If you're in a state that does not have spikes up and then down for real estate prices, sales volume then the housing news can be ho hum, more of the same, steady as she goes.
If you are a "plenty of elbow room state" like Maine, far enough away from heavy population centers to keep a steady real estate sales pace going, news reporting can be pretty lack luster. Nothing sensational in that department.
Pretty basic.
Maine is like that as the 46th lowest of all the nation's states for home sales affected with FSSR (foreclosure, short sale, repossession). In the nation, one of four home sales suffers from FSSR. Maine in contrast, only one percent of our house sales tests positive for FSSR.
And in any year, with medical health failure, divorce, lay offs you expect a few in any state right? Pretty clean record, trend in Vacationland. In 2009, Maine home sales were over 10,000. Same thing in 2010. Over 10,000, under the same 10,500 bracket.
But like the country when the media tries to paint a Chicken Little, Sky is you know what, it won't stick, apply or broad brush to areas like Maine the same way. We in Maine are in our own special unspoiled four season world up here in the right hand corner of the nation. Bordered on the Canadian 
border on three sides, the Atlantic Ocean crashing the rock bound coastline on the south east.
And in states that could be down a couple percentage points, if the reporter takes the time to get away from a quick sound bite and on to another gloom and doom witch hunt to scare the reader, listener, viewer, you usually find the earlier year was up a few percentage points.
So it is a wash.
Averages it out.
Which is news pretty much "steady as she goes". Nothing new to report on that front.
But the old expression, as Maine goes, so goes the rest of the nation definitely does not apply to real estate sales, housing market statistics.
The one size fits all national average echos the old Animals song "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" which unless someone speaks up and says guys, that is not what happens in the Pine Tree State, Vacationland.So much reporting does not do that three year peek to see if it all averages out. Or if the reporter did take the time to look in to it, it might scare them away from the story because not serious enough, neglible to report. The state REALTORS groups that put out the report can fall in to the same trap of serious head line 
spin, being guilty of the same media offense.
Statewide in 2010 Maine home prices were up just under $5000 per unit considering the $168,750 average.
But since Maine is so big, every one of the sixteen counties does not fair the same in the house horse race.
Aroostook County's average home price around $80,000 so you get to lop off a $100,000 when you cross the line on Interstate 95 in to the Crown Of Maine.
Franklin County in the state's western section according to the Maine Association of REALTORS reports had a 19% increase in home sales. York County in Southern Maine house prices are up 11%. Maine, only one place, state like this all four seasons. Email, Text, Call, Visit and in the meantime, sample our fresh Maine local community event / real estate real full motion videos.
I'm Maine REALTOR, Broker Andrew Mooers
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