Bottom-feeding frenzy

Home prices may keep falling, and that’s got prospective buyers trying to time the market. Beth Butler, executive vice president of the Miami-Dade and Broward counties real estate firm Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell, says prices are more reflective of 2004 levels. As of last week, 2,738 single-family Miami-Dade homes were listed for sale for less than $200,000 — more than five times the number available in that price range last year, according to EWM’s figures. In Broward County, there were 3,523 homes listed in that price range, also five times last year’s level. Properties in foreclosure can be harder to buy than properties on the open market, though, and are often in worse condition than owner-occupied properties for sale. Also, condos and private communities may now carry higher maintenance charges because of earlier defaults.