Sales in January are very low, even in the best years, cause that means they were put into escrow in late November/December, and who is looking for houses then? Feburary is better because new pay and bonus’s enable people to get a headstart on the spring buying season but only if they are willing to brave January bad weather accross most of the country. March is better, April, May June, better as schools let out (ie we can move now that jonnie isnt in class) and suddenly people go on vacation till it bottoms again in December/January.
This article says that NATIONWIDE sales increased 2.9% over January, but was -24% below last Feb, even though it was a longer month this year AND prices fell by the largest amount on record. Somehow this is good news? It isnt. It is spin ment to make a headline that stats “Housing sales are UP!” so that some relator can send you a letter to the effect of “buy now or youll miss you chance”. Expect them in the mail in 2 weeks.

Oh, BTW, what isnt mentioned here basically all the buying was in the Northeast. The west had terrible sales and falling prices. But that is no matter, You obviously should worry about sales volume in Boston since it is so similar to SD. What ever happend to all RE is local huh? That goes out the window when grasping at straws.