The News Herald reports from Florida. "Bay County’s housing market came back to earth last year and will continue building steam in early 2007, says the president of the Bay County Association of Realtors. Acknowledging that 2006 was a 'tough and challenging' year for housing sales and prices, association president Teresa Dyer said she thought the area’s market had corrected itself."

"Prices for existing area homes dropped 12 percent in November, with a median sales price of $201,200, according to FAR. The median sales price in November for an existing Panama City-area condominium declined to $275,000."

"Some homeowners are still in denial about their homes’ values, (broker) Tom Neubauer said. 'The ones that are realistic are selling their homes,' Neubauer said."

"Neubauer said the county has a high housing inventory, with an 18-month supply of single-family housing and a 3- to 4-year supply of condominium units."

"Despite the 2006 decline in area housing sales and prices, Dyer said there are still 1,461 members in her organization. She said the association will not know until Jan. 25...that’s the deadline for members’ renewal dues. 'When somebody drops off, there’s always somebody to take their place,' Dyer said."

The Associated Press. "The owners of nearly 500 mobile homes in one of the last waterfront trailer-park towns in South Florida stand to become instant millionaires if they agree to sell to a developer."

"Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty is not so sure it's a done deal because of constraints on zoning, water, sewage and traffic. 'I find the developers extremely optimistic to the point of being delusional,' she said."

"For one thing, the community is in a hurricane evacuation zone and has few ways in or out. Developers will have to clear their plans through the state before any dirt is moved, and neighboring communities will have a chance to weigh in."

"'This would be extremely complicated and extremely unpopular,' McCarty said. 'But people see dollar signs and it sparks the imagination.'"

From NBC 2 News. "Real estate agents say they expect Southwest Florida's sagging housing market to pick back up in 2007. Good news for sellers, like Robert Christopholidge, who have had their homes on the market for several months."

"'They were selling real good last year during the boom then I don't know somebody pulled the plug. Some people are looking, but a lot are just not purchasing,' said Christopholidge."

"That meant in order to attract buyers; sellers had to lower their prices. Christopholidge dropped his price nearly $200,000. 'It was $445,000 somewhere in there and all the way down to $260,000,' he said."

"'Some people say well the buyers left the market that's not actually true - what we like to say is the sellers' prices left the market,' said (realtor) Jim Woodard."

"Agents admit there are still lots of homes on the market, but say there are buyers out there too. And Christopholidge may be proof. 'He got an excellent deal you know, but I guess that's what everybody's looking for,' he said."