The Orlando Sentinel reports from Florida. "The slumping residential real-estate market in the Orlando area is still searching for a bottom. The number of homes and condominiums sold by Orlando Regional Realtor Association members in February fell by nearly 39 percent from the same month a year ago to 1,386."

"At the same time, listings by local Realtors grew again in February, to an all-time high of 22,055. That represented a more than 15-month supply at the recent sales pace, according to the group's estimate."

"Orlando Realtor association President Randy Martin said the fact that growth in the local inventory of homes listed for sale has slowed is encouraging. Only 789 listings were added in February."

"But March, April and May are prime sales months, and some industry analysts have said they expect more frustrated sellers will enter the market, if they can get an agent to handle the listing. The local Realtors' monthly numbers do not include for-sale-by-owner listings."

"Annette Rodriguez recently bought a condominium unit in Kissimmee for $175,000, getting more space and a better deal than she thought she would when she began her search about three months ago."

"'It's a good price. I was going for a 2-2 and got a 3-2 for that price,' she said, snagging a third bedroom in addition to two bathrooms. Also, the sale price was $35,000 below the original asking price of $210,000, and the seller agreed to cover more than $5,000 in closing costs."

"Realtors, trying to find bright spots in the ongoing slump, point to the unprecedented selection of homes and condos and the fact that sellers increasingly have to accept reasonable offers rather than hold out for unrealistic figures."

"Agents are struggling to make a sale, at any price, and more are leaving the field every day, said Sergio Saenz, a Kissimmee broker-agent."

"Local condo sales slipped 52 percent in February from a year earlier. Sales of duplexes, town homes and villas fell 42 percent."

"Home sales in the broader Metro Orlando market, Osceola and Lake in addition to Orange and Seminole counties, fell roughly in line with the core market, down 37.2 percent from February 2006, to 1,725 properties."

"Seminole County sales year-over-year were off 42.5 percent, while Osceola saw a 46 percent slide. Orange County held up best, with a 32.8 percent decrease, followed by Lake County with a 34.9 percent decline."

"'A couple of my Realtors are looking to find full-time jobs right now. They have to pay the bills,' said Saenz. Saenz said many people hunting for homes can't qualify for a loan because prices have outstripped income growth."

"He said the word many Realtors use these days to describe the market is 'frustrating.'"

The Bradenton Herald. "A Palmetto developer is offering to sell two undeveloped Manatee County subdivisions with a combined 380 homes. DL Homes is offering to sell Fox Crossing, a 96-unit, single-family subdivision near 27th Street East, for $3.6 million."

"The developer is also hoping to sell Meadow Terrace and Meadow Terrace West, a combined 284 townhomes near U.S. 301 and Interstate 75, for $9.9 million."

"'Nothing's typical right now because of the way the market conditions are,' said Charlie Donohue, a consultant for DL Homes. 'It was our intention to sell these once they were approved but the market was terrible and it still is.'"

"Edie Ousley, a spokeswoman for the Florida Home Builders Association, said it wasn't surprising that DL Homes was trying to sell subdivisions that aren't yet built. 'It's not unusual that this is happening,' Ousley said. 'It's most likely a reflection of the market conditions that we're experiencing in Florida.'"

"Donohue said DL Homes is in good financial condition and the attempt to pre-sell the Fox Crossing and Meadow Terrace subdivisions is no reflection on the company's future business expectations."

"'Right now we have over 800 lots approved that are in the pipeline,' Donohue said. 'We did 78 homes last year.'"

The News Press. "Last year, Florida lawmakers could pass the largest school-construction budget increase in state history thanks to a hurricane-spawned construction boom. Those days have faded fast." "Florida economists projected that the state's economic slowdown will cost state government $956 million between now and the end of next year."

"The dip stems mostly from plummeting sales-tax collections and documentary taxes on real estate sales, both tied to a down housing market."

"'It's been over 30 years since we've had negative growth,' said Amy Baker, with the Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research."

The Post & Courier from South Carolina. "Homes sales in the Charleston region fell by almost 11 percent last month, while the inventory of residential listings climbed by 72 percent compared to February 2006, offering further evidence of a buyer's market."

"In all, the number of residential sales, including condominiums, dropped to 881 for February, according to the latest figures from the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors. Year to date, transaction volume is off 17 percent to 1,734 sales, the group said Monday."

"Local agents have said the market is more balanced and healthier than it was in 2005, when homes that went on the block in desirable locations were getting snapped up within hours or even minutes of being listed."

"'It's a great time for buyers to enter the market,'" said David Kent, president of the association. 'Terms are more favorable for them than they were in the boom of 2005.'"