Though average home sale values have kept on the decline by about 24% as compared to last year’s numbers, the month of February showed encouraging results with increased home sales and prices since January.

Winter Haven, Florida Homes Sold Data – February 2009

Winter Haven’s median home prices remained unchanged for February at $98,000, but some good news is to be found in that average sales prices increased by 2.38% to $117,026. All told, total of 57 Winter Haven, Florida homes were sold in February – up 13 from the 44 homes sold in January.

It’s no surprise that foreclosures make up the majority of home sales. Currently, about 50% of homes for sale in our area are in foreclosure. With over 1,260 properties currently for sale and pending, we are experiencing a high absorption rate as it has been reported the previous month.

Distressed properties are homes in pre-foreclosure, foreclosure, bank-owned, or going through as short sales. Of the 57 homes sold last month here in Winter Haven, 29 of them were distressed, which sold for an average sales price of $97,762 ($52.49 per sq.ft.). At present, there are 254 distressed homes currently on the market.

Folks – if you’re looking for the right time to buy – NOW is the time. Match these homes up with the USDA Rural Development home loan program, an $8000 tax credit, and wow! You have yourself a pretty sweet deal!

Note: 101 homes are in pending status waiting for bank or lender approval to close.

Take a look at the spreadsheet below. I’ve separated the report by zip code instead of school zones; it gives you a more accurate report in my opinion. The data for this report was obtained from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, it is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This report does not include “For Sale By Owner.”

Winter Haven, Florida Homes Sold Market Report – February 2009

Winter Haven, Florida Homes Sold – February 2009

Interactive Map

For more information on the location of the Winter Haven, Florida homes sold, along with price and size of each home, click on the interactive Community Walk map below, which was created by Chuck Welch here at MetroI4News.com.

CommunityWalk Map – Winter Haven Homes Sold February 2009

CommunityWalk Map – Winter Haven Homes Sold February 2009

Originally published at the Florida Mortgage Blogger

Full size map: December 2008 Winter Haven Homes Sold

An extra special bonus is the write-up from Kevin Sandridge, FloridaMortgageBlogger.com

Hi folks! A bit late on this one, but thought you’d appreciate some insight into the Winter Haven, Florida housing market.

As always, I would like to extend a special thanks to *Lakeland, Florida Realtor Petra Norris*, who issues a comparable report for the *Lakeland, Florida* area. What’s even cooler is that *I-4 Metro’s Own Journalist Extraordinaire * and all ’round good “Human” *Mr. Chuck Welch * has kindly mapped out the homes sold via his interactive Community Walk map.

Hi folks! A bit late on this one, but thought you’d appreciate some insight into the Winter Haven, Florida housing market.

As always, I would like to extend a special thanks to Lakeland, Florida Realtor Petra Norris, who issues a comparable report for the Lakeland, Florida area. What’s even cooler is that I-4 Metro’s Own Journalist Extraordinaire and all ’round good “Human” Mr. Chuck Welch has kindly mapped out the homes sold via his interactive Community Walk map.
A few of the finer points about this Winter Haven, Florida Homes Sold Report

* By “homes sold” I am referring to single family homes and condominiums. Homes sold as “by owner” do not appear here.
* The geographic area covered in this report consists of the Winter Haven, Florida area.
* Rather than use school zones, I’ve used Zip codes – which I feel provides a clearer picture of what’s presented here.
* The Zip codes included in this edition of my report include: 33880, 33881, and 33884.

Winter Haven, Florida Home Sales Data – December 2008

Home sales in Winter Haven for December 2008 rose 5.36% from the November 2008 totals – up from 56 to 59. The average sales price was $126,543, and of the homes sold, 1 was a Townhouse, 50 were single family homes, 3 were classified as manufactured/mobile homes, and the remaining 5 were condos.

The average sold price per square foot dropped 3.9% down from $73.11 in November to $70.26 for December, and the average List Price to Sales Price Ratio dropped from 97.19 % to 92.13%. What this means is that on average, sellers reduced their initial asking price by just over 8 %.

Note: The information contained in this report was obtained from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS. The data presented here is believed reliable but is not guaranteed.

My Take on All of This:

While Winter Haven, Florida home sales activity increased by a slight 5.36%, but sellers are having to give in to market pressure a little more by lowering their asking prices to more reasonable levels – averaging more than an 8% price reduction per home sold.

Condo prices continue to see downward pressure over single family homes, except for those with exceptional qualities, like the one sold in the Winterset Community, which boasts one of the best views of Lake Winterset – one of the largest and most beautiful lakes on the Winter Haven’s Chain-of-Lakes.

CommunityWalk Map – November 2008 Winter Haven Homes Sold

Full size November 2008 Winter Haven Homes Sold

Greetings! Kevin Sandridge, here. I’m starting something new this month – a Winter Haven, Florida Area Monthly Home Sales Market Report. Lord willing, and the creek don’t rise… these will be available the first part of every month forward!

I first got the idea from our good friend and Lakeland, Florida Realtor Petra Norris, who issues a similar report for the Lakeland, Florida area. Petra has graciously agreed to provide the raw home sales data, and Metro I-4′s Own Journalist Extraordinaire and all ’round good “Human” Mr. Chuck Welch will be mapping out the homes sold via his interactive map. Very cool stuff!

Some Points of Clarification

Homes Sold Defined: For the purposes of this report, the term “homes sold” refers to Single Family Homes and Condominiums. Figures do not include “for sale by owner” homes.
Area Covered: The geographic area covered in this report edition is confined to the Winter Haven, Florida area.
Zip Codes Covered (Edition Specific): The Zip codes included in this report include: 33880, 33881, and 33884.

So without any further adieu, let’s get this show on the road!

Overall, the November 2008 Homes Sold number for the Winter Haven area is down 15 % from the October 2008 totals from 66 to 56, with an average sales price of $126,969. Of the 56 homes sold, 54 were single family homes and 2 were condominiums. The average price per square foot was $73.11, and the average List Price to Sales Price Ratio was 97.19 %, which means that sellers reduced their asking price by an average of 3 %. The data for this report was obtained from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS and is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

The data for actual homes sold, average list price, sold price, and the LP/SP ratios for Winter Haven, Florida – November 2008 breaks out as follows:

For more information on the location of the Winter Haven, Florida homes sold, along with price and size of each home, click on the interactive November 2008 Homes Sold map above, which was created by Chuck Welch of MetroI4News.com