"The Condo Guy" aka Alan Shaffer Realtor in Dallas

I just thought I’d report some good news for a change.  Seems all we’ve heard for the past couple of years is bad news and worse news for real estate.  Here in Dallas I think we have turned a corner people!  Here’s why.

The National Association of Realtors (of which I am a member) is reporting home sales increased 4.3% last month.  That might not sound like a lot, but that’s the highest level since May 2010!  This puts sales of previously occupied homes at the fastest pace in nearly two years!  This bodes well for the Spring real estate season.  

I believe the Spring season has started already.  I wrote four offers last week and closed two homes.  Buyer traffic is also up.  I’m seeing more showings on my homes listed for sale and open house traffic has been great.  Additionally I have 4 homes about to hit the market and more buyers shopping now than I’ve seen in the past couple of years.

Maybe it’s the beautiful weather here in Dallas or maybe just that Uptown Dallas is such a desirable place to live.  Economists tell us the Dallas Fort Worth area had the third largest employment growth in the nation.  We were behind Houston (first place) and New York City (second).  We added 45,700 jobs!

Other indicators things are looking up:  Uptown Dallas had a 2% increase in sales over all but in the $500,000 and up price range we had a 10% increase in sales.  The stock market rally seems to be pushing this higher price range sales surge.  

Looking ahead to the remainder of this year I think we’ll see 2012 look a lot like 2011.  Factors that will continue to help this recovery:  

DFW economic recovery outpacing US average.  

Home prices seem to have stabilized.  

Interest rates likely to remain low the rest of the year.

I think this Spring will be the best time to buy a home with the best prices we’re likely to see and the lowest interest rates.  If only I had a crystal ball.  We’ll see how this plays out in our market here in Dallas!  

If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.  

Alan Shaffer, Realtor

Clay Stapp + Co

214-335-8956

www.AlanShaffer.com