The Wilmington-area housing market is showing some positive signs!  The number of building permits are on the rise in New Hanover County.  They are still down vs. last year in Brusnwick County but they have been increasing from month to month this year.  William “Woody” Hall, an economist at UNCW stated that “permits are a leading indicator.  A permit is not applied for unless there is evidence that someone will purchase the property.”  The $8000 first time home buyer credit has been one of the factors that has been attributed to the increase in new home permits.  Tim Milam, president of the real estate firm that I work for, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty, was quoted as saying  that “his agency has seen five straight months in which the number of contracts signed has increased from year-earlier levels.  And for three straight months - May, June and July - Coldwell Banker has recorded actual sales that were higher than in the corresponding months of 2008. ”   Also important is the decline of the number of homes that are on the market and the inventories of ready-for-occupancy new-construction homes have decreased.  To learn more about the Wilmington area real estate market contact me at 910-431-9395 or visit my website at www.livingbythecoasst.com.