Slump.  Recession.  Downturn.  These seem to be the only words we’ve been hearing for the past few years when talking about the real estate market.  Are you as tired of hearing them as I am?  Good.  It’s time to look at the bright side and discuss some indicators that the real estate market is recovering.  It won’t happen by tomorrow, but we could soon be talking about an upswing.

• Home prices are not declining as quickly.  In recent months, they’ve either remained steady, gone up a little, or seen only a slight drop as opposed to the common major falls of the past.  This is a good sign that consumers are purchasing homes again, rolling money back into the market.
• At the same time, home prices have not witnessed a huge increase.  This side is even better for the consumer; it has become easier for many people to afford homes.  While rising unemployment rates threaten the affordability from the other side (and keep the possibility of foreclosures near), the fact that prices have remained relatively steady offer a positive promise for the real estate future.
• With prices low, the people that can afford to buy homes are actually buying them.  One big help has been the first-time homebuyer tax credit.  People that are buying their first home can receive up to an $8000 tax credit that does not have to be repaid.  If you are in the market for a new home (excuse the pun), do not forget to take advantage of this!  It’s only available through December 1, 2009.
• Even though credit requirements have become stricter due to the high number of recent foreclosures, interest rates have remained low.  This equates to more affordable loans for new homebuyers, as well as a great opportunity for many people to refinance their current homes.
• Foreclosures are still common.  This may seem like an oxymoron; yes, foreclosures are a negative occurrence for all involved parties.  However, foreclosures mean even lower home prices, opening up the possibility of homeownership for even more people.  These properties account for about 1/3 of home sales.  Without the low prices that come with them, home sales would not be rising.  Of course, low foreclosures would be a better sign of recovery, but for now, the fact that it equals a low price and a home sale stands to push the market in the right overall direction.

These indicators may be only small glimmers of hope that the recession will end, but a positive outlook is always beneficial.  If these signs can become a solid base to build upon, perhaps we can eliminate the words “slump” and “downturn” from our vocabulary.

What’s better than finding something you wanted on sale?  Finding it for free, of course!  It can be as simple as knowing where to look, and you can find more than just free samples without having to take a survey or review a product.  Ready, set, go!

• Ah, Craigslist.  If you haven’t met Craigslist, it’s time you two were introduced.  Not only can you find jobs, gigs, and items for sale, you can find free stuff.  And it’s not simply people’s broken junk.  If you’re searching at the right time, you might hit the jackpot.  For example, one day I found a listing from someone in my area that had an entire garage full of stuff that he was giving away—for free.  This turned out to include many things that were in great condition that he probably could have sold for a decent amount of money, but he was moving and simply wanted it all gone!  Many times, you need to act quickly before someone else snatches up the free stuff.  Not finding what you’re looking for?  You can post a “wanted” ad or look under “barter” if you have something you’re willing to swap.
• Freecycle.org.  Here you can save perfectly good items from being dumped in a landfill.  You can find furniture, toys, appliances, etc. that might otherwise be thrown away but are in good or salvageable condition.  You’ll help the environment and gain something for free!
• Swaptree.com.  Let’s face it: CD’s, DVD’s, books, and videogames (especially videogames!) can be pretty expensive when bought new.  And if you have an item in one of these categories that you just don’t care for anymore, the resale value is pretty low.  At swaptree.com, you can literally swap your old item for one that you want, and it’s completely free!  How’s that for a good deal?
• Swapstyle.com.  Are you ready for this one?  I’m pretty excited!  At swapstyle.com, you can swap clothes for free!  Resale value on clothes is just as low as your videogames and DVD’s, and unless you’re shopping strictly on the clearance racks, new clothes are almost always overpriced.  So what do you do if you no longer wear something or you’ve lost weight and you’re in the market for a wardrobe overhaul?  I’m going to swapstyle.com.  This is completely free; you can become “address verified” for $10 if you desire, though.  Address verification is used to help members feel more secure with their transactions.
• Couchsurfing.org.  If you’re a traveler and you’re looking to spend as little as possible, you might want to check out this website.  Think of it as crashing at a friend’s house for free while you’re on a road trip…anywhere in the world.  You find people to stay with in the area you’re traveling to, and you stay for free.  You might be thinking that it doesn’t sound safe to sleep in a complete stranger’s home in a different state or country, but you select who you want to stay with and have every opportunity to check them out beforehand.  The site describes itself as having a “neighborhood watch” program; you can check members’ references and verification, as well as their friends before requesting to stay with them.

Another way to stumble upon your free treasure is to do an internet search and type “free” and the item you’re looking for.  On other websites, you may have to fill out a survey or ensure pop-up ads in order to get the free stuff; if you’re comfortable with that, go for it.  You’ve found what you wanted, and the price is right!

Two weeks of vacation just isn’t enough; you either get one shot at a long vacation (and come back to an insanely large pile of work) or break it up into small pieces to spread throughout the year (and 10-14 days spread over 52 weeks doesn’t cut it).  The remedy?  Weekend getaways.  Sometimes simply getting away from your usual surroundings for those couple days can be exactly the refreshment your mind and body need.  Here are a few ideas to get you started and keep some money in your pocket:

• “Staycations.”  You might hate the made-up word, and you were probably expecting this suggestion, but it’s true: vacationing in your own local area can be an easy and cheap idea.  I’ve found through personal experience that many people know more about far away cities than they do about their own backyard.  Do an internet search to find any local festivals or small towns you may never have heard of.  Pack like you’re traveling across the country—in other words, leave home and don’t look back!
• Go camping.  Rates are usually better than hotels anyway!  This can be a great idea for families.  Pitch a tent, start a fire, make s’mores, and tell stories.  Most camping sites will also have many sporting activities available such as swimming or volleyball or trails to go hiking, bike-riding, or rollerblading on.  And you can turn your trip into either a fun party or a relaxing experience.
• Go on a cruise!  Yes, a cruise.  You may need to take an extra day or two on this one, but airfare and cruise rates are extremely low right this very minute.  Some cruises will cost just around $200 right now, and your round-trip airfare could be even less.  If you’ve never been on a cruise (or you have and would love to go again), now is a perfect time to go.

Are you looking for a specific destination idea?  Again, with airfare low, you have many options available for your weekend trips.  Try a few of these:

• Lake Geneva, WI.  If you’re looking for a quaint little town with a bit of a city flair, this is the place for you.  You’ll find bed and breakfasts and cozy hotels, great restaurants (especially for pizza!), fun little shops, and of course, the lake, which offers a few different beach options.
• Washington, D.C.  If your favorite price is “free,” visit our nation’s capitol.  Of course, you’ll have to pay for your hotel and food, but many of the attractions are free.  This includes the national monuments, the many Smithsonian museums, the White House, etc.  Get a big piece of history for absolutely nothing.
• Los Angeles, CA.  Particularly with fall coming up, you might be looking for a warmer destination.  Just like Washington, D.C., LA offers many free attractions as well, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the California Science Center, the Getty Museum, and a free tour of the original LA area.  Maybe you’ll even come away with an autograph from a celebrity!

The Travel Channel also features a program called “Samantha Brown’s Great Weekends.”  She goes everywhere for just a weekend, including Europe.  She does a number of different activities that you might not know existed, many of them on the cheap.  If you’re looking for more ideas, this can be a good stop on your getaway search.  Happy relaxing!