The Florida realtors have the July numbers out. "Florida's housing sector continued to show signs of market adjustments in July as mortgage rates edged up and the inventory of homes available for sale remained at higher levels in many markets. A total of 14,451 existing single-family homes sold statewide last month, a decrease of 33 percent from the 21,691 homes sold during the previous July, according to FAR."

"Sales of existing condos also decreased in July, with a total of 4,260 condos sold statewide compared to 6,739 in July 2005 for a 37 percent decrease."

"The housing slowdown continues in South Florida as the median price of an existing single-family home in Broward County fell 1 percent in July compared to the same month last year. Sales across the region continued to plummet, especially in Palm Beach County, where sales were off 44 percent compared to last July."

"In Miami-Dade County, the slowdown in condo sales narrowed in July. Sales were off just 12 percent, but the median price fell 11 percent to $252,000."

The Herald Tribune. "Realtors in the Sarasota-Bradenton area sold 49 percent fewer homes in July than they did a year ago, and the median price on the homes they did sell declined 11 percent. The Port Charlotte-Punta Gorda market was nearly as dismal. July closings declined 37 percent to 236 from the 374 of a year ago. The median price of a Charlotte County home fell 4 percent from a year ago to $228,300 from $236,600."

The Naples News. "Realtor-assisted single-family home sales in Collier County slumped 51 percent last month compared to July 2005. The median price dropped 6 percent in the year. Home sales in Lee County dropped 32 percent, from 1,026 in July last year to 694 last month. The median price dropped 8 percent. Condo sales in Lee County dropped 50 percent, from 356 to 179, although prices increased 35 percent, from $256,700 to $346,300."

The Orlando Sentinel. "Toll Brothers Inc. said Tuesday that its third-quarter profits fell by 19 percent as the housing-market malaise weighed on sales and caused the luxury home builder to abandon some locations. CEO Robert Toll told analysts during a conference call that he doesn't yet see signs of improvement nationwide."

"'I don't see a turnaround in any of the markets,' he said. 'I don't see any forming a bottom.'"

"The housing market has been getting weaker faster than expected, said Alex Barron, senior housing analyst with JMP Securities. Toll Brothers' vulnerability is its luxury niche. 'What's hurting Toll is just the fact that they build luxury homes. Luxury homes are very discretionary,' he said. 'People who want to live on the golf course, they can do so today or they can wait a year. There's no hurry.'"

"Barron said Toll Brothers' strategy of not cutting prices hurt its sales, since many builders are doing it. Over the weekend for example, Lennar Corp. slashed prices of homes in a Florida community. One 3,900-square-foot house was selling for $560,000 down from $768,000, a savings of $208,000."