It is the first weekend of September, and Sunday on the Beach in Ponce Inlet - FL, which is a Labor Day, is not as hot as just a week ago. Of course, we got used to high temperature during the summer and 84F in the later afternoon, when we go to the beach, is just perfect.

With water at 82F, we are getting into the best season in East Central Florida, and in our small and quaint town of Ponce Inlet in particular.

The school has started and for already 2 weeks Daytona Beach arealooks more deserted, and it is going back to "between seasons" hibernation, interrupted only by Biketoberfest in October, Turkey Rod Run on Thanksgiving, and a few smaller events that pump some adrenaline into local economy, but the area does not really get out of the dormant state until the roar of engine at NASCAR sends the signal that Daytona 500 is coming, but it is not until February, and the best weather and the best water is just for spoiled locals and a few vacationers, who get the best of the weather and at a greatly reduced prices for hotels.

Labor Day is a busy Holiday in Daytona Beach, but you should not really notice it in our Ponce Inlet, a small town of about 3,000 residents. A bit more cars on the roads, a bit fuller parking at the restaurants, more cars in our circular garage at the Links at Harbour Village, where we live, but other than that it is the same relaxed and laid back unhurried lifestyle.

Decade from now it will be more for rich and famous, but with the market where it is today, it is very democratic, affordable, and informal... Plenty of signs for sale is a sure sign that one can find good deals, which 4-5 years ago would simply be unimaginable. It is the pendulum. It always comes back and the prices would skyrocket again, and beat any imagination. People do not have money? I do not know. For the last 18 months of all the transactions we closed, there were only 2 with financing, actually one has not closed yet. Everything else was cash.

It does not surprise me much as for a 2 bdr / 2 bath condo in direct oceanfront building in Daytona Beach Shores, that we got a contract accepted just a few days ago, where units in 2005 reached $452,000, now is going for only 32.5 cents on a dollar, what the buyer is paying for it in cash now for a full price, would have practically been their down payment before. So, nothing has changed, same money being transferred, just no mortgage. Sweet. 

So, let's look at the offerings in Ponce Inlet.

Today there are 140 condo for sale in Ponce Inlet with the prices starting from $138,900 for a 2 bdr / 2 bath to $1,800,000 for a 5 bdr / 4 bath. Of course, Ponce Inlet is an  exclusive area, and even though there are prices for under $200,000, there are only 10 units at these prices.

There are 69 single family homes for sale in Ponce Inlet. Prices start from $149,900 for a small unpretentious 2 bdr. home to a whopping $3,959,000 for a 4 bdr / 4 bath Intracoastal home on deep water with 3 docks. Same as with condos, there are only 2 homes for under $200,000, and only 7 under $300,000, including 2 that are less than $200,000.

Presently there are 57 lots suitable for single family homes. Prices start from $119,500 for a 75' x 112' lot to $1,395,000 for a bit over an acre direct oceanfront lot. 16 lots are priced under $200,000.

As you can see, these condos, homes and land priced on the lower end is such a small portion of the market, that a slight change in the market condition would render them obsolete in a matter of weeks. It is not thousands and thousands of properties for sale. These are just 28 properties in all type of real estate priced under $200,000.

If you are looking for a great place to live or just for a quality vacation property, and Ponce Inlet or any other part of greater Daytona Beach could be of interest, let me know. My mobile phone: 386-405-4408. Or drop me a line in the e-mail.