Every year about this time Realtors are wondering what the new year will bring – especially this year. We’ve all been hammered by the barrage of bad news and recession talk. Life is certainly harder than it was a couple years ago, and my family has certainly tightened out belt. I don’t think we’re uncomfortable, though. If anything, I feel a little better as we’re not spending frivolously like we were before.  We’ve probably cut 50% of our budget!

However, it’s clear this is not the story everywhere in the country. My mom sells real estate in The Ozarks (Southwestern MO) and the real estate market there is moving slower than molasses. Realtors are looking for new jobs, builders are now greeters at Wal-Mart and houses are sitting unsold. Not a good scene.

We should  thank our lucky stars that we live in an amazing, vibrant market. I was talking with my mom a few weeks ago and I told her that our problem was inventory. She was noticably irritated with me. I told her there are plenty of people who want to buy a home here in JP, the problem is we don’t have anything decent to sell them! Luckily as the weather has started to warm up ever so slightly, so have the sellers. Bunches of new units are plopping on the market – and being hungrily consumed.

If the first couple weeks of March are any indication – this will be a great year for Jamaica Plain real estate.