Longview, TX (Longview News-Journal) — The Longview-area home sales market has held steady during the past three years as the economy eased out of the recession, and area professionals in the business expect 2013 could be a breakout year as activity picks up.

Phyllis Jolley is president of the Longview Area Board of Realtors for 2013. She has been in the business since 2005 and said she has seen marked improvement locally since the beginning of the recession in 2008.

“The years 2008, ‘09 and ‘10 were very sluggish,” Jolley said. “But with the job growth we’re seeing and the continuation of low interest rates, people are starting to make home purchases again.”

Jolley, an agent with Longview’s Coldwell Banker Lenhart Properties, said she has seen marked improvements in interest among potential home buyers in recent months. Whether it is having national elections in the rearview mirror or improved levels of consumer confidence reported in recent months, she said the trend is upward.

“We’re still not fully recovered, but I feel like the housing market is really starting to pick up,” Jolley said. “We’ve seen gradual changes in recent months, and so far this year is off to a good start.”

Continue reading this story from KETK Newspaper partner the Longview News-Journal.