The Jacksonville area was the second hottest residential real estate growth market in Florida last year, trailing only the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.
The local area recorded a 15 percent increase in homes sold and a 17 percent boost in the median sales price. The Tampa-St. Pete numbers were 17 and 15, respectively.
While Jacksonville’s total unit sales of 16,150, as compared to 2003’s 14,072, were far behind Tampa-St. Pete (47,639) and Orlando (36,659) the area was ahead of the rest of the state. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton was fourth followed by Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota-Bradenton, Daytona Beach and Miami.
The median price paid here for a home last year was $159,000, up from $138,200.
The statistics were compiled by the Florida Association of Realtors, which breaks the state down into 20 sections defined by the 2000 census and called Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The numbers come from a survey of Multiple Listing Service sales levels as provided by the real estate associations in the various MSAs.
Overall, Florida had an 11 percent increase in sales and a 17 percent jump in median price.
The highest median price was in the Naples area at $374,300; the lowest was Ocala’s $109,600. Only the West Palm-Boca area showed a decline in sales, losing one percent.