"It's quite difficult now-situation is quite difficult for us to sell."\

It's mixed news when it comes to the state and Gainesville's housing market.
Recent numbers from the Florida Association of Realtors shows an 18 percent increase in the overall sales of homes. However, things are different for Gainesville. From April 2008 to April 2009, Gainesville's homes sales have seen a decrease of 40 percent, the largest drop for any metropolitan area. Ocala saw a decrease of 8 percent.

"The reason the decrease is so great because the property values have retained, stayed at a more normal levels than in other areas in the state of Florida," says Joyce Dolvar, President-Elect of Gainesville/Alachua County Association of Realtors.

One homeowner has been trying to sell for three months. He says the economy has forced him to drop his price twice. "I cannot drop indefinitely so because I also have to move out to another place so we'll need to sell this house as soon as possible."

Freddie Mac reports interest rates for 30 year fixed mortgages averaged about 5 percent last month compared to almost 6 percent from the same time last year.

Dolvar says "Having been in the business in a while the market tends to go up and down most recent pasts seen to me since I've been in the business is the greatest change but I am very optimistic about it increasing and getting much better for us."