Just about every house hunter knows that short sales and foreclosures are a big part of the real estate market in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

But Judy Friedmar, a stat queen for Xima Real Data in Pembroke Pines, crunched the numbers and found that nine out of 10 for-sale listings in our part of the world are distressed properties.

Ninety percent!

"Very telling," Friedmar said.

From March 1, 2008 to March 1, 2009, she found 22,072 homes and condominiums listed for sale in Broward. Of those, 19,869 had owners with less than 10 percent equity, a strong indication that they owed more than the properties were worth. As a result, the owners likely were in foreclosure or seeking a short sale, Friedmar said.

In Palm Beach County, there were 16,692 homes and condos for sale during the same period, with 15,247 having owners with less than 10 percent equity.

"There's a lot of opportunity out there for buyers to jump into the market," Friedmar said.

Abraham Martinez

martinezglobal@gmail.com