The title for this post may be an understatement. I’ve been seeing more interest in the last several months, and it’s not all in the press for distressed properties. Sellers are feeling better about things (finally), and more buyers seem to have an interest in owning the properties they seek, not just in the art of the deal.

According to a New York Times story, housing activity is the high tide that’s raising a number of boats. The Case Shiller home price index shows its highest gains in seven years. The result? “Housing prices rose in every one of the 20 cities tracked, continuing a trend that began three months ago. Similar strength has appeared in new and existing home sales and in building permits, as rising home prices are encouraging construction firms to accelerate building and hiring.”

I recommend you take a look at the article. It represents good news here, for sure. It may be too early to do cartwheels on the beach, but a picnic might be nice.