Florida Association of REALTORS® (FAR) today releases quarterly sales data for existing condo and homes, and Panama City stays upbeat.

Statewide, sales of existing condos declined 26 percent (9,622 units closed for Q3 2007 compared to 13,028 for the same quarter last year). In contrast Panama City shows a net increase of 38 percent (127 existing condo units closed in Q3 2007 compared to 92 closings in Q3 2006) for the best showing in the entire state. Panama City is followed by Fort Walton Beach with a 26 percent increase and Sarasota with a 15 percent increase.

In sales of existing single-family homes, Q3 2007 shows a statewide decline of 29 percent (31,910 units closed in Q3 2007 compared to 44,776 in Q3 2006) while Panama City once again shows a more positive trend with a new decrease of only 8 percent (369 units closed in Q3 2007 versus 401 units closed in Q3 2006). This places Panama City in third best position statewide only to Sarasota with a 5 percent decrease and Marco Island with a 7 percent decrease.

Existing single-family home and condominium, process continue to see a market correction, with sellers becoming more realistic and buyers recognizing the potential for long-term sustainable growth in Panama City and Northwest Florida.

What does this mean to Panama City? NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Senior Economist Lawrence Yun says "Buyers in most areas who do their homework will recognize that housing remains a good long-term investment."

Bay County Association of REALTORS® President Scott Bowman in Panama City points to public awareness and educational campaigns executed in Panama City, Sarasota and Marco Island as partially responsible for the positive sales data in these respective areas.

CNN and other news sources observe that Panama City will possibly see as much as a seventy two percent increase in home prices, as large as a twelve percent growth in population and as much as a thirty percent rise in per capita income over the next five years.

-End-

Preferred Partners Check out the best in local home-related services. Automated E-mail Listings Service Sign up to automatically receive new listings today! Home Advice Get the answers on home selling and buying. Real Estate News Find out what's happening in real estate.

Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

© 2007 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. CENTURY 21® is a registered trademark licensed to Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.