It is commonly understood that the real estate market is not like the stock market. A real estate buyer doesn't look at the daily or weekly fluctuations. Most people don't buy and sell homes every few of months or even every couple of years. That said - the real estate market is behaving like the stock market and now sales are up, up, up.

Experts predicted the real estate market would slowly come back and that started last year. But in just the past 6 weeks, showings of homes for sale have increased dramatically. More homes have gone under contract in the last 4 weeks than is typical for this time of year. And sales are rising as a result. Inventory of homes for sale has increased at a slower rate, driving the demand even more. In other words, they are selling faster than they are coming on the market.

Here are a few single family home statistics (as of this morning):

North Dallas
between Midway & Central, Northwest Hwy & LBJ Freeway

Homes available for sale: 363
Average size: 4,593 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
Average asking price: $1,311,840

Homes currently under contract: 75

Homes sold since Jan 1, 2012: 62
Average size: 3,603 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
Average sales price: $719,832 (average asking price was $762,104)

Park Cities, Bluffview, Devonshire, Greenway Parks (areas south of Northwest Hwy)

Homes available for sale: 353
Average size: 4,074 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
Average asking price: $1,715,110

Homes currently under contract: 96

Homes sold since Jan 1, 2012: 85
Average size: 3,590 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
Average sales price: $1,082,843 (average asking price was $1,128,643)