One of the factors that drove the residential market to an almost screeching halt was the onslaught of new listings to the market earlier this year.  Today, the total inventory of residential properties is 3,534, down 10% from October 31st (only 5 weeks ago).  Since that date, available detached homes are down by 13%, and attached are down by 8%.  Over the past 7 weeks, we have seen an average of 45 sales per week.  This week, 62 sales were reported.  Given that we are in the first week of a historically low month, that is encouraging.  The number of new listings and price changes this week is also down, 107 and 146 respectively.  I am starting to sense that a more serious buyer is starting to emerge out of the shake-out, as compared with the many "tire kickers" who have been shopping the Open Houses over the past few months.