Have you ever wanted to easily find the CENSUS data for a particular zip code?  How about the demographics? How about information on schools in a particular area?  I came across a neat site that pulls it all together with info, charts, graphs, and comparison reports.

The site is http://zipskinny.com and you can search by city or even more easily by just entering a zip code.  I entered my Bradenton, Florida zip code and this is the first page of the info.  Note the tabs and the wealth of information provided.

If you are thinking of moving to Bradenton, Florida click here to see a zip code map of Manatee and Sarasota Counties.

(Copyright © 2008 By Dan Forbes, All Rights Reserved.)

“We are going to see the collapse of the condo market, both in Manatee and Sarasota counties (Florida),”

said Hank Fishkind.  Hank is a Florida economist and his opinion is quite sought after.  Once a year he speaks to our local Chamber of Commerce, but this meeting was a Lakewood Ranch last Friday to a gathering of about 300 people.

Fishkind expects very slow growth in 2008.  Perhaps 1 to 2 percent at best. Yet, he predicted that our area has reached the bottom in terms of depreciating home prices and surplus inventory.  He expects the climb upward to begin soon.

Manatee and Sarasota counties are in favorable positions because of two nearby airports.  Namely, Tampa International and Sarasota - Bradenton International.  Also, the I-75 corridor runs down through both counties. And, then there’s the sunshine and the gulf beaches.

Manatee County was actually the second best Metro-market for all of Florida in December, as far as number of home sales.  We are seeing the surplus of inventory dropping and home prices stabilizing.  It does appear to be a great buying opportunity.

Want to know more about our Bradenton Florida real estate market?  Please pick up the phone and give me a call.

(Copyright © 2008 By Dan Forbes, All Rights Reserved.)

Our Manatee County, Florida real estate market continues to show slow improvement.  That is welcomed news! 

However we are not out of the woods yet.  Economist Hank Fishkind predicts the number of homes for sale in Manatee County won’t return to normal until the middle of 2009, when the market is expected to finally hit bottom.

The Total Market Overview Reports below show by price range:

* Current number of active listings
* Number of expired listings for the month
* Total Number of Pending Listings
* Number of closed sales for the month
* Absorption Rate
* Average List Price and Average Sale Price
* Average Days on Market
* Market Trend: Improving or Not
* Compared to 6 months ago
* Compared to 1 year ago

Dec 2007 Residential

Dec 2007 Condo

Please contact me, Dan Forbes, or call 941-713-5760 if you have any questions about our Bradenton Florida Real Estate market. Please visit BradentonFloridaRealEstate.com; The-Short-Sale-Expert.com

This post contains a link to photos of a man having been swallowed by an Anaconda. There are no photos in this post for the sake of sensitivity.

I’ve been working with a lot of short sale clients and I often picture our current foreclosure problem in the housing market like a pig having been swallowed by an Anaconda.  It is just going to have to work its way through the beast.

I recently came across this advice on what to do if you are attacked by an Anaconda.  This is an excerpt from the U.S. Government Peace Corps Manual for volunteers working in the Amazon jungle - what to do if an anaconda attacks you.

Related to the boa constrictor, the anaconda is the largest snake species in the world. It grows to thirty-five feet in length and weighs three to four hundred pounds.

1. If you are attacked by an anaconda, do not run. The snake is faster than you are.

2. Lie flat on the ground. Put your arms tight against your sides, your legs tight against one another.

3. Tuck your chin in.

4. The snake will begin to nudge and climb over your body.

5. Do not panic.

6. After the snake has examined you, it will begin to swallow you from the feet end - always from the feet end. Permit the snake to swallow your feet and ankles. Do not panic!

7. The snake will now begin to suck your legs into its body. You must lie perfectly still. This will take a long time.

8. When the snake has reached your knees, slowly and with as little movement as possible, reach down, take your knife and very gently slide it into the side of the snake’s mouth between the edge of its mouth and your leg, then suddenly rip upward, severing the snake’s head.

9. Be sure you have your knife.

10. Be sure your knife is sharp.

And now, about foreclosure…

(more…)

That’s the headline of a National Association of Realtor’s press release about the state of the housing market.

“Existing-home sales are projected to trend up in 2008, with pending home sales showing a slight near-term rise, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). ”

The release further said, “Existing-home sales are likely to total 5.67 million this year, the fifth highest on record, rising to 5.70 million in 2008, in contrast with 6.48 million in 2006. Existing-home prices should be down 1.9 percent to a median of $217,600 for all of 2007, and then rise 0.3 percent to $218,300 in 2008.” 

About mortgage rates it said, “The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is estimated to rise slowly to the 6.4 percent range by the end of 2008, with additional cuts in the Fed funds rate lowering short-term interest rates.”

Please contactme, Dan Forbes, or call if you have questions about our Bradenton, Florida real estate market at 941-746-0505; toll free 877-646-8326.  Visit my web site BradentonFloridaRealEstate.com 

From multiple sources, we are seeing good news. Finally!!