The most common question I hear is how is the market? I think we are very lucky here in Gainesville. More and more people realize that our small town has a lot of things to offer without many of the disadvantages of some bigger Florida cities. So demand remains high from people moving to the area throughout the state. I work with many people from South Florida seeking to escape the sprawl, crime and increased costs.

But I am also a realist. One direct affect of the statewide slow down in real estate is that for many people wanting to move to Gainesville, they simply can't afford to buy here until their homes are sold elsewhere. But there may be hope as the Florida market appears to be stabilizing. This was the report from the University of Florida Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies in their quarterly survey. The survey seeks input from practioners across Florida and many different categories of property. For the complete market analysis, click here.

Here are some recent statistics from the Florida Association of Realtors:

• Florida existing home sales: down 24%
• Florida existing condo sales: down 26%
• Florida existing home median price: $237,500
• Florida existing condo median price: $193,900

The National Association of REALTORS also tracks pending sales based on local MLS data. Here are their recent findings: NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed in July, fell 12.2% to a reading of 89.9 from the June index of 102.4, and was 16.1% lower than July 2006 when it stood at 107.1. The index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year tracked as well as the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales.

A demographic report prepared for Florida’s Taxation & Budget Reform Commission entitled "Florida Demographic In-Depth Analysis" seeks to answer the question of where the next wave of homebuyers in Florida will come from. The analysis looks at recent trends and projects how the state will change. For example, newcomers to the state accounted for 88.7% of the population growth between April 1, 2000, and April 1, 2006; and in 22 counties, all growth can be attributed to the arrival of newcomers. Projections call for a population increase in Florida of 44% by 2030, with most of those new residents the result of migration.