Sarasota Herald Tribune
November 22, 2007
Sarasota-Bradenton home sales tops in state
By STEPHEN FRATER

All things being equal, it was not a bad third quarter for home sales in the Sarasota-Bradenton market. In fact, the 5 percent drop in sales for the local market was the best performance in a state that saw total sales drop 29 percent when compared with the same time in 2006.

Ocala posted a 53 percent drop, Miami a 42 percent decline and Fort Myers-Cape Coral and Orlando, 39 percent, the Florida Association of Realtors reported Wednesday.There were 2,084 homes that changed hands in Sarasota-Bradenton during the quarter compared with 2,195 during the third quarter of 2006.

"We are encouraged by the improvement in our area compared to last year," Joe Hembree, president of the Sarasota Association of Realtors, said Wednesday. "This report mirrors what we have been seeing as a trend all year -- that the Sarasota market is faring much better than many other parts of the state.
Both Hembree and Pat Neal, president of Lakewood Ranch-based home builder Neal Communities, said they have seen an increase in activity. "September was unusually quiet as was October, but things are moving now in November," Neal said. "Many more customers are looking at resale homes in addition to new homes, which tells me that after the new home sales guys adjusted their prices to reflect the new market reality, the existing homeowners are also doing the same, which is creating competition.