Polk County Still Very Hot market!

County's Home Sales Continue Hot Trend22.7 percent jump in sales from last year bucks state, national trends.
By Jeremy MareadyThe LedgerLAKELAND -- Polk County continues to buck the nation's cooling real estate trend.Local home sales only heated up at a time that is typically frigid.The county's home sales jumped almost 23 percent in November from 405 in 2004 to 497 last month. The gains were far beyond those seen in the state and national market.The Ledger's home-sales figures include existing duplexes, condos, co-ops, manufactured and mobile homes, modular, single-family and townhomes as well as new home sales by Realtors."Things have changed so much in one year that it is shocking," said Realtor Betty Watson of Watson Lakefront Realty in Auburndale. "The value of homes has gone up, and people want to profit on that. Anything priced under $200,000 is going to fly off the market right now. You really can't hang onto them."The reason: "Good weather and a central location," she said.The median home sale price for homes in the Lakeland and Winter Haven market jumped 37 percent from $121,500 in November 2004 to $166,900 last month. But that was a 3.8 percent drop from last October's median price of $173,500.Lakeland's Realtors had a total of 266 home sales, up 5 percent from 253 last year."November has been extremely strong for us," said Sheri Jackson, a Realtor with Re/Max Paramount Properties in Lakeland. "And with the end of the year here, PLEASE SEE HOMES, PAGE E2December has been pretty strong too. Traditionally this would be the worst time of the year. But this year we have been busy."East Polk recorded 219 home sales, up 51 percent from 145 in November 2004. Bartow's sales increased from seven home sales a year ago to 12 last month -- a 71 percent jump.Statewide, a total of 17,219 homes were sold last month compared with 17,110 home sales that closed in November 2004. That is nearly a 1 percent increase in sales.Nationally, 6.97 million homes were sold in November, which is a 0.1 percent drop from 6.98 million a year ago."As more listings of homes come on the market during this period of modestly declining sales, more home buyers will find themselves in a better position to negotiate," said Thomas Stevens, president of the National Association of Realtors, in a press statement. "Most home sellers will see excellent returns on their investment but should understand that double-digit annual increases will become less common in the coming year."County's Home Sales Continue Hot Trend22.7 percent jump in sales from last year bucks state, national trends.By Jeremy MareadyThe LedgerLAKELAND -- Polk County continues to buck the nation's cooling real estate trend.Local home sales only heated up at a time that is typically frigid.The county's home sales jumped almost 23 percent in November from 405 in 2004 to 497 last month. The gains were far beyond those seen in the state and national market.The Ledger's home-sales figures include existing duplexes, condos, co-ops, manufactured and mobile homes, modular, single-family and townhomes as well as new home sales by Realtors."Things have changed so much in one year that it is shocking," said Realtor Betty Watson of Watson Lakefront Realty in Auburndale. "The value of homes has gone up, and people want to profit on that. Anything priced under $200,000 is going to fly off the market right now. You really can't hang onto them."The reason: "Good weather and a central location," she said.The median home sale price for homes in the Lakeland and Winter Haven market jumped 37 percent from $121,500 in November 2004 to $166,900 last month. But that was a 3.8 percent drop from last October's median price of $173,500.Lakeland's Realtors had a total of 266 home sales, up 5 percent from 253 last year."November has been extremely strong for us," said Sheri Jackson, a Realtor with Re/Max Paramount Properties in Lakeland. "And with the end of the year here.
December has been pretty strong too. Traditionally this would be the worst time of the year. But this year we have been busy."East Polk recorded 219 home sales, up 51 percent from 145 in November 2004. Bartow's sales increased from seven home sales a year ago to 12 last month -- a 71 percent jump.Statewide, a total of 17,219 homes were sold last month compared with 17,110 home sales that closed in November 2004. That is nearly a 1 percent increase in sales.Nationally, 6.97 million homes were sold in November, which is a 0.1 percent drop from 6.98 million a year ago."As more listings of homes come on the market during this period of modestly declining sales, more home buyers will find themselves in a better position to negotiate," said Thomas Stevens, president of the National Association of Realtors, in a press statement. "Most home sellers will see excellent returns on their investment but should understand that double-digit annual increases will become less common in the coming year."