New Hampshire housing statistics leave some optimistic, others unsure about 2011

Despite a decrease in the home sales rate and a rise in median home prices - 2.6 percent and $215,000 from $212,000, respectively - the New Hampshire Association of Realtors president isn't prepared to make a prediction on what the state's 2011 housing market will be like.

"There is still no clear trend line that would give us a real sense of how this market will play out in 2011," said NHAR president Tim Riley. Riley also said the volatility in the housing market over the past year makes predictions difficult.

But another New Hampshire real estate expert sees things differently. Citing New Hampshire's low unemployment rate and high economic activity index - the highest in the nation, according to the Philadelphia Federal Reserve - Peter Francese is bullish on the 2011 housing market.

"Our state is clearly moving to a period of economic growth that can only be good news for our housing market," Francese said.

In the New England region as a whole, the housing market expanded in 2010. According to the Seacoast Board of Realtors, single family home sales rose 17 percent compared to 2009.  

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