There was a recent article in Barons in the Wealth Watch section, titled Real Estate Beckons in which the article talked about millionaires who have gotten burned in the stock market are starting to show interest in real estate investments.  It stated that 20% of high-net worth investors consider real estate a good investment and plan to buy more in the futre, says Spectrum Group, a Chicago-based market research and consulting firm specializing in the affluent market.

Most recently we got news that home sales rebounded 6.5% in December and the latest Pending Home Sales Index was up 6.3% due to 13% gains in the Midwest and South.  Pendings are signed contracts that are expected to close in the next 60-90 days.  Home inventories nationwide dropped nearly 18% last month to the lowest level since May 2007.

Dr. Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors, attributed the upward movement to "buyers responding to lower home prices and interest rates" that have improved the affordability equation to its most affordable level in 39 years.  Do you think this is a blip and things will continue to get worse or do you think after three years of declines, we are starting to see some stabilization in the residential real estate market?

Ron Mowery is a Real Estate Professional in Overland Park, Kansas. He can be reached by email at Ron@JoCoHomesOnline.com or 913-825-4025.  You can visit his website at www.JoCoHomesOnline.com