Spring Housing Market Might Be Early!!!

Sales of single family detached homes jumped by about 10 percent in 2009. As a homeowner, if you are thinking of putting your home on the market, now just might be the right time.  There is more confidence in the market and the first time buyer credit is helping boost sales.

The impressive gains aren't in just one area. Southern Cook County, Western Cook County and Dupage County have all seen substantive increases in closed homes:

Bridgeview 49 percent increase over 2008
Summit 100 percent increase
Justice 65 percent increase
Bellwood 112 percent increase
Melrose Park 107 percent increase
Schiller Park 89 percent increase
Addison 75 percent increase
Bensenville 106 percent increase
Glendale Heights 71 percent increase over 2008

Townhomes and condos have seen improvement, also. December '09 showed a 28 percent increase in attached home sales plus an 89 percent increase in pending sales.

The first time buyer credit is working. The holidays are over and the weather appears to be improving. The April 30 deadline for the tax credit is looming. All factors could heat up the spring market earlier than anticipated.  As a seller, get your home ready and on the market in the next couple of weeks. Buyers, get your mortgage pre-approval from the lender you will be using.  Whichever you are, now is the time.