Included is the Sales Data as mentioned in the Palm Beach Real Estate Guide.

According to the National Association of Realtors, pending home resales rose 7.4 percent – the most since October 2001 and the fourth such increase this year.

All regions of the country saw an increase in pending sales from July, with the West showing the largest increase of 18.4 percent.  The Northeast saw an 8.4 percent rise, the Midwest a 3.6 percent increase and 2.3 percent in the South.

According to reports, people are taking advantage of low home prices, and sales are up strongly in California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C.

Although the likely reason for the rise in pending resales is investors buying up foreclosures, the fact remains that these houses are being taken off of the market, which has had a surplus of inventory.

When looking for a new home, many people are tempted to go it alone.  This usually ends up being quite a daunting task, even for the most tenacious and focused homebuyer.  Here are 10 ways that having a Realtor on your side can help:

1. Realtors research desirable neighborhoods and can relay important information to homebuyers such as home values in the area, amount of taxes paid and zoning restrictions.
2. Realtors can help find financing, prequalify you for a loan and can refer you to home inspection companies.
3. With knowledge about the way other homes in the area are selling, a Realtor can help determine a fair buying price.
4. A Realtor can suggest changes to make to the home to make you more comfortable and to make it a better investment, should you need to sell it in the near future.
5. Realtors can handle many of the tedious tasks – such as paperwork – for you, saving you time and energy.
6. A Realtor usually goes to the closing with you, giving you peace of mind that if an issue should come up, it will be taken care of effectively.
7. Realtors must abide by a code of ethics, treating everyone involved in the transaction fairly and equally.
8. A Realtor has the tools and ability to find the best suited home for you in the most affordable price range.
9. Simply put, a Realtor has the professional experience to put in the time and effort and do the job right.
10. A Realtor’s services are usually free to a buyer – commission is normally paid by the seller.

According to a report by the National Association of Realtors, Canadians made up the largest percentage of foreign buyers of United States homes from May 2007 to May 2008 at 24%. One third of those buyers purchase homes in Florida.  The number of Canadian buyers of Florida homes has more than doubled since the previous year, going from 3,500 to 7,200. 

According to a report by the Florida Association of Realtors, newly lowered prices of existing single family homes is the main reason for the Treasure Coast’s 43% rise in sales, the largest annual percentage gain in the state.

After months of sales dropping in the double digits, Palm Beach County’s sales dropped only 3% last month from last year’s levels, another positive sign that the market is stabilizing.

Sources at the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches agree, saying that buyers have been waiting to see how much prices will drop.  And they did -- median prices of existing homes in Palm Beach County fell 12% to $334,300 since June 2007, and in Martin and St. Lucie Counties, median prices fell 32% to $160,800.

Also according to the report, existing condominium sale prices fell 24% since June 2007 to a median price of $153,200, making them more affordable to first-time buyers. Martin and St. Lucie counties’ media price fell to $165,000 – a drop of 28%.

This reflects two things, according to analysts.  One – sellers are becoming more realistic about pricing their properties, and two – the amount of foreclosures in the upcoming months will drive down prices in the next 24 months.

Across the state, existing home sales fell 5% compared to last year’s figures.  Nationally, sales fell by 15%.  These low sales levels also mean lower prices – the median price dropped by 7% compared to figures from last year. 

Economists warn that there is still a way to go, but are hopeful that this is at least the beginning of the end.