TAKE IT FROM THE TOP

Three Florida cities ranked among the top 5 in the nation for rising home values, according to Business 2.0 magazine: Panama City (No. 1), with a 72 percent projected gain in home prices over five years. A new airport that will be built next year will open the area to vacationers and residents. Vero Beach came in at No. 2, with a 64 percent projected gain in home prices over five years. Demand for housing along with moderate property taxes and beautiful weather will drive growth. Finally, Lakeland ranked No. 4 with a 59 percent projected gain in home prices over five years. This growing area is only 30 minutes from Tampa via Interstate 4, but prices are one-fifth less, according to the study.

MORTGAGE RATES

Rates on 30-year mortgages fell this week to the lowest level in six weeks – 6.22 percent.


HomesOfVeroBeach.com

CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE

Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-sponsored insurer, plans to send refund checks to all of its 1.3 million policyholders around April 15, one of several price reductions that customers will receive during the next few months as a result of the Legislature’s insurance reform package.





Vero Beach's most complete real estate site: HomesOfVeroBeach.com

HOME SALES

Florida's housing sector continued to mirror the national trend in fourth quarter 2006, reflecting slower sales and stabilizing median prices in many markets. A total of 37,177 existing single-family homes sold statewide during the quarter, down 28 percent from a year earlier, while the statewide median sales price was $242,100.

Dick Davis
HomesOfVeroBeach.com