Are Real Estate Sales Picking Up?

Sales are picking up in markets where prices are deflated, but the business is different than it was before the bubble burst, observers say. The housing market in deflated states - like Arizona, California, Florida and Nebraska - show signs of a rebound. Analysts say that prices have fallen to the point that those with average salaries can afford to buy once again. "The buyers are returning," says Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors (NAR) chief economist. "And in such a strong way that, now, we are hearing in some cases there is multiple bidding, which hints that maybe pricing is reaching a bottom point. But inventory remains high." Christian Science Monitor

Orlando Home Buying Best Condition since 2004

First time homebuyers have the best conditions since March 2004 to purchase a home in the Orlando area, as a decrease in the median sales price of homes sold in November pushed the first time homebuyer affordability index up to 96.09 percent. In addition, inventory of houses on the market is stocked with more than 6,030 homes in the average first time buyer’s price range of $136,422 or less read more

Orlando Ranks 13th City for Singles

Orlando is one of the top metro areas in the U.S. for singles who relocate, according to an industry survey of 100 cities.

The survey focused on criteria most relevant to singles: cost of living, rents and availability of apartments, demographic diversity, educational costs and job growth.

But the survey by Worldwide ERC, an association of corporate and government relocation managers, real-estate companies, movers and service firms, also delved deeper into "quality of life" issues that can contribute to the "ease of transition" for a single person moving into a new community.

For example, the prevalence of restaurants, bars, health clubs, sporting events and concerts was a key measure helping Orlando take 13th place out of the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas.

Boston claimed the top spot, followed by Nassau/Suffolk, N.Y.; New Haven, Conn.; New York; and Edison, N.J.San Francisco was the highest-rated California community, at No. 8, and Tampa-St. Petersburg ranked No. 11, the highest-ranked Florida city. In addition to Orlando and Tampa, three other Florida metro areas were rated among the top 50: Jacksonville at No. 22, Fort Lauderdale at No. 24 and Miami at No. 26.