December 3 , 2007:

Winter seems to be knocking. Some snow could have a strong economic impact for the north country, allowing ski areas to open up, snowmobiles to run, and a whole lot more of winter activities. This is especially true for the Christmas to New Year week. So, we're all for the snow.

Whether you read, watch TV, or just listen to people, the real estate market is a favorite topic. Many of the news sources are painting a grim picture. But, you have to carefully look at the statistics being used. The national media is speaking about the United States as a whole. There are some strong areas, and some encouraging news.

First, in the Adirondacks and St. Lawrence Valley, statistics indicate that total units are down approx. 10% year to date, in comparison to the same time period one year ago. Yet, the average sales price is up approx. 11%. When you look at this information closely, it would indicate that pricing is continuing in an upward direction. Actually, there have been a few significant sales that are throwing the averages off. Yes, units are down, but when you consider that 2007 will still be one of the top 10 busiest years since tracking the numbers, it's not as bad as some are reporting. And, there are indicators showing buyers are starting to get 'itchy'.

We think we are at the bottom, with an upswing coming within the next 3 to 6 months. We are anticipating that buyers will start inquiring more during the latter part of 2008, with a continued downturn in pricing. So, we should see unit sales go up, but the average sales price going down. That's not all bad.

So, we think that the next 3 to 6 months will be a good time to buy. What do you think?

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