Lakeland, FL

It may get hot “downtown Lakeland”, but surely a cool place to be for First Friday’s event of “Dog Days of Summer”. So come on down to Munn Park and bring your family, friends and pooches too. Let the fun begin with a costume contest, dog-owner look-a-like contest. Dog obedience exhibitions will be held throughout downtown locations with plenty of cool water to drink for your fury friends.

It all starts at 6:00 p.m. with restaurants, coffee shops, stores and galleries open late. Arts on the park with an art reception, YMCA, Lofty Ideas, Garden Bistro, Mitchells Coffee House, Lifestyle Family Fitness, J. Rowman Galleries, South Florida Baptist Association, Florida Blood Services for blood donation and Fast Frame will be there to offer activities and showcase art work.

Don’t forget to stop by the classic car show on Tennessee Avenue

The Winter Haven Kennel club will host a “meet and greet” for large and small breed dogs. For more information please visit www.downtownlakelandfl.com

Check out these photos I took when I took my family at last year’s event of Dog Days of Summer – I had a blast.

Bi-weekly update for the Lakeland real estate market! Currently, there are 1967 homes for sale throughout Lakeland – as of 7/30/09. The homes newly listed for sale dropped from two weeks ago to 138 homes in Lakeland with an average sales price of $229,481 or $100.38 per square foot with area Realtors®. But why the drastic increase for the average price for Lakeland homes newly listed? Within the last two weeks, there were 4 Lakeland homes listed for over $1 million, which resulted in an increase of the average sales price for Lakeland Real Estate. The types of homes and average prices being actively marketed according to the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) are as follows:

1 duplex listed for $160,000

7 condos listed with an average sales price of $120,714

8 mobile homes listed with an average sales price of $78,162

3 Townhomes/Villas listed for $111,013

119 single family homes with an average price of $249,500

As I mentioned before about four Lakeland Homes priced over the $1 million threshold. There is more information about this report by clicking here

For Lakeland housing report for the month of June, I thought I share it with you in pictures.

Lakeland Homes sold in June: 169 - previous month: 156 – previous year June 08: 148 sold

Which zip codes represents the most sales activities since January 2009?

What are the various average prices in each Lakeland zip code?

Take a look at my spreadsheet below. I’ve separated the report by zip code instead of school zones; it gives you a more accurate report in my opinion. The data and graphs for this report were obtained from the Mid-Florida Regional MLS, it is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This report does not include “For Sale By Owner”. The numbers highlighted in pink represents the zip codes where average sold prices have exceeded.

Lakeland Real Estate average and median home prices

Average sales price in June: $145,767 – previous month: $124,689 – previous year June 08: $177,190

Median sales price in June: $125,000 – previous month: $119,500 – previous year June 08: $165,250

The graph below represents average and median prices in Lakeland for various categories.

Let’s break it down for you to see the supply and demand for common properties for sale versus the distressed market in the Lakeland real estate market.

Common properties only – Inventory active and pending 1697 homes resulting in 18 month of supply. Distressed properties – Inventory active and pending 742 homes resulting in a 12 month supply.

Bank-Owned properties continue to influence Lakeland Real Estate

Since the beginning of the year, distressed homes and bank-owned (REO) properties for the Lakeland Real Estate market still play a major role.

Sales activities shows 64 properties sold in June according to Mid-Florida Regional MLS.

26 Distressed Homes Sold - average sold price $132,588 – median sold price $127,500

38 Bank-owned (REO) sold – average sold price $95,229 – median sold price $83,153

For a more detailed report, which includes an interactive map and graphs, please visit by clicking this link to my Lakeland Market Reports

Let’s take a look at last month sold report for the surrounding cities in Polk County:

Winter Haven - 75 properties sold - average sold price $119,128 - average $64.40 per sq.ft.

Bartow - 17 properties sold - average sold price $79,472 average $52.63 per sq.ft.

Mulberry - 17 properties sold - average sold price $108,108 - average $67.32 per sq.ft.

Auburndale – 17 properties sold - average sold price $115,122 - average $60.36 per sq.ft.

Polk City - 6 properties sold – average sold price $93,448 - $52.25 per sq.ft.

Lake Alfred – 10 properties sold – average sold price $112,829 - $54.84 per sq.ft.

If you are interested in a specific area or neighborhood, feel free to contact me at petra@petranorris.com or click the search button below.

I hope you found this post useful! If you need help finding or selling your Lakeland, Florida home, please contact me at 863-619-6918. If you’re new to Lakeland, I’d especially like to extend a warm welcome. I value my clients and provide them with honest, reliable service. Allow me to introduce you to the Lakeland real estate landscape and all it has to offer.

After a little sabbatical from doing my weekly market report for Lakeland because of time constraints, due to other commitments personally and professionally; I’m back to keep Lakeland residents and those interested in Lakeland real estate up-to-date.

The only thing that will change, the report will come to you every two weeks – bi-weekly.

The most important factor happening with the Lakeland housing market is ” supply”.

Currently, there are 1981 homes for sale in Lakeland. The last time I saw our inventory drop below 2000 was July 2006 – wow exactly 3 years ago. Lakeland Homes for sale bi-weekly update! There were 146 homes newly listed in Lakeland with an average sales price of $181,430 or $95.71 per square foot with area Realtors®.

Please continue to read for a more detailed report by click here

Lakeland Local Events – First Friday, Red White and Kaboom, Independence Day

Lakeland Florida is the place to be for this weekend’s 4^th of July holiday celebration and local events are the best Family Entertainment.

First Friday is celebrated on the first Friday of every month and this free event is themed “Sundown Celebration”. It’s happening downtown Lakeland around Munn Park (Kentucky and Tennessee Avenue) July 3^rd, 2009 starting at 4 p.m. – an hour early this time just because it is a holiday and you should have an early start to share this wonderful celebration with your family Downtown Lakeland.

A classic car show will also take place, just like every month with some great looking cars.

Kentucky Avenue will be closed for bounce houses, kiddie train, and cake eating contests, face painting, hula hoops, sidewalk chalk and many more activities planned by our local merchants. Shops stay open late and downtown restaurants will have outdoor seating on Kentucky Avenue for you and your family to enjoy an evening dinner before heading down to Lake Mirror for the Red, White & Kaboom celebration!

Airbrush tattoos and balloon artists will add to the fun. Some of these activities will require the purchase of tickets.

This month’s art reception takes place at Mitchells Coffee House on N. Kentucky Ave. featuring local photographer Jon Boring from 6-9pm. Not to forget, if you are an arts enthusiast there is an art reception at Arts on the Park on N. Kentucky Ave. every month during First Friday from 6-9pm.

Speaking of Red, White & Kaboom celebration, this celebration almost did not happen with the economy

being blamed. Local Sponsors came through giving its citizens and folks visiting Lakeland, something to look forward to in the celebration of Independence Day.

This event takes place almost simultaneously with First Friday starting at 6:00 p.m. with live music – pop/rock sounds by the popular local band MillHopper. Plenty of drink and food vendors will be displayed around Lake Mirror. So, just bring your blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy this wonderful family celebration at the Lake Mirror Promenade.

Around 9:00 p.m. a spectacular firework display will round out the first day of the 4^th of July celebration – Trust me, you don’t want to miss this event!

Fireworks display two days in a row only happens in Lakeland

The celebration continues on Saturday, July 4, at the Joker Marchant Stadium. There will be a dazzling display of fireworks around 9:00 p.m. following the Lakeland Flying Tigers vs. the Tampa Bay Yankees baseball game. Joker Marchant Stadium, the home of the Detroit Tigers during Spring Training, is located at 2301 Lakeland Hills Boulevard in Lakeland.

Happy Independence Day - America!!!