Ground breaking news everyone.......January Home purchases 2011 are up 5.3% from January 2010!  Now that is a reason to take pause, and no one is looking, do your own version of an end zone victory dance.   Give me a moment....."dah, dah, dah,la,la,la".... O.K. just got mine done. 

Here's a link you can paste into your browser and read for yourself:

http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2011/02/january_above

So what does this mean in the bigger picture?   Continuing an upward home purchasing trend through 2011 would reduce the number of existing homes on the market, thus allowing the average selling price to come up.  Good news for existing home owners, not quite as good news for people looking to purchase a home.   After being a part of home building for the last 11 years, something in my gut is telling me the real estate market is finally on the rocky, pot holed, road to recovery.  Don't get me wrong, I love to travel, but the last three years not a place I hope we ever have to visit again. 

What do you see happening in your local market?  I'm checking in with my Real Estate agent this weekend.  I'll let you know Monday what she says is happening here, in Central Wisconsin.