Outlook for 2012

First, I wish you and your families a terrific 2012. I hope real estate is luminous in your life.

The December report on November home sales is similar to the last few months, low sales volume and slight price decreases.

For better or worse, here is my outlook for Polk County real estate in 2012.  To be repeatingly redundant, our future turns on jobs — especially new job creation. People who have jobs are confident about their futures.  Stable employment drives housing demand.  Polk County’s unemployment rate decreased from 13.4% in November 2010 to 11% in November 2011, BUT the actual number of jobs in that time period also decreased by about 300.  So while the rate decreased, the number of available jobs also decreased — not the best formula for a positive outlook.

The best things going for us in Polk County right now are the facts that prices are appearing to stabilize, and mortgage rates continue to be low. Yes, there are likely to be more foreclosures in the next months, but they should be absorbed without much disruption to the larger picture.

I do believe now is a very good time to buy a home. If you are ready to look for the right home and the right price, contact me and we’ll get to work.

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