Home Sales Hottest in Three Market Sectors: Distressed Sales, First-Time Buyers and Vacation Homes

Home Sales Hottest in Three Market Sectors: Distressed Sales, First-Time Buyers and Vacation Homes

ORLANDO, Fla. - Central Florida home sales may still leave a lot to be desired but three market segments are warming up fast, according to Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty in Orlando.

“About half of all home sales in the Central Florida market today qualify as distressed sales,” said Soderstrom. “These include short sales and foreclosures,” he said.

That’s no secret, Soderstrom said, but two emerging market segments are much more promising.

“First-time home buyers seeking houses priced under $400,000 are mostly younger buyers, under 34, who were priced out of the market from 2004-2007, but are now able to purchase a home due to a 40-50 percent drop in the median sale price,” Soderstrom said.

Today’s up to $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers is also enhancing current sales activity, he said.

Families seeking vacation homes, pre-retirement and retirement homes are starting to heat up the market, Soderstrom added.

“Many Americans, Canadians and U.K. residents are looking for homes priced from $125,000 to just under $300,000,” Soderstrom said, “and generally they prefer new homes or recently built homes and condominiums.”

“We are seeing substantially more activity in all three of these market sectors, but at the same time we’re seeing some recovery in the upper tier – $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 range – that Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty (http://www.stirlingsir.com/) is most recognized for. There are some amazing values and opportunities in the market right now and I don’t know when it will be a better time to buy a home,” he explained.

“It will be many years before we see a return to 2005 levels but we are seeing many bright spots here and there,” Soderstrom said.

For more information please contact
Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-588-1260

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, worldwide auctions, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates five performance centers which serve all of Central Florida.