Housing market: Up or Down?

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Is the tide finally turning on the housing market in Mobile?

 One Mobile realtor said a lot of people have been buying homes recently, and one reason may be something you haven't thought of.

 Realtor Parrish Walker with RE/MAX Realty Center said she's been showing a lot of homes recently, but something even better is happening.

 Walker said, "Honestly, it's (sales) increased month to month. Every month, I have to look and see how many I've sold. That's how busy I've been."

 Michelle Ritter is buying two homes to rent out.

Rate on 30-year mortgage falls to record 3.49 pct.

She just jumped in the market two weeks ago.

 Ritter said, "It seems like it's time for the prices to go up. So, (I'm) trying to get in before they start increasing,. And, we did see some people starting to hang on to their prices a little bit more where there was probably a time, a year ago, you could name your own price."

 If things are really getting better, is there a reason?

 Walker said, "Since the beginning of this year, we've had an increase. And, really, since the Airbus announcement, we've had a bigger increase.  And I feel like it's not even necessarily those people coming in from Airbus, but, I think there's more of a confidence in the market."

 A lot of buyers are still looking for foreclosures.

 Lauren Burgess wants to buy a home.

She said, "The foreclosures are the best, honestly, because you can update whatever you want, and it's a decrease in price."

 Linda Clement just bought a home.

She said, "I've seen a lot of foreclosures on the market, and I notice they sell very quickly, because that's usually a very good deal."

 Walker said the market may not be where it used to be, but she thinks it's getting very close to stable.

 She said, "Once we stabilize, and the inventory gets back to a normal inventory, then I think we'll start seeing price increases."

 Walker said she's also seen an increase in sales of some of the more expensive homes on the market.