Happily, it now seems like winter's back is broken and, at least, the sun is shining a little longer every day. Spring must be on the way! Another sure sign of spring is the early rustlings of the real estate market here in the Upper Valley. Even though the media would have us believe that the market is completely and irrevocably dead, shot out of the water by a combination of bank failures, foreclosures, credit collapses and other buzz-words, the empirical evidence at ground-zero (another buzz-word) is that the spring market here in the Upper Valley is going to be active and productive.

Certainly the news is better for buyers right now than sellers, but, as always, properties priced in keeping with the parameters of the market-place are selling. So sellers should pay close attention to comparable sales and be extra diligent in proper pricing as well as presentation. Buyers are currently blessed with low rates and a load of choices out there.  Lenders are lending money to qualified borrowers and life in the real estate business is slower than two years ago, but by no means stopped.

As warmer weather and more sunshine ensue over the coming weeks, I predict good activity and increasing levels of closed sales. Rentals will be plentiful, potentially driving some rents down, but as always (and I hate to keep repeating myself) whether it's real estate sales or rentals, the key word is value!. When a seller/landlord offers and a buyer/tenant perceives value in the marketplace, the result is a successful transaction. I'm looking forward to a busy spring season and I hope that everyone takes some time to forget about stimulus and enjoy a little bit of sunshine.