The housing market is showing signs of improvement according to data released from Realtor.com.

Within this year, in Florida which was one of the states hit hardest by the housing market crash, median list prices for single family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops surged.

Realtor.com studied 146 municipal areas and reported that four out of five markets that experienced the largest year-over-year increases in their median list price were in Florida.

As reported on Realtor.com, “the median list price was up by more than 5 percent on an annual basis in Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL (+27.27 percent); Miami, FL (+9.17 percent); Shreveport-Bossier City, LA (+8.82 percent); Fort Wayne, IN (+6.90 percent); Springfield, IL (+6.75 percent); and Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, FL (+5.20 percent)”.

Interestingly, Florida also continues to rank high on the list for best places to retire. As the market is potentially springing back in Florida, retirees who are seeking lower taxes, cheap housing and a milder climate may also help fuel the recovery.

Cape Coral, Florida is one of the 25 best places to retire, according to CNNMoney.com. Even though median list prices have ticked up, home prices in this area fell more than 60% since the 2006 peak. So there’s a whole lot of deals for homebuyers.

A three-bedroom, 1,800-square-foot house that included a pool was purchased for $145,000. It’s a calm area with not much nightlife but there’s golf and a farmer’s market to keep you busy.

Also in Florida, Clearwater, makes the list for the 25 best places to retire, according to CNNMoney.com. The beach town is now much more affordable than it once was. Median home prices have dropped to half of what they were at their peak. This makes Clearwater a place to affordably downsize and still have a nice lifestyle. You can get a two-bedroom condo on the beach in a well-manicured neighborhood for approximately $150,000 to $200,000 and there’s no state income taxes.

There are many more cities that made the 25 best places to retire but they were outside of Florida. Included in the top five were: Marquette, Michigan; Cape Coral, Florida; Boise, Idaho; Danville, Kentucky; and Weatherford, Texas.

Regardless of where they’re buying, baby boomers are purchasing well ahead of time. CNNMoney reported that some people are buying their retirement home seven years before retirement because the deals on homes are so good.

For those who buy ahead, the question is what do you do with the property until you retire?

Pre-retirees often rent their homes to tenants who will sign long-term leases or, if the home is in a tourist location, they’ll seek vacationers to rent it. It might not cover their entire monthly expenses, but at least the pre-retirees are getting a deal now while they have the cash.

Published: September 30, 2011

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Phoebe Chongchua is an award-winning journalist, an author, customer service trainer/speaker, and founder of Setting the Service Standard, a customer service training and consulting program offered by Live Fit Enterprises (LFE) based in San Diego, California. She is the publisher of Live Fit Magazine, an online publication that features information on real estate/finance, physical fitness, travel, and philanthropy. Her company, LFE, specializes in media services including marketing, PR, writing, commercials, corporate videos, customer service training, and keynotes & seminars. Visit her magazine website: www.LiveFitMagazine.com. Phoebe's articles, feature stories, and columns appear in various publications including The Coast News, Del Mar Village Voice, Rancho Santa Fe Review, and Today's Local News in San Diego, as well as numerous Internet sites. She holds a California real estate license. Phoebe worked for KGTV/10News in San Diego as a Newscaster, Reporter and Community Affairs Specialist for more than a decade. Phoebe's writing is also featured in Donald Trump's book: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Buying Foreclosures. She is the author of If the Trash Stinks, TAKE IT OUT! 14 Worriless Principles for Your Success. Contact Phoebe at (858) 259-3646 or . Visit PhoebeChongchua.com for more information.