Goldman Sachs reported that the housing market is recovering and they believe it has reached the bottom. The national decline in the housing market from 2007 was approximately 35%. It is predicted that it may decline another 2.5% in 2012 and then start going up again. However, the belief is it will take another six years togo back up to where the prices were in the "boom".

The indicator that they use is price to rent and price to income ratio. I feel the price to income ratio is probably something the lenders should have been looking at when they were handing out mortgages to anyone on the street. If you can't afford a home, they should not have given you a mortgage, and guess what, we probably wouldn't be in this mess now.

Buyers just keep in mind when prices start going up, so will the interest rates which are at a all time low now. Contact a realtor today, or a lender first, to get the advice you need to make a decision if this is the right time to buy for you.

We will always keep you posted.

Julie and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday and Happy New Year and a special heartfelt Thank You to our Troops and Welcome Home!!

Elsie Kempsey

Team Tropic Hernando