I have been talking about it for months now. I have put it into a few posts over the last few months, trying to counter the bad news coming from our national media. Check out some of those posts here and here. It's always interesting to see the reaction on people's faces when I tell them that the real estate market is in great shape in Wilkes-Barre, even showing an increase in homes sold and average sale price last year amid the gloom and doom reporting nationwide.

This week, I found great pleasure in the following story that was first page on one of the local papers, the Citizen's Voice, Stability keeps NEPA housing market afloat. All that I've said about our market is there. We still have areas showing great growth and other areas with even greater potential, with an overall stable real estate market. It's been said over and over again that it's a great time for buyers to buy due to the low, low interest rates. It's also a great time for sellers to sell due to the continued demand for houses that are priced right and in good condition. These factors combined could possibly form to be a "perfect storm" for Realtors in the Wilkes-Barre real estate market during 2008.

Stories like this one, on the front pages of our local media, make what I've been saying for so long that much more credible. It's amazing the power the media has over the minds of people these days. I continue to be amazed by it. Just earlier this week, while I was dropping my vehicle off to be inspected and discussing the fact that I'm a Realtor with the owner of the garage, he commented to me that it must be rough to be a Realtor in today's market. When I told him that we were alive and well, he seemed surprised because of the stories he's heard in the national media. After this story came out, I've heard numerous comments about how strong our real estate market is and can see the pride that people have in their faces and voices over their area being better than the rest of the nation at something.

The thing that stands out for me more than anything else is the fact that I have been saying this same thing for months. Before I looked up the facts that backed up my statements, I knew this was true. Before I countered the arguments of others about how bad our market was, I knew it was true. How did I know it was true? Because I am a local real estate professional. I am a Realtor. I help people buy and sell real estate for a living. I am out in our market day in and day out. I have my finger on the pulse of our market and, months before the media confirmed what I have said, I was blogging about the health of the Wilkes-Barre real estate market.

So, if you really want to know the truth about your real estate market, I recommend asking a true professional in your market. Ask a Realtor. Don't wait for months for the media to confirm what you can know right now!!!