Home show goes on despite down economy

TAMPA - It’s billed as Florida’s Largest Home Show but it may actually be one of the toughest. The real estate and construction industries are hurting and declining home sales aren’t helping.

The home show began at the Tampa Convention Center just as the real estate industry announced some of its worst news in decades: Sales of existing homes fell by 27 percent from June to July.

Making matters worse, some of the people attending the home show now own property that is worthless.

The National Association of Realtors reported that the median price for a home fell last month by nine percent.

Consequently, when people went to spend money at this year's home show, they were being practical.