando for buyers," says ORRA President Les Simmonds, L.G. Simmonds Real Estate Corp. "Local first-time buyers are particularly well positioned as a result of the new $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, record low interest rate, and decreasing median price."

 The median price of Orlando real estate sold in February decreased by almost 35 percent to a VERY LOW $145,500 -- compared to last years figures, while the area's average interest rate went down again to 5.25 percent, its lowest point since May of 2005.

The decrease in median price drove the area's affordability index to yet another record high of over 169%. Buyers who earn the reported central Florida median income of $52,000 can qualify to purchase one of almost 12,000 homes in Orange and Seminole counties currently advertized in the regional multiple listing service (MLS) for $246,000 or less. The current HOT selling price of homes is $200,000 to $250,000... do you wonder why?

Here is my post about that topic: Central Florida Real Estate Happenings..... How many homes are in the most popular price range?  (Authored 12/03/08)

The amount of time central Florida real estate has been on the market has gone down also, from 123 days last month to just over 100 days currently. That means if you want to purchase a home and THE HOME YOU WANT is on the market, it will take an average of just over three months for it to be snatched up by someone else.

There are currently 22,168 homes available for purchase through the MLS. There are 445 LESS homes this month for sale in central Florida than last month. The market is starting to heat up.

To get FREE access to the Orlando and central Florida MLS to see current
residential homes AND commercial properties for sale, just click on this link!

This central Florida real estate 
Market Report is brought to you by:

Alexander Harb PSEM®, E-Agent®
The Knights Team Sales leader

Beach and Luxury Realty Inc.