The news really is getting better!! It may not seem important to some who are struggling in the Verde Valley but we now have reason to believe that the tumbling values are at an end. There will yet be some ups and downs, but most pundits now agree that the bottom has been reached. Here are some facts that point that way.

• The monthly year vs. year comparisons of median price for the Phoenix area have actually risen for 4 consecutive months. We think this is a prelude to the Verde Valley and Sedona activity.
• According to a Zillow survey, American homeowners are more optimistic about the near future of the economy (81% believe their homes will not decrease in the next 6 months), which is much higher than 6 months ago.
• The same survey indicated that a much higher percentage of homeowners (60%) now understand while the reality is something over 80% for properties that decreased in value over the last 12 months.
• The number of home sales (single family site built) in the Sedona-Verde Valley MLS is up 25% for the first 6 months of '09 vs. the first 6 months of '08. A caution: the values are still down.
• In addition, it appears that asset managers (the contact for agents working on foreclosed properties) have had less flexibility on their price points over the last 3 weeks than they have had over the prior year. Interpretation: they are negotiating harder because they have been instructed by their clients that the market has stopped the freefall.
  

So, it is a good life and there is light in the tunnel.