Last week, the chief economist of the National Association of Realtors said this morning, he predicts Florida real estate prices to jump 10% by the end of the year as inventories decrease and investors battle for what remains of income-producing properties. He was optimistic that real estate in hard hit states, such as Florida, Nevada and Arizona has largely hit bottom and are on the way back up.

“Compared to other parts of the United States the South West Florida market, is recovering very quickly from over supply to a shortage of inventory.

At least one report released today appears to support this prediction. The National Association of Realtors website said the median list price for a Palm Beach County home was up 15% in April to US$225,000 compared to the same time in 2011.

At the national level, the median list price was up 5.5% for the same time period. In addition, rental activity in the Miami Beach and especially South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach surged 20% in the first quarter of 2012 on a year-over-year basis compared to the same January through April period in 2011 even as the median lease rate increased by 25%.

International buyers are centered on South-Florida real estate market. Experts are expecting international sales to be even more important in 2012.

In 2011 Florida is accounting for nearly 1/3 of transactions by international buyers. Foreigners bought for $82 billion of residential properties in the US this year.

A study from the National Association of Realtors shows that in Florida 30% of the international deals took place in the Miami-Miami Beach-Fort Lauderdale market. Orlando Region accounted for 14% of international sales of Florida.

The foreign buyer are buying mainly condos; The South American buyers see South Florida real estate as haveing a great value. Experts are saying that international transactions will be even stronger in 2012. It is an very good time to be an investor or buyer in South Florida.