Petra Norris - Lakeland Florida Realtor® Lakeland Florida Real Estate,

Update for the Lakeland real estate market! Currently, there are 1934 homes for sale throughout Lakeland – as of 10/20/09, which remained balanced for the past few weeks. Newly listed homes for the period of October 1^st through October 15^th totaled 185 Lakeland homes recently came on the market. Average sales price of $154,469 or $89.68 per square foot with area Realtors®.

The types of homes and average prices just listed in Lakeland, Florida according to the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) are as follows:

7 condos listed with an average sales price of $112,385

16 mobile homes listed with an average sales price of $96,662

8 Townhomes/Villas listed with an average sales price of $89,521

154 single family homes with an average price of $165,762

The priciest Lakeland real estate just listed is a 2008 pool home located in the Crescent Woods subdivision; featuring 4 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths with over 4,400 square feet of living space currently offered for $895,000. On the contrary, the cheapest Lakeland home newly listed is a 2 bedroom 1 bath listed for only $10,000 – just under $15.00 per square foot – located in the Palma Ceia Court subdivision.

Please continue to read for more details by clicking this link

Celebrating its 10^th anniversary, the annual Mercedes-Benz Lake Mirror Classic takes place around Lake Mirror and in the downtown Lakeland area on October 16/17, 2009. Lakeland expects an estimated 35,000 people wandering around Lake Mirror for the two day event which is considered as one of the best shows in the Southeast. Visiting the extraordinary event will mesmerize car enthusiasts around Lakeland and the country.

This two-day charity event raises money for Lakeland’s non-profit groups, such as the Junior Achievement, Pied Piper Players, Boy Scouts, the First Tee, Historic Lakeland, and Lakeland Regional Cancer. More than $200,000.00 has been raised or donated helping them raise needed funds through the sale of food and beverage at the event.

The honorary chairman for this year’s Festival is Hall of Famer and endurance racer Hurley Hawood, known as a one-of-a-kind driver winning the 24 Hours of Daytona five times – a pioneer and a legend indeed.

What can you expect at Lakeland’s Lake Mirror Classic?

Friday, October 16^th from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. there will be a free Budweiser Hot Rod Rendezvous at the Lake Mirror Amphitheater with a free outdoor concert featuring live music by Jr. and the MDs, 100 hot rod and custom cars.. The Hot Rod Rendezvous will benefit the Junior Achievement of Polk County

Saturday, October 17^th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Lake Mirror Park and downtown Lakeland, Judged Concours d’ Elegance – “contest of elegance” for 100 selected cars in the following categories:

1. Brass Era Vehicles
2. Pre-War Classics 1925-1942
3. Pre-War Production Cars 1900 - 1942
4. Post-War Production Cars 1945-1962
5. Commercial Vehicles thru 1959
6. Muscle Cars 1964-1972
7. Domestic Sports Cars Thru 1972
8. Foreign Sports Cars Thru 1972
9. Cars of Particular Interest

Art Deco Automobiles featuring 1930 Mercedes-Benz 130H (German), 1938 Panhard Dynamic (France), 1937 Tatra T87 (Czechoslovakia), and the Peugeot Darl’ mat (France). Classic Wooden Boat show at Lake Mirror, Classic Motorcycles

Noon: Lunch Parade to the Lake Mirror Promenade led by Scottish bag-piper as tuxedo-clad Terrace Hotel waiters delivers lunch to Concours d’ Elegance participants.

2:00 p.m.: Parade of Classic Wooden Boats at Lake Mirror

3:00 p.m.: Awards Ceremony of Concours d’Elegance trophy presentation

I invite you to check out the photos by clicking on the picture I took at last year’s event of the Lake Mirror Classic – you don’t want to miss it – Truly Amazing!

Lakeland Florida - Lake Mirror Classic 2008

Lakeland Fl attract new residents – Makes Forbes Top 10 List of ”U.S. Cities on the Rise”

Despite the recent reports that Florida’s population growth slowed down considerable the last few years. There were more accolades for the State of Florida, especially for the City of Lakeland. Forbes.com released its Top 10 list of U.S. Cities on the Rise. With Colorado Springs, Co snatching up the top spot – no surprise to me, especially after visiting this beautiful city. This statistic was based on the percentage of residents, one year or older, who moved in 2008 into the 100 most populous Metropolitan Statistical area.

Equally and no surprise to me, Florida with its top 4 cities of #7 Cape Coral, #8 Lakeland, #9 Palm Bay, and #10 Bradenton rounding out the “Top 10 List” with most newcomers selecting moving to college towns.

Lakeland, Fl – Winter Haven metropolitan is a very diverse community, not only a good place for attracting retirees, but also people that have graduated from our local colleges and universities and attracting like-minded folks.

College and University Information for the Lakeland-Winter Haven Metropolitan area:

• Everest University
• Florida Southern College
• Keiser University
• Polk State College
• Southeastern University
• University of South Florida
• USF Polytechnic
• Warner University
• Webster University

As always the Downtown Lakeland Partnership prides itself of hosting and organizing First Friday. Expect the unexpected at this month local event’s theme “Art Walk” on October 2^nd, 2009 in downtown Lakeland. Art Galleries throughout downtown Lakeland hosting art exhibits and reception and you are invited. Take a moment out of your busy schedule and see what our local artists have to offer and patron our local merchants. We have true talent here in Lakeland showcasing their art work displayed throughout downtown Lakeland – it’s worth checking it out.

It all starts at 6:00 p.m. – restaurants, stores, galleries, and coffee shops are open late. What else can
you expect to see?

• Dance performances
• Music & Entertainment on the streets
• Big Tent Sale
• Mitchells Coffee House – art reception and poetry reading
• Senator Paula Dockery will be there to talk with you!
• Performances in the street from Rae’s Retro Mannequin and Modeling.
• Performances stat at 7:00pm in front of J Rowan Galleries with Michael’ Jackson’s “Thriller“, Rocky Horror’s “Time Warp“ - Plus a Michael Jackson Impersonator will be there!
• Garden Bistro – next to Hollis Garden offers a German Buffet at $9.99 – Wiener Schnitzel, red cabbage, hot German potato salad and more. Music will also be provided by The Sofa Kings from 7:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• Brooke Pottery – meet two local birding enthusiasts Rob Mason and Linda Snavley and hear their stories, they may reveal some of their hot-spots for bird watching. In addition, they will show off Rob’s outstanding photographs of Florida birds, including Lakeland’s mascot – the swan.

Although there is no comparison to Mr. Rob Mason's outstanding photographs, I do want to share with you some of my
photographs of this wonderful creature – hope you enjoy!

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

Lakeland real estate sales activity decreased for August, there were 166 homes sold down 12% from the previous month of 188. While prices are also lagging behind the numbers from last year, home sales increased by 27% from August 2008 in Lakeland, Florida.

While the median prices held steady for August at $130,000 for homes sold in Lakeland when compared to the previous month. Average sold prices decreased to $136,324 ($73.75 per sq.ft.) or 8% from the previous month and 13% from the previous year, respectively for Lakeland Real Estate.

Average Lakeland Sold price for August 2008 – $155,918– decrease of 13%

Median Lakeland sold price for August 2008 – $140,000 – decrease of 7%

Distressed properties in Lakeland, Florida

For the month of August, distressed homes and bank-owned (REO) properties had a market share of 45% in the Lakeland Real Estate market.......

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