Celebrate TREE-mendous Appreciation Day

Free trees and shrubs for residential electric customers Saturday, April 25

Where to go?

Gates open at 7:30 AM at GRU's Millhopper Training Facility on the corner of NW 43rd Street and NW 53rd Avenue across from Hunter’s Crossing Shopping Center. Pre-event parking is available at Trinity United Church. Enter from NW 53 Avenue and follow the driveway past the church to the rear parking lot.

Who can participate?

Plants are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to GRU residential electric customers only. Apartments and commercial businesses are not eligible. Each GRU residential customer can pick up two three-gallon trees or shrubs. You will not be able to pick up trees or shrubs for anyone but yourself.

What to bring?

Photo ID and a recent GRU bill are required.

Need assistance?

Elderly or handicapped customers will be served by a “ONE STOP SHOP” catering to their needs with parking, selecting and taking plants to their vehicles. There will be staff on hand to answer any tree planting questions customers may have.

Sample List of Available Species:

Japanese Magnolias
Fringetree
Dogwood
Chickasaw Plum
Redbud
Walters viburnum
Crape Mrytle
East Palatka Holly
Assorted palm trees

Posted by Mike Hastings on March 6th, 2009 8:18 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Statewide in Florida sales of existing homes rise, prices drop

March 23rd, 2009 1:38 PM

ORLANDO, Fla. – March 23, 2009 – Florida’s existing home sales rose in February, making it the sixth consecutive month that sales activity showed increases in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). February’s statewide sales also increased over January’s figures in both the existing home and existing condo markets.

Existing home sales rose 20 percent last month with a total of 9,858 homes sold statewide compared to 8,181 homes sold in February 2008, according to FAR. February’s statewide existing home sales were 16.7 percent higher than January’s statewide sales.

Florida Realtors also reported a 15 percent gain in statewide sales of existing condominiums in February, continuing a trend in recent months for higher statewide sales of both the existing home and existing condo markets compared to year-ago levels. Statewide existing condo sales last month increased 25.1 percent over the total units sold in January.

Thirteen of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported increased existing-home sales in February while 11 MSAs also showed gains in condo sales. It marks the eighth month in a row that a number of markets have reported increased sales.

Florida’s median sales price for existing homes last month was $141,900; a year ago, it was $199,300 for a 29 percent decrease. Industry analysts with the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) report a significant downward distortion in the current median price due to many discounted sales, including a large number of foreclosures. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.

The national median sales price for existing single-family homes in January 2009 was $169,900, down 13.8 percent from a year earlier, according to NAR. In California, the statewide median resales price was $254,350 in January; in Massachusetts, it was $321,000; in Maryland, it was $244,820; and in New York, it was $205,000.

Significant variations in local markets continue, according to NAR’s latest housing outlook, which also notes that it will take time for the impact of the economic stimulus to show in housing data. “Some markets appear to have reached the tipping point of accelerating home buying,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Improvement from the economic stimulus isn’t likely to show as closed home sales before summer, although we may see an earlier lift from lower mortgage interest rates.”

NAR analysts estimate the impact of the federal economic stimulus package and lower interest rates on the housing market to be about 900,000 additional home sales in 2009 compared to conditions before the stimulus package. By the end of the year, NAR expects inventory to fall below an eight-month supply, which would be consistent with home price stabilization.

In Florida’s year-to-year comparison for condos, 3,198 units sold statewide compared to 2,785 sold in February 2008 for a 15 percent increase. The statewide existing condo median sales price last month was $109,300; in February 2008 it was $173,900 for a 37 percent decrease. In the latest data available at press time, NAR reported the national median existing condo price was $174,400 in January 2009.

Interest rates for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.13 percent last month, down significantly from the average rate of 5.92 percent in February 2008, according to Freddie Mac. FAR’s sales figures reflect closings, which typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.

Among the state’s medium-size markets, the Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie MSA reported a total of 372 homes sold in February compared to 263 homes a year ago for a 41 percent increase. The existing home median sales price was $122,100; a year ago, it was $172,900 for a 29 percent decrease. In the year-to-year comparison for the existing condo market, a total of 71 units sold in the MSA last month, up 22 percent compared to 58 condos sold the previous February. The market’s existing condo median price was $116,700; a year ago, it was $126,700 for an 8 percent decrease.

Posted by Mike Hastings on March 23rd, 2009 1:38 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Home Sales for Alachua County February 2009

March 2nd, 2009 10:42 AM

Here are the numbers compared to last year for homes, condos, vacant land, multi-family and commercial properties sold in Gainesville, Alachua County Florida for February 2009.

Monthly Statistics Report - 02/01/2009 - 02/28/2009

Gainesville MLS - Compiled on March 2, 2009

02/01/2009 - 02/28/2009 Change from
01/04/2009 - 01/31/2009 02/01/2008 - 02/28/2008 Change from
02/01/2008 - 02/28/2008 to 02/01/2009 - 02/28/2009 YTD
2009 YTD
2008 2008 - 2009
YTD

Single Family Residential

New Listings 281 -9.65% 373 -24.66% 619 827 -25.15%

Sold Listings 66 4.76% 93 -29.03% 129 185 -30.27%

Volume - Sold Listings $10,223,199 -29.18% $21,002,843 -51.32% $24,659,260 $42,611,707 -42.13%

Average Sale Price $154,897 -32.40% $225,837 -31.41% $191,157 $230,334 -17.01%

High Sale Price $762,018 -19.79% $774,564 -1.62% $950,000 $774,564 22.65%

Low Sale Price $20,000 -0.54% $24,000 -16.67% $20,000 $24,000 -16.67%

Average Days on Market 145 4.32% 100 45.00% 142 104 36.54%

Vacant Land

New Listings 97 24.36% 165 -41.21% 177 358 -50.56%

Sold Listings 8 33.33% 20 -60.00% 14 33 -57.58%

Volume - Sold Listings $1,537,500 85.26% $3,185,050 -51.73% $2,367,400 $4,710,050 -49.74%

Average Sale Price $192,188 38.95% $159,253 20.68% $169,100 $142,729 18.48%

High Sale Price $1,100,000 378.26% $532,000 106.77% $1,100,000 $532,000 106.77%

Low Sale Price $40,000 0.25% $13,500 196.30% $39,900 $13,500 195.56%

Average Days on Market 275 0.00% 177 55.37% 275 146 88.36%

Commercial/Industrial

New Listings 35 84.21% 26 34.62% 54 52 3.85%

Sold Listings 1 -83.33% 0 N/A 8 2 300.00%

Volume - Sold Listings $240,000 -93.33% $0 N/A $4,299,475 $460,000 834.67%

Average Sale Price $240,000 -59.99% $0 N/A $537,434 $230,000 133.67%

High Sale Price $240,000 -90.77% $0 N/A $2,600,000 $230,000 1,030.43%

Low Sale Price $240,000 133.01% $0 N/A $103,000 $230,000 -55.22%

Average Days on Market 1 -99.64% 0 N/A 222 276 -19.57%

Multi-Family

New Listings 2 -88.89% 20 -90.00% 20 32 -37.50%

Sold Listings 4 N/A 2 100.00% 4 2 100.00%

Volume - Sold Listings $2,750,000 N/A $110,000 2,400.00% $2,750,000 $110,000 2,400.00%

Average Sale Price $687,500 N/A $55,000 1,150.00% $687,500 $55,000 1,150.00%

High Sale Price $1,535,000 N/A $55,000 2,690.91% $1,535,000 $55,000 2,690.91%

Low Sale Price $80,000 N/A $55,000 45.45% $80,000 $55,000 45.45%

Average Days on Market 45 N/A 161 -72.05% 45 161 -72.05%

Rental

New Listings 88 54.39% 58 51.72% 146 138 5.80%

Sold Listings 33 26.92% 21 57.14% 62 62 0.00%

Volume - Sold Listings $36,850 43.95% $24,155 52.56% $66,749 $67,709 -1.42%

Average Sale Price $1,117 13.40% $1,150 -2.87% $1,077 $1,092 -1.37%

High Sale Price $2,200 0.23% $2,995 -26.54% $2,250 $2,995 -24.87%

Low Sale Price $481 -26.00% $450 6.89% $481 $450 6.89%

Average Days on Market 95 -18.80% 60 58.33% 102 74 37.84%

Attached/Condominium

New Listings 107 -16.41% 189 -43.39% 238 420 -43.33%

Sold Listings 11 22.22% 23 -52.17% 20 44 -54.55%

Volume - Sold Listings $1,479,389 22.44% $3,140,750 -52.90% $2,687,639 $6,596,151 -59.25%

Average Sale Price $134,490 0.18% $136,554 -1.51% $134,382 $149,913 -10.36%

High Sale Price $255,000 10.87% $270,000 -5.56% $255,000 $492,460 -48.22%

Low Sale Price $56,000 75.55% $75,000 -25.33% $31,900 $61,500 -48.13%

Average Days on Market 108 -21.17% 100 8.00% 121 96 26.04%

Commercial Lease

New Listings 40 37.93% 17 135.29% 69 56 23.21%

Sold Listings 5 -16.67% 5 0.00% 12 17 -29.41%

Volume - Sold Listings $11,105 -98.99% $150,664 -92.63% $1,110,085 $1,417,841 -21.71%

Average Sale Price $2,221 -98.79% $30,133 -92.63% $92,507 $83,402 10.92%

High Sale Price $4,950 -99.54% $115,920 -95.73% $1,072,093 $864,000 24.08%

Low Sale Price $440 -17.14% $500 -12.00% $440 $385 14.29%

Average Days on Market 272 149.54% 238 14.29% 173 256 -32.42%

Business Opportunity

New Listings 3 200.00% 3 0.00% 4 7 -42.86%

Sold Listings 0 N/A 0 N/A 0 0 N/A

Volume - Sold Listings $0 N/A $0 N/A $0 $0 N/A

Average Sale Price $0 N/A $0 N/A $0 $0 N/A

High Sale Price $0 N/A $0 N/A $0 $0 N/A

Low Sale Price $0 N/A $0 N/A $0 $0 N/A

Average Days on Market 0 N/A 0 N/A 0 0 N/A

Total

New Listings 653 1.87% 851 -23.27% 1,327 1,890 -29.79%

Sold Listings 128 10.34% 164 -21.95% 249 345 -27.83%

Volume - Sold Listings $16,278,043 -23.21% $27,613,462 -41.05% $37,940,608 $55,973,458 -32.22%

Average Sale Price $127,172 -30.41% $168,375 -24.47% $152,372 $162,242 -6.08%

High Sale Price $1,535,000 -40.96% $774,564 98.18% $2,600,000 $864,000 200.93%

Low Sale Price $440 -17.14% $450 -2.22% $440 $385 14.29%

Average Days on Market 138 -5.48% 109 26.61% 140 110 27.27%

ALL INFORMATION DEEMED RELIABLE BUT NOT GUARANTEED

Posted by Mike Hastings on March 2nd, 2009 10:42 AMPost a Comment (0)

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