Here’s Why 2013 Will Be a Great Year to Buy or Sell a Home

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” – William Arthur Ward

So maybe I’m a little bit like Dicky Fox from the movie Jerry Maguire: “I love the mornings! I clap my hands every morning and say, 'This is gonna be a great day!'”

And I can’t help but think that 2013 holds the same promise.

There are all kinds of statistics indicating real estate is making a steady comeback.

• Home sales are at the highest level since November 2009.
• On a year-over-year basis, pending home sales have risen for 19 consecutive months.
• Sales of new homes rose 4.4% in November to a two-and-a-half-year high.
  
  

Certainly 2013 will have its challenges – there’s the fiscal cliff drama, employment rates, European markets, etc. And since the bust of 2008 uncertainties have caused people to hunker down and making do. Now the question is this: will today’s uncertainties be enough to hold back the tide of people that have been waiting to buy or sell a home?

I believe there is enough critical mass and demand across these four groups to create movement in both the home buying and selling markets:

• Boomers who are looking to downsize or relocate.
• Millennials living with Mom and Dad who want to move out.
• Renters who are ready to become first-time homebuyers.
• Homeowners/families that are ready to upgrade to a bigger home.
  
  

I think people are bursting at the seams to get moving, and there is finally enough market momentum to break down the walls of uncertainty that have been holding people back.

On January 1st I said ‘This is gonna be a great year!’ What do you think? Are you going to wait for change, or are you ready to readjust the sails and move forward?