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Located just outside of Dallas, Texas, Fort Worth has faced its fair share of real estate problems, similar to that of Dallas.  Many real estate experts have noted that the Dallas-Fort Worth region has been plagued by sluggish real estate activity and low median sales prices.  However, recent months have shown that some neighborhoods throughout the region are showing improvements in both home sales and median sales prices.  Nevertheless, the Fort Worth real estate market has shown inconsistent fluctuations, making it difficult for real estate experts to find any trends in the Fort Worth real estate market and determine when the Fort Worth real estate market will begin a full recovery.

According to The Dallas Morning News, many real estate experts and local realtors have found 2009 to be a strange year for the Fort Worth real estate market due to the inconsistency of the market and inability for experts to find and trends to determine the path the market will take in the coming months.  Many realtors believe that one of the main obstacles to the recovery of the Fort Worth real estate market is the lack of consumer confidence, despite favorable interest rates, negotiable sellers, and already discounted home prices.  Many people expect the job market in the area to rebound in 2010, hopefully bringing an increase in real estate activity along with it.

The Dallas Morning News has also reported that the commercial real estate in Fort Worth is also suffering from the highest vacancy rates in the decade, with only 86.4 percent of total retail space leased.  There are also very few retail development projects planned for the 2010 year.  Many commercial real estate experts are telling people to expect another year of struggles of the Fort Worth commercial real estate, as it might take five years for the commercial real estate market to correct itself as opposed to the typical two-year cycle.  Financial analysts also estimate a total of about $4.5 billion worth of distressed commercial real estate suffering from delinquency, default, bankruptcy, or foreclosure.

Located in Southern California, Palm Springs has suffered from a struggling real estate market over the past several years as a result of the economic recession that began in the fall of 2008, as well as real estate problems that began in 2007, prior to the recession.  Real estate experts have optimistic views of the future of the real estate in Palm Springs, as Southern California has maintained year-over-year gains in both the number of home sales and median sales price.  Experts also believe that the federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers, as well as greater affordability of housing and an easier ability to get credit will play major roles in the recovery of the Palm Springs real estate market throughout the coming months.

According to DQNews.com, Southern California has maintained its year-over-year gains in home sales  for the 18^th consecutive month, and has posted its first year-over-year gains in median sales prices since the summer of 2007.  In December of 2009, Southern California posted a total of 22,238 new and resale houses and condos, which was a 16.4 percent increase from that of the previous month, and a 12.1 percent increase from that of December of 2008.  However, real estate experts weren’t too surprised by the increase in sales prices since the region tends to post an average increase of 13 percent in home sales as shown by historical data trends.  Experts are confident in the market, though, since even the luxury real estate markets of high-end communities such as Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Newport Beach are showing major improvements in their real estate markets.  The median sales price for Southern California was about $289,000, a 1.4 percent increase from that of the previous month and a 4 percent increase from that of the previous year.  Experts believe that the median sales price will continue to rise as the inventory of distressed and previously foreclosed properties declines.

The Desert Sun has also reported that the market for apartments in Palm Springs has also shown major improvements during the recent months.  Shortly after the recession, many apartments fell into foreclosure, but as the apartments moved back onto the market at much more affordable prices, the market improved.  Realtors have noted that primarily only the lower-end affordable apartments have accounted for the majority of the apartment sales over the past few months.

Located at the northern end of the Bay Area in California, Marin has shown some major improvements in its real estate market throughout the past year.  The Bay Area has shown increases in both the number of home sales and median sales prices, and Marin has shown even greater improvements in its number of home sales, while falling just short of the average increase in median sales prices for the Bay Area.  Real estate experts have very optimistic views of the future of the Bay Area real estate market, as well as that of the Marin real estate, especially with incentives for prospective home buyers such as more affordable housing options, the federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers, and an increase in the credit available for homebuyers.

According to DQNews.com, the Bay Area in California posted major improvements in its real estate market during the year of 2009, with home sales being the strongest seen in three years.  The Bay Area real estate was struggling prior to the economic recession that began in the fall of 2008, and the recession only worsened the real estate struggles that actually began in 2007.  The Bay Area posted a total of 7,828 new and resale house and condo sales, which was a 13.8 percent increase from that of the previous month and a 13.6 percent increase from that of the previous year.  Marin real estate posted an even greater increase in home sales between 2008 and 2009 by 60.6 percent.  The Bay Area’s median sales price increased by about 15.20 percent between December of 2008 and 2009, while Marin’s median sales price increased by a slightly smaller value of 12.90 percent during the same time period.

The Contra Costa Times also reported on the recent improvements in Marin’s real estate market through its increases in both its home sales and median sales price.  During December of 2009, Marin posted a median sales price of about $755,000 for a single family home, a 12 percent increase from the $675,000 average posted in December of 2008.  The median sales price for a condo in Marin was $319,500 in December, an increase from the $301,000 median from that of the previous year.