Late last night I was at the office doing some statistics and out of curiosity I ran sales in 2008 versus 2009 for the first 20 days of April.  We sold 102 homes during the first 20 days of April in 2009 and last year we sold 98.  We sold 32 villas during the first 20 days of April in 2008 and this year we sold 45.  I was shocked when I saw this because the trend had been that production had been dropping each quarter.  We had five quarters in a row showing a decrease in sales which was having a detrimental effect on pricing.

For us to actually sell more in 2009 than we did in 2008 is the first step in realizing that the real estate market has bottomed out.

There is a real art in our business of seeing when the bottom of the market has arrived.  Most real estate firms use closing dates to figure that out.  If you wait on closing dates you have already missed it; we prefer to look at pending dates which is actually the date that the property goes under contract. 

20 days does not make a quarter but this is a step in the right direction.

I think what this also tells us is that sellers are now figuring out that the market is slow and are adjusting their prices and doing whatever they can to get the deal put together. 

We will keep you posted on other statistics and how they affect the market, but I do think the worst is over.  Please tell your friends that NOW is the time to buy on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Please feel free to give me a call if you would like an updated list of bank foreclosure properties or any type property you are most interested in.  I will do the best I can to find a property that will fit your needs.