Bradenton ranks 1 of 3 Florida markets to make the top 20 "Healthiest Housing Markets in the US"

Twice annually, Builder magazine works with Hanley Wood Market Intelligence to compile a list of the healthiest housing markets in the United States, based on forward projections for the metrics that drive housing production -- jobs, price appreciation, population growth, and income growth.

The projections come from Moody's Economy.com, and we are proud to share that our great town of Bradenton ranked #9!

Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Fl

Health Index: 79.5

2011 Population Forecast: 697,300

2011 Total Building Permit Forecast: 789

2012 Total Building Permit Forecast: 1,373

Sarasota, a seaside metro area with affordable housing stock, is one of three Florida markets to make our top 20. The area is south of Tampa Bay and north of Fort Myers.

Though permit activity nosedived last year, it regained forward momentum this year on the strength of a pick-up in the multifamily market. Most of the permit activity is in Manatee County, which was up strongly in the first half of the year. Pulte, D.R. Horton, and Lennar are active in Sarasota, along with local powerhouses Neal Communities and Lee Wetherington Homes.

Local real estate agents, whose blogs might have you believe there was never a housing recession here, will be happy to hear that homes prices are expected to rise 2.8 percent next year on the strength of some of the strongest employment growth on a percentage basis (3.7 percent) in the country.

So if you are interested in more information on buying an investment, primary or 2nd home in Bradenton, now is the time!