Single-family homes are leading the recovery this month with 93 percent more sold at prices nearly 6 percent higher than last January. Yes, the average price is about 20 percent lower than last year's total, but that will even out as the year goes on. The number of January sales is the big story.

The number of properties for sale continues at 2007 levels which can only be good for those now on the market.

Real estate fact of the week

$992,500 ... average Summit County single-family home sale price in 2009 at the market's peak

$774,700 ... average single family home sale price in 2011 — 21 percent lower

Chuck Leathers is the broker/owner of Chuck Leathers Real Estate Co. He can be reached at (888) 485-2300 or email him at ChuckLeathers@Realtor.com.