National Association

Well, Alex, the National Association of [blank] is at least putting the champagne on ice. The industry group says the [blank] rise in sales for previously owned homes shows the housing market is finally stabilizing, which is the first sign of a recovery. Now, that, of course, is an interpretation of the [blank] . Alex, and one that's coming from an organization known for being somewhat of a cheerleader for the housing market, since its members are made up of realtors who've been losing a lot of money in the slump. Now, for a more [blank] view, I talked to Wellesley housing economist Karl Case, and he says the slight uptick in sales hardly [blank] the fact that numbers are down 20 percent from the year before.