The stats are in for April 2008. Here are some trends that I noted:

1. Inventory levels remained virtually unchanged from the month before (GOOD)


2. Sales in the Tampa Bay area and Pinellas county edged up .5% to almost 1.0% from the previous month(GOOD)


3. Beach Condo Inventory levels dropped (GOOD)


4. Sales on the N. Beach area dipped (NOT GOOD)


5. Across the board, the ACTUAL SALES PRICE was appr. 89% - 93% of the LISTING PRICE


6. Across the board, the ACTUAL SALES PRICE was appr. 83% - 85% of the ORIGINAL LISTING PRICE (Not shown on stats)

#6 tells me that if you list at $500,000, expect it to sell (on average) at $415,000 - $425,000.

MLS MONTHLY REPORT APR ‘08


TAMPA BAY AREA (tri-county) Homes Condos Total Units

Total Units Available: 28,003 12,455 40,458

Total Units Pending: 2,505 697 3,202

Total Units Sold: 1,779 524 2,303

Absorption rate: 6.35% 4.21% 5.69%

Avg Days on Market 103 days 117 days 106 days

Months of Inventory 15.7 mons 23.8 mons 17.6 mons

Sold vs List Price % 93% 92% 93%



PINELLAS COUNTY Homes Condos Total Units

Total Units Available: 9,431 7,436 16,867

Total Units Pending: 843 385 1,228

Total Units Sold: 602 285 887

Absorption rate: 6.38% 3.83% 5.26%

Avg Days on Market 96 days 122 days 105 days

Months of Inventory 15.7 mons 26.1 mons 19.0 mons

Sold vs List Price % 93% 90% 92%


N. BEACHES (476-478, 374, 375) Homes Condos Total Units

Total Units Available: 270 1,036 1,306

Total Units Pending: 16 59 75

Total Units Sold: 6 46 52

Absorption rate: 2.22% 4.44% 3.98%

Avg Days on Market 127 days 116 days 117 days

Months of Inventory 45.0 mons 22.5 mons 25.1 mons

Sold vs List Price % 91% 88% 89%

FRAUD ALERT!!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Pinellas County, Florida Once again Pinellas County residents have received an official-looking letter emphasizing the government’s recommendation to keep a certified copy of property deeds. Only this time the private company sending the letter hopes residents will see the value in paying $85.00 plus $4.95 for shipping and handling for a document they can obtain from the Clerk’s office for about $2.50, according to Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court.

“In the past another company was charging about sixty dollars for a certified copy of a deed,” said Burke. “This is a different company with an even higher price: nearly ninety dollars. These businesses often contend that they offer the convenience of avoiding the hassles of going to the Clerk’s office in person.”

“We already provide that convenience and Pinellas County residents don’t need to pay almost $90 for it,” said Burke. “They can send a written request with a check or money order and we will send them a certified copy of the deed if they don’t want to come into the office in person.”

The written request must have the deed’s Official Record (OR) book and page number. Residents can obtain this information online at http://www.pinellasclerk.org or from the Records department 727-464-4876, according to Burke.

“From our website people can print a free uncertified copy,” said Burke. “And from our Recording Services departments they can purchase one for $1 per page and have it certified for $1.50 more.”

The letter from Fastdeeds.com does include a disclaimer, which states the company is not affiliated with any state agency and that many records are available for nominal fees from government agencies.

For more information call 727-464-4876 or visit the website. A copy of a letter received may be viewed here: http://www.pinellasclerk.org/aspInclude2/images/DeedLetter08.jpg.

As confirmed by yesterday's edition of the St. Pete Times, business for existing Realtors has picked up dramatically. In speaking with my colleagues, business is beginning to return, as buyers sense "blood in the water"...frantic investors, over-burdened builders, and seller who just understand that our prices have fallen to '02/'03 levels.

Many banks understand it now, as well. One of my clients just closed on a beautiful N. Pinellas SFH...when the appraisal was completed, he found he had about $60,000 in equity! Bank foreclosures are also the subject of multiple offers and increased showing traffic. If you're out there looking for a great deal, ask your realtor about bank-owned foreclosures.

I just listed a beautiful, prime-location vacant lot in N. Clearwater Beach's exclusive Carlouel enclave. A corner parcel measuring 68' x 110', 987 Eldorado Ave is directly across the street from the world-famous sands of Clearwater Beach and offers deeded beach access to it's new owners. Utilizing the City of Clearwater's flexible building guidelines for the LMDR zoning, one can build a dream beach home with GULF VIEWS! This property is assessed by the county at $716,000 - we're selling it for $599,900!