With their rapid, sing-song country patter, the auctioneers at Hudson & Marshall disposed of 44 Tampa Bay area foreclosure homes Thursday night at the Double Tree Hotel near Tampa International Airport. It's the first of what could be four large auctions of bank confiscated houses and condos this year. Among the highlights:

• Homes auctioned off: 44

• Average price: about $90,000

• Lowest price: $25,500 for a tiny condo in a converted Sarasota apartment building

• Highest price: $210,000 for a 1,834-square-foot waterfront town home in Oldsmar.

• Best bargains: Seven older St. Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater homes that went for $30,000 to $60,000 each.