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It may be a little early to start putting the champagne on ice, but looking over last week’s releases of housing reports gives us a fairly good idea of how our Pelican Bay housing picture for the year 2012 is likely to end up.

“The housing recovery that started earlier in 2012 continues to gain momentum,” according to CoreLogic’s Chief Economist. The monthly data report covered final national numbers for October (a year-over-year rise of 6.3%) as well as a probable 7.1% increase for the month just ended.

CoreLogic was also “seeing an ongoing strengthening of the residential housing market” as well as “improving buyer demand.” Area housing watchers might have assumed that the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy would have put a big dent in the national outlook, but apparently that effect may be less than anticipated.

If CoreLogic’s take was not quite definitive enough to trigger an early break for the bubbly, there was additional news from the financial soothsayers. Seekingalpha.com stayed with its months-long view that “there are immediate long-term opportunities for homebuyers,” while Barron’s quoted RDQ Economics’ John Ryding’s pronouncement on the housing market: “the recovery is running ahead of our expectations…”

Meantime, the Wall Street Journal was blogging about the ‘Five Reasons Home Prices Have Been Rising’ – including favorable affordability, lowered levels of distressed sales, and rising rent levels. They also pointed to plunging inventories that “see more buyers chasing after fewer properties.”

Of course, the complete local housing picture for the full year won’t be known until December is in the books. But considering how the year has treated us so far, it might not be too soon to stash a bottle or two of the good stuff in the fridge after all!

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                                Rising Confidence May Boost Holiday Tipping ! 

With the rancorous elections finally behind us and Naples, Florida property prices on the rise, public sentiment is markedly improving.  Last week, Neilson released its Consumer Confidence Survey, now showing the strongest level in more than four and a half years.

My guess is that 2012 will likely mark the year that holiday tipping makes a comeback, too. “People are more generous this year because when the economy gets better, people do better.” is what international etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore had to say. The founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach added, “They tend to be happier around the holiday time.”

That’s true outside of Palm Beach, too: many area homeowners who felt forced to become latter day Scrooges during the previous few years may be feeling slightly less anxious about the future of the family budget. Those who feel they want to thank the people who help run their households and maintain their property will, as usual, run into the perpetual query: what’s enough? What’s too much?

Like gift giving in general, tipping is totally optional – if there were hard-and-fast rules, part of the pleasure of giving (and receiving) would be lost. Nevertheless, I thought I would share these guidelines I came across in a story on Yahoo! Finance: 

Garbage Collector     
Suggested Tip: $15 to $30

Beautician

Suggested Tip: Cost of One Session

Dog Walker
Suggested Tip: One Week's Pay

Extracurricular Instructors
Suggested Tip: Creative Gift

Landscaper/Gardener
Suggested Tip: Cost of One Visit

Personal Trainer
Suggested Tip: Cost of One Session

Mail/Package Delivery
Suggested Tip: Gift

Teacher
Suggested Tip: Gift/Gift Cards

Favorite Real Estate Blogger

Suggested Tip: Your Next Listing

(Okay, I might have added that last one).  But with property values on the rise, if you are considering buying a home this winter, you needn’t let the holidays delay your plans.  Sometimes the best time to buy a property in town is when everyone else is out shopping!

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