• Home prices could jump almost 10% in 2013 (J.P. Morgan)

• S&P/Case-Shiller home price index shows biggest year-over-year increase since spike caused by expired tax credit

• Existing home sales for November rose 5.9% over October, 14.5% higher than in November 2011 (National Association of Realtors)

• 2012 Housing starts are 23% higher than 2011 and 2013 predicted to usher in a 21% gain over 2012 (National Association of Home Builders).

• Inventories are low and demand is rising – 22% below last year’s levels of traditional listings and distress properties (National Association of Home Builders)

• Positive consistent reports are out on housing starts, permits, prices, new-home sales and builder confidence in recent months indicating a gradual but steady housing recovery is underway across most of the nation (National Association of Home Builders)

• Existing home sales are at the highest level since November 2009

• Foreclosures and short sales accounted for about 22% of November sales, down from 24% in October and 29% in November 2011

• Builder confidence has posted gains for 8 consecutive months and is now at 47; the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index has not been above 50 since April 2006

• Rental market has greatly enlarged due to demand and more than 31% of today’s renters plan to buy a home in the next two years, a 9-point increase from 22% in January 2011 (Trulia’s American Dream survey)

•  72% of “Millennials” (18-34 year olds) have homeownership as part of their personal American Dream.  About 93% expect to buy a home one 
day

Bring your laptops and tablets when you shop Worth Avenue.  WiFi will soon be accessible to all Worth Avenue customers, thanks to the Worth Avenue Association.  BlueWeb Media provides the service.  Reach is from Worth Avenue north through the vias to the south side of Peruvian Avenue and on the south side of the street halfway through the block north of Hammon Avenue and Golf View Road.

MONEYRATE.COM RANKS TEN BEST STATES FOR RETIREMENT

10. Texas (tie) — warm weather and solid economy

10. California (tie) — good weather and high life expectancy

9. South Dakota — low crime rate and high life expectancy

7. New Mexico (tie) — good weather

7. Florida (tie) — good weather

6. Colorado — high life expectancy

5. Virginia — good economy

4. Arizona — good weather and high life expectancy

3. Utah  — good economy

2. Idaho — low crime rate and good economy

1. Hawaii — great weather and high life expectancy