ORLANDO, Fla. – Feb. 22, 2017 – Florida's housing market reported more closed sales, higher median prices, increased pending sales and more new listings in January, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 16,779 last month, up 5.2 percent from January 2016.

"Florida's housing market continues to show positive momentum," says 2017 Florida Realtors President Maria Wells, broker-owner with Lifestyle Realty Group in Stuart. "While existing inventory remains tight, Realtors across the state are reporting interest from both buyers and sellers – and with interest rates expected to rise over the next few months, now is certainly a good time to take action. On the buyer front, new pending sales for existing single family homes in January increased 3.8 percent year-over-year; pending sales for townhouse-condo units increased 6.5 percent. On the sellers' side, new listings for single-family homes rose 7.6 percent year-over-year, while new townhouse-condo listings ticked up 0.9 percent.

"When market conditions are tight, consumers can get ahead by working with a Realtor who's an expert in the local area," Wells says. "A Realtor will have the knowledge needed to help both buyers and sellers through the complex home buying process."

Home sellers continued to get more of their original asking price at the closing table in January: Sellers of existing single-family homes received 95.6 percent (median percentage) of their original listing price, while those selling townhouse-condo properties received 94.6 percent.

The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $220,000, up 10.1 percent from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors research department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Thestatewide median price for townhouse-condo properties in January was $161,000, up 6.6 percent over the year-ago figure. January marked the 62nd month in a row that statewide median prices for both sectors rose year-over-year. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

Accordingto the National Association of Realtors (NAR), thenational median sales price for existing single-family homes in December 2016 was $233,500, up 3.8 percent from the previous yearthe national median existing condo price was $221,600.In California, the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in December was $509,060; in Massachusetts, it was $355,000; in Maryland, it was $269,319; and in New York, it was $240,000.

Looking at Florida's townhouse-condo market, statewide closed sales totaled 7,209 last month, up 6.2 percent compared to January 2016. Closed sales data reflected fewer short sales and cash-only sales last month: Short sales for townhouse-condo properties declined 47.7 percent while short sales for single-family homes dropped 36.3 percent. Closed sales may occur from 30- to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.

"Florida's markets for existing homes are off to a good start in 2017," says Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O'Connor. "Throughout much of this housing cycle, growth in single-family home sales has outpaced that of condos and townhouses, but in January – for the first time since November 2015 – this was not the case, though one month's worth of data alone doesn't indicate a long-term trend.

Also, new listings of single-family homes were up in January compared to last year, including in the $150,000 to $250,000 range where inventory is sorely needed throughout the state. That said, inventory was still down overall in this range, as this segment of the market remains in high demand throughout the state."

Inventory dipped to a 4.2-months' supply in January for single-family homes and was at a 6.4-months' supply for townhouse-condo properties, according to Florida Realtors.

According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.15 percent in January 2016, up significantly from the 3.87 percent average recorded during the same month a year earlier.

For the full statewide housing activity reports, go to Florida Realtors Research and Statistics on floridarealtors.org. Realtors also have access to local market stats (password protected) on Florida Realtors' website.

© 2017 Florida Realtors®

Mr. Peterson, a tourist from Toronto, arrived in Barbados. In an airport taxi cab, Peterson asked the driver, "Say, is this really a healthful place?"

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An artist asked the gallery owner if anyone had shown interest in his paintings. "I've got good news and bad news," she said. "The good news is that some guy inquired if it would appreciate in value after you died. When I told him it would, he bought all 15 of your paintings."
"And the bad news?"
"The guy was your doctor."

Two Aggies were hunting and had shot a dear.  They were dragging it by the hind legs when
another Aggie passed them and commented: You can go faster if you drag him by the antlers.
So the Aggies started dragging him by the antlers.  Then one Aggie said, wow we are going
much faster but we are getting farther from the car!

An old man lived alone. He wanted to dig his potato garden, but it was very
hard work and his only son, who would have helped him, was in prison for
bank robbery. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his
predicament.

Shortly, he received this reply: "FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, Dad, don't dig up the
entire garden, that's where I buried the money." At 4 a.m. the next
morning, a dozen policemen showed up and dug up the entire garden without
finding any money.

Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what
happened, and asking him what to do next. His son's reply was, "Now plant
your potatoes, Dad. It's the best I could do from here."

How do you play Iraqi bingo?.......... B-52 ... F-16 ... B-2...F-18
What is Iraq's national bird?.......... Duck.
   What do Saddam Hussein and General Custer have in common?........They
both want to know where those Tomahawks are coming from! 
Why does the Iraqi navy have glass bottom boats?.............. So they
can see their air force.

In this life I’m a woman.  In my next life, I’d like to come back as a bear.  When you’re a bear, you get to hibernate.  You do nothing but sleep for six months.  I could deal with that.  

 Before you hibernate, you’re supposed to eat yourself stupid.  I could deal with that too.

 When you’re a girl bear, you birth your children (how are the size of walnuts) while you’re sleeping and wake to partially grown, cure, cuddly cubs.  I could definitely deal with that.

 If you’re mama bear, everyone knows you mean business.  You swat anyone who bothers your cubs.  If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too.  I could deal with that.

 If you’re a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling.  He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.  

Yup, gonna be a bear!

After being interviewed by the school administration, the teaching prospect said, "Let me see if I've got this right.................
 
 "You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.
 
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 "You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship,sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.
 
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