~Seven of RealtyTrac’s Top 15 Retirement Hotspots for Real Estate
Investment in Florida~

TALLAHASSEE – Last week, RealtyTrac released its list of the top 15 retirement hot spots for real investing in the United States and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is pleased to announce that seven of the 15 named cities are in Florida. This is further evidence that Florida’s economic climate continues to improve and serves as a national example for recovery.

“We are thrilled that the majority of RealtyTrac’s top 15 hot spots for real estate investing are in Florida,” said DEO Executive Director Jesse Panuccio. “With a falling unemployment rate down last month to 7.1 percent and the creation of more than 330,000 private sector jobs since December 2010, housing indicators such as this are further proof that Florida is on the right track to a deep and lasting economic recovery.”

RealtyTrac, the leading online marketplace for real estate data, studied 40 areas considered retirement communities in the nation. A retirement hot spot was classified as a city where at least one-third of the population is age 65 or older. The ranking of the top 15 hot spots for real estate investing was based on the annual percentage change in home prices as of May, as well as other factors including cost of living, average temperature, capitalization rate, and annual chance of sunshine in each of the markets.

Charles T. Corley, Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, said, "As Florida remains a popular and welcoming place for retirement, the housing, sales, and service industries all see the benefits. This report shows that Florida's seniors continue to have significant and lasting effects on the recovery of Florida's economy."

Top 15 Retirement Hot Spots for Real Estate Investing

1. Dunnellon, Florida
2. Naples, Florida
3. Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
4. Douglassville, Pennsylvania
5. Sun City, Arizona
6. North Fort Myers, Florida
7. Rancho Mirage, California
8. Punta Gorda, Florida
9. Sun City Center, Florida
10. Venice, Florida
11. Florence, Oregon
12. Green Valley, Arizona
13. Seal Beach, California
14. Orange City, Florida
15. East Hampton, New York