Pulse of home sales strengthens
By STEPHEN FRATER
Herald Tribune
Pressure continued on home sellers to lower their prices, but sales during December showed definitive signs of life.
The median price for homes last month in the Sarasota-Bradenton market was $284,700, down 17 percent when compared with the same month last year.
But sales were down only 7 percent — “only” in the context of a market that has seen declines as high as 50 percent during the past six months.
December is traditionally a slow time of year for real estate agents, but they moved 626 homes in Sarasota-Bradenton, close to the 2005 level of 672, the Florida Association of Realtors reported on Thursday.
“December sales stats are consistent with November results, which is further proof that
the flurry of price adjustments made by local sellers are taking effect and buyers are getting off the fence,” said Chad Roffers, president of Sky Sotheby’s International Realty.
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