Refreshing Vacation and Bradenton Real Estate Update

I have just returned from a quick family vacation to Ontario, Canada. While there we were able to enjoy a family reunion in Richmond Hill and spend a week at the family cottage in Parry Sound. The weather was perfect...highs in the mid to upper 70's and sunny weather for the most part. The fish were sparse, but we did manage to catch a few large mouth bass. My kids learned to water ski this year which was quite exciting (and nail biting) to watch. I even took a couple of spins on the skis for old times sake, of course ending in various airborne dismounts. We returned in time for one of our famous Florida thunderstorms and a temperature of around 90 degrees. Regardless, it is always a pleasure to drive over the Sunshine Skyway and see the familiar sights of Manatee County.

I am now back feeling refreshed and relaxed. The market here in Bradenton, Florida remains down. Just before we left for vacation, the latest news came in that the median price in Manatee County had fallen another $30,000. This didn't come as a surprise to agents who are active in the market. The current amount of homes on the market remains very high and I have been seeing a lot of homes marked "short sale" or "pre-foreclosure" which means these owners are having to sell under duress. This means the prices are well under current market value in order to achieve a quick sale ( I will address short sales in the next few days since they are so common now). These sales, although necessary, further drop the values of the homes around them due to the fact that other owners need to also drop their prices if they want to compete.

Have a great day... Deb