Then we have Groundhog’s Day, and even if  “the great furry prognosticator” dooms us to  more winter, we know it is only going to be for six more weeks! Candlemas Day or Candelaria also falls on this day, and even though it is not exactly a “Spring” celebration, it is a day when the candles are blessed, and symbolically more light comes into the world. In the Catholic world, mostly the Irish and Scottish division, the feast of St. Brigit is celebrated. She was one of the great old goddesses who loved the earth and all its creatures. Her appearance at this time covered the land once again in verdant color.

And Spring generally brings some fresh liveliness to the Prescott area real estate market. Right now our inventory is quite low, and we’re even seeing some multiple offers coming in on a few properties. I’d like to say that this signifies that we might be finally reaching bottom in this depressed (and sometimes depressing) housing market, but I think we still have a little ways to go yet. The good news is that Prescott-area sales for 2011 were the third highest since our MLS system began keeping track of such things. However, the average price points are still very much on the low side. Please click on the Market tab on my homepage for all the details.

It will be interesting to see what this coming year’s market will do. In Prescott we should start seeing more homes coming into the market in February and March, and sales should see an upswing through July. This is our normal pattern. Interest rates are still very low, and should stay that way for at least the next several months. Although our “buyers market” is weakening some in the face of lowered inventory levels, the combination of low prices and low interest rates makes home purchase still very attractive for buyers. It’s still a difficult market for sellers, but a well-maintained home that is well priced will sell fairly quickly, and we are seeing average days-on-market statistics edging downwards.

Prescott is not affected quite as much as some other areas in the country, but unemployment figures are still distressingly high, without much relief in sight for improvement there. But it is an election year, which sometimes helps to get things moving with a little more speed and creativity. I’ll keep you posted on local developments via the Market Reports!

Prescott is “Arizona’s Christmas City”, and the downtown area, our famous Courthouse Square, is aglow this year with 100 trees in lights to celebrate Arizona’s coming one hundredth anniversary as a State. The annual lighting of the Courthouse Square was held the evening of December 3, and was well attended in spite of some blustery wintry weather.  Earlier in the day, the blowing light snow seemed to add to the fun of the Children’s Parade,  which had 88 floats entered!!!

A newer tradition for the Prescott Christmas season is the evening Light Parade, which is held on the Saturday night of Thanksgiving weekend. This year Windermere had its first entry in this parade. Our theme was “Blue Christmas”, which featured Windermere’s own broker, “Elvis” Ed Pattermann, singing some favorites from Elvis’s Christmas repertoire. The happy crowd seemed to really enjoy our entry, and we even won one of the six prizes awarded by the judges! We’re already planning something even better for next year!

Then there is Acker Night. This is, I think, one of the most fun events that Prescott does all year!! In the early evening of the second Friday in December, the downtown Square is closed to vehicular traffic, and all the stores  stay open late, each one featuring a different musical group inside.  Often cider or cocoa is offered while the townspeople enjoy the camaraderie and the fabulous musical offerings throughout the downtown area. It’s so much fun to be out in the crisp, Christmasy air, with the Courthouse all aglow in light, and meeting and greeting so many friends, old and new. Then you can pop into a store, warm your toes, and listen to some great music, and then pop back out onto the street and up to the next store to listen to more featured musicians.

I wish all of you a most happy Christmas season. Even the heavens celebrate Christmas Eve, with the constellation Virgo on the eastern horizon at midnight surrounded by the animals of the Zodiac, welcoming in the new Sun who will start its life-giving journey back to the northern hemisphere, bringing us warmth and light. Blessings to you all!