Of course they do!

The worst of the US housing slump is over, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Sales of previously owned US homes will grow at an annual rate of 6.29 million in the first quarter, snapping five consecutive quarterly declines, the industry's largest trade group said yesterday. New-home sales, about 15 percent of the market, won't recover until 2007's fourth quarter when transactions will grow to an annualized rate of 967,000 after bottoming at 944,000 in the third quarter, Chicago-based NAR said.

Some people will say they are always saying the positive, even when things are bad.

I have to agree, though, with their projections. Based on everything I've read, it looks as though 2007 will be about the same as it is right now - leveling off, or slightly improving.

Of course, that's all dependent on the economy staying healthy, with low unemployment rates and low interest rates (short-term and long-term), and no messy international crises.

Source: Realtors: Slump to end in &8216;07 - Bloomberg News, by way of The Boston Globe