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A state divided in housing costs
© St. Petersburg Times, What's the difference between a house in Key West and one in Brandon? About $474,517, says Coldwell Banker, which studied listing prices for similar houses in 300 markets across the United States. The real estate franchise company had a particular house in mind for its survey: A 2,200-square-foot house with four bedrooms, 21/2 baths, a family room and a two-car garage in a neighborhood where a newly transferred middle manager might look for a house. A house fitting that description could be had for $145,233 in Brandon, the state's most affordable market, but cost $619,750 in Key West, the most expensive. The gap between the high and low ends of the market was bigger in Florida than in any state except California and Connecticut. In California, a $1-million gap separated homes in Bakersfield from those in Palo Alto. The most affordable market in the survey? Minot, N.D., where a mere $119,000 gets you four bedrooms, but you probably pay a little extra for heating.
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From the Times Business report
From the AP
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