[pianogal]

In CNN Money's list of the best places to buy in the current slow real estate market, Florida holds 3 of the top ten spots.

Panama City, Florida is No. 1
A small city needs one of two things to jack up housing demand: more people or wealthier people. Unlike the rest of Florida, Panama City hasn't really attracted either, mainly because it's isolated on Florida's panhandle. The interstate highway system bypasses it, and the runway at the local airport isn't long enough to support anything beyond regional jets.

But now Panama City is poised to host big airliners, more visitors - and a lot more buyers. State and local governments and a top regional developer, St. Joe Co., are planning to build a new airport by 2008 at a cost of more than $300 million. Locals expect the new facility to open up the region the way Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers helped drive a housing boom along Florida's southwestern coast in the 1980s.

"Panama City is an economy waiting to break out," says Steven Cochrane, chief regional economist for Moody's Economy.com. Other factors increasing demand: Property prices are still low by Florida standards, and the local market has already absorbed a price correction after peaking last year.
Janet Roan, a Century 21 agent in Panama City, notes that two-bedroom beachfront condos are going for as little as $330,000 - down by more than $100,000 from 2005.

Vero Beach, Florida is No. 2
Balmy weather, low property taxes, and a cost of living 3% lower than that of nearby West Palm Beach make this coastal town an affordable alternative, with sandy shores and the best surfing on the East Coast.

Lakeland, Florida is No. 4
Aside from the panhandle and Vero Beach, few places in Florida scream out "buy now" like Lakeland. A house goes for a fifth less than the national median of $227,500, and Lakeland is just 30 minutes from Tampa, a juggernaut of 2.7 million people that's projected to add almost 210,000 more residents over the next five years.


The scary thing about this is that in a few years these areas will be as crowded as the rest of Florida!

[MrTudo]

Panama City gets deluged with spring breakers. When that is driven out, adults and money will take a closer look at Panama City.

The Panhandle in general seems to be quite a bit more economical than the lower east or west coasts. It's cold up there in the winter time baby!

Which frankly is one of the attractions for us as we are looking ( not in panama city but quite a bit west of there ) to maybe buy something and relocate.

[Jammie]

Alright!! Thank you for sharing that with us, Pianogirl. We think the panhandle looks pretty interesting and we've even checked prices on condos in a few places up there. They really aren't too expensive. And their rent~Tallahassee has apartments that are cheaper then they are in So. Dak. I also read an interesting article on AOL a few days ago. They were talking about the top ten places to find employment and the Fort Walton/Destin/I can't remember the third one area was on that list.

[Need_affordable_home]

I dont believe their predictions. I do believe acreage vacent lots in central and north FL have potentional, you can get several acres cheap right now. If an area is already expensive, it has little room to grow. My city West Palm Beach is still correcting with falling prices and prices are still unaffordable for most.

[sunrico90]

Northwest Florida still affordable for anyone that wants to explore. Land and housing is available in all price ranges... Something that you can't find in other areas...