Let's face it, times are tough and on any given day the mood is a different one than the day before.  The market's up, then down, we're in a recession, we're recovering, it is hard to know what is really happening out there with so many mixed signals.  Real estate is difficult to figure out, and remains relative to where you are in the country.

So is Arizona real estate really improving?  Sales are up, inventory is down but Arizona foreclosures are expected to keep coming, especially with unemployment figures on the rise. 

Have we hit bottom? The December real estate sales figures were down as a nation but some areas of the country saw an increase in sales. Parts of the country have hit bottom other parts still have a way to fall.  Home prices are apparently steady in parts of the country and climbing in others.  The areas where home prices will continue to fall are those hit hard by job losses, an increase in foreclosures and too much inventory.

In a nutshell, AZ real estate is relative.  It is improving in many areas and as soon as our recovery includes job growth real estate is going to improve in many more areas.

To find out if southern Arizona real estate is improving in Phoenix AZ, Chandler AZ, Scottsdale AZ, Gilbert AZ, or Mesa AZ, talk to Gina McKinley, an AZ real estate agent, and ask about what market statistics she can provide. Gina McKinley can be reached at (480) 355-8645 or by email.

Click here for an article about real estate on Yahoo Finance.