A pair of reports on the Florida housing bubble. "The Orlando area's existing-home sales set another record in February, with prices leveling off but buyers and sellers still signing contracts at a brisk pace, defying predictions of a slowdown. The number of homes for sale in the Orlando area, 12,966, was at record levels. February's inventory was more than triple the number from a year ago, which contributed to the ongoing flattening of the median sales price."

"'There is more of a balance now,' the Orlando Regional Realtor Association president Beverly Pindling said, between buyers and sellers, but 'we are leaning towards a buyer's market. If rates continue to rise, Pindling said, 'you will see fewer buyers,' and that's one reason some sellers are placing their homes for sale now, rather than take a chance that more home buyers will be forced out of the market."

"People may take less [for their home] than they were expecting,' to close the deal, Pindling said. Often, she said, they have to trim their asking price because they need the sale to complete their own home purchase."

"February's existing-homes sales for the nation are scheduled to be released today by the National Association of Realtors."

"The signs of change are popping up all over Southwest Florida, but those looking to move or upgrade their current house are having a hard time selling. Last year, sellers had 4 or 5 buyers for every home, now they're lucky to get just one. Many real estate agents don't see the odds changing anytime soon, so they are changing the way they sell."

"'The real estate agent thought it would be sold by January, but that didn't happen,' said Ron Conrad. Now Conrad keeps making improvements and checking the condition of his home. Despite the efforts, he still can't reel in a buyer. 'We reduced it by $45,000,' said Conrad. His house is on the water. Now other sellers are stressing too."

"'It used to be that the buyer would come to you, now you've got to bring your property to the buyer,' said realtor Brett Ellis. 'We are spending, just the Ellis Team alone, between $60,000 and $70,000 a month,' said Ellis."

"Many local real estate agents who don't use techniques similar to the Ellis Team's are reporting a 25 to 60 percent drop in sales from this time last year to now. 'She did try really hard,' said Conrad. But not hard enough. The 'For Sale' sign still sits in the front yard."

"The downturn in the housing market isn't just in Lee County. Real estate offices in Collier County report sales are down between 25 and 50 percent. Some agents say it's the toughest they've ever had it. Agents in Charlotte County are struggling as well. Sales are slumping about fifty percent in some areas."

From the Wall Street Journal. "Housing bargains are hard to come by in the Fort Lauderdale region. But as sales began to fall late last year, many brokers say this tropical seller's paradise may be hitting a cool spot. Brokers note softening investor interest in the area and increasingly common price reductions on listings."

"'A year ago I could sell something in a half hour with a phone call to an investor,' said Jeanette Nogosanti who owns Oceanique Realty in Pompano Beach, Fl. 'Now those investors have houses they want to sell.'"