| If you've been considering buying a home in | | | | |
| Clearwater, the stars are lining up in your | | | | Now that new construction has caught up with |
| favor, say housing experts. The Clearwater | | | | the demand for new homes in Clearwater, the |
| real estate market has become a buyers' | | | | real estate market has steadied and new home |
| market, shifting almost 180 degrees in just | | | | sales have slowed to a more normal rate. If |
| one short year. After a sharp spike in home | | | | you're in the market to buy Clearwater real |
| prices from 2003-2005, the market seems to be | | | | estate, you've got quite a few positives |
| adjusting itself and leveling off, with | | | | going for you right now: |
| Clearwater homes settling in at a very | | | | |
| affordable price. While I personally don't | | | | - Prices have dropped slightly, but home |
| believe there has been any bubbles bursting | | | | values are expected to remain level or |
| here, if you've been waiting for the best | | | | continue to rise at a more reasonable level |
| time to buy real estate in Clearwater, that | | | | |
| time has arrived. | | | | - Clearwater real estate prices are still |
| | | | below those of metropolitan areas throughout |
| The Tampa Bay / Clearwater area has | | | | the country, including other Florida regions |
| traditionally been one of Florida's largest | | | | |
| housing markets, with a solid population, low | | | | - The economy is strong, with unemployment |
| unemployment and strong family neighborhoods. | | | | below the national average |
| Beginning in 2002, the demand for single | | | | |
| family housing in the Clearwater area of | | | | - Property taxes are among the lowest in the |
| Pinellas County began to rise, and then | | | | country |
| spiked suddenly. The fuel for this sudden | | | | |
| spike was a combination of corporate | | | | - Mortgage rates are low, but the interest |
| relocations, normal turnover in the housing | | | | rates are starting to edge up |
| market and speculative real estate investors | | | | |
| trying to cash in on home prices that rose | | | | Of course, there are advantages other than |
| 98% in five years, including a 30% jump from | | | | financial to owning a home in Clearwater. |
| 2004 to 2005. From 2001 to 2005, the median | | | | Pinellas County consistently ranks in the top |
| price for a single family home sale in | | | | metropolitan areas to live. The climate is |
| Clearwater rose from $109,600 to $217,400, | | | | sunny and warm, the school systems are |
| and speculators scrambled to grab up | | | | excellent, the economy is strong and the Gulf |
| properties with the expectation of cashing in | | | | of Mexico is at your doorstep. What more |
| with a short-term turnover. | | | | could you want in a home and a place to live? |