Silvia Dukes, BSBA, CIPS, TRC, AHWD,

Inventory of Homes for Sale in Hernando County has again slightly decreased over the previous month. However, closed home sales also decreased slightly with seven fewer successfully closed sales than in August. The number of homes under contract, either with contingency or pending contracts, decreased by 10 properties over last month. Once again, both median and average prices have decreased.

The lowest sales price was obtained for fixer upper that was a foreclosure home. The highest price was achieved for a 3-story custom pool home located in the waterfront community of Hernando Beach, Florida.

The most sales transactions took place again in price ranges up to $200,000. Total sales transactions break out as follows:

Up to $99,999: 92

$100,000 - $199,999: 82

$200,000 - $299,999: 16

$300,000 - $399,999: 1

$400,000 - $499,999: 0

$500,000 and above: 1

Hernando County Market Report

1. Homes:

Active Listings: 2226

Sold September 2009: 187

Price Range: $13,000 - $550,000

Median: $104,900

Average: $112,522

Average Days on Market: 142

Of the homes sold in September 2009, 23 were short sales and 48 were REO or bank-owned properties, and the remaining 116 sales were "regular" market sales.

These same numbers expressed in percentages are as follows: 38% of the sold homes in Hernando County, Florida, were distressed sales, whereas 62% of the sold homes in Hernando County were regular sales.

The overall ratio of average list price to average sales price is 92.7%.

Currently under Contract: 510

Of the homes currently under contract, 218 are with contingency contracts and 292 are pending.

2. Vacant Land

Inventory of Vacant land for sale in Hernando County, Florida decreased in September, some of which can be attributed to sales and some to expired listings. Number of closed transactions saw a slight increase over August sales.

The incredibly low price of $3,000 was achieved for a .28 acre residential building lot in the upscale gated community of Southern Hills Plantation, a beautiful community featuring a challenging golf course designed by Pete Dye. The highest price was for a waterfront lot with 110 feet of frontage along the Gulf of Mexico in the waterfront community of Hernando Beach, Florida.

Active Listings: 1863

Sold September 2009: 17

Price Range: $3,000 - $300,000

Currently Under Contract: 23

Data derived from Hernando County MLS as of 10/2/09, believed to be accurate but not guaranteed.

This is the September 2009 market report for Hernando Beach Waterfront Homes located those areas of the community that have direct boating access to the Gulf of Mexico.

Hernando Beach Waterfront Homes Offered for Sale: 68

Price Range: $82,000 - $850,000

The lowest priced home in Hernando Beach, Florida, is a home that is severely fire damaged. It is offered as a short sale.

Median: $337,300

Average: $359,540

Average Days on Market: 275

Hernando Beach Waterfront Homes Under Contract: 8

Price Range: $150,000 - $579,000

Median: $209,500

Average: $255,225

Average Days on Market: 91

Among the homes under contract, five are short sales, one is a foreclosure home, and two are offered as market listings.

Closed Transactions in September 2009: 3

Sold Property 1: A two-story stil home, offered as a short sale at $150,000 sold for over list price at $175,000. This was a CASH purchase without seller concessions. Built: 1981 Bed/Bath: 2/3 Living SF: 900

Sold Property 2: A three-story stilt home, offered as a short sale at $274,500 sold for $220,000 CASH after total of 395 days on the market. Built: 2004 Bed/Bath: 4/2 Living SF: 1696 Total SF: 3536

Sold Property 3: A three-story stilt home with Pool, offered at market value for a list price of $695,000 sold for $550,000 with conventional financing after 226 days on the market. Built: 2207 Bed/Bath: 3/2 Living SF: 2649 Total SF: 5273.

Sales Data derived from Hernando County MLS as of 10/2/09, believed to be accurate but not guaranteed.

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Evening over Hernando Beach, Florida .... with Pretty Pink Clouds

Living in the waterfront community of Hernando Beach, Florida, has many rewards. One of my particular favorites are the ever changing skies. Every evening, Florida nature is treating the observer to a new sunset that is different from all the others before it.

Here the setting sun is reflecting in some enormous storm clouds that are forming in the east.

It's wonderful to watch the evening unfold as the sun sets. And even with the sun hiding behind a cloud, its light is reflecting in the water, coloring the clouds in the sky, creating a beautiful scene before finally dipping into the sea.

Sunday Harvest Time in the Watermelon Patch!

Today was the day! I decided to taste the fruit of my gardening and finally cut one of my "babies" from its vine just hoping it would be ready.

For weeks I have been watching watermelon vines grow from a few discarded seeds until they covered nearly half the backyard. Luckily, I always considered grass a bit overrated and my husband didn't mind that his mowing chores were decreasing by the day!

I watched the bees as they busied themselves from flower to flower, I watched tiny little melons develop into larger ones and really got excited when I realized they just kept growing and growing!

Thankfully, we had quite a bit of rain lately, so I didn't have to water anything. I also didn't use fertilizers, pesticides nor herbicides and as an added benefit, I noticed a number of cute little lady bugs on some of the leaves.

Finally, I couldn't wait any longer and decided to cut one of the largest ones off the vine. It's probably the best watermelon I've ever had!

Here is a little journey in the life of a watermelon plant and fruit. Enjoy!

Foto Friday (for Fun): Online Conference!

Did you think of Online Conferencing as a modern invention? Well, think again and take a look at this view provided by Florida nature. Perhaps the concept of "on line conferencing" is not that new after all!

These participants were spotted "on line" chatting away. They certainly look like they have been using this "powerful technology" for ages with the skill and "training" passed down by generations before them.