It is the time for new beginnings, resolutions to be set, plans to be made. One smart plan for this year is to keep track of your neighborhood real estate activity.

Knowing the stats as they occur helps you discern what the media is telling everyone about the housing market.  There is usually a significant lag time from the actual to the reporting of the actual.  Sometimes, by the time housing news is reported, the market has already moved in a different direction.

There are fractured markets in real estate now. Location is a key contributor in the stability of a market.  From the macro markets, across the world, to the micro markets that can be as small as your neighborhood, weeding through all of the information out there gets confusing.  That is why staying tuned in to your local market will give you a better sense of what relates to you.

Price points also fracture the market now.  With few move-up buyers and less companies relocating employees, the demand in west valley neighborhoods for homes over $300,000 is low, with only 93 homes out of 2,084 selling in Goodyear above $300,000, or approximately 5% of sales from January 1, 2011 to December 15^th, 2011.

That said, keeping up with what is happening in your neighborhood, when you need to sell will prepare you to go to the market informed.  Misconceptions cause stress and why add more of that to your life! 

If you are buying first, eliminate the areas you don’t want and get down to those where you want to live.  Getting statistics on these micro markets will let you make an informed offer, which can and does make a difference in whether you get your dream home or not.

There are many tools on the web you can use to search property details, and they are getting better all the time, however, the absolute best source of this information is your experienced, local Realtor.  A Realtor who lives and works in the west valley, knows the communities, offers tech tools that give you real time Multiple Listing Service details on homes for sale, pending and sold will provide you accurate, in-depth knowledge.  With good tools a Realtor can have information about your neighborhood, or one you are considering buying in, sent directly to your inbox.  You can save favorites, look for trends, etc., and ask questions, get clarification, comparisons, etc., if you want, from your Realtor. 

Many of us start looking at the market long before we are ready to buy or sell.  It would be nice to have the most accurate property source available, coming to you without having to search all over the place, wait for someone to send it, or be pushed into talking with a Realtor when you are not ready.

Information is key to making the right choices!  Hope all of your resolutions, plans, and new beginnings culminate in a wonderful 2012!