Spring cleaning stems from traditional early cleaning after the weather starts to warm up and the days become brighter. In many parts of the country, once the days brighten up it is easy to see the cobwebs and dust that the winter gloom has kept hidden in the shadows.

The year 2009 ended on less of an upswing for the real estate market than many people across the country would have liked to see, considering the amount of money that the government has spent to support the housing market; but only time will tell how the end of the year numbers will affect the first quarter of 2010.

Last year we kept hearing how the recession was over or almost over and things were going to look up at any moment. Well, 2009 came and went and we soon discovered that the recession was, in fact, not over. The question now is not if millions of people are going to lose their homes—which millions already have—but what the final toll of homes in foreclosure is going to be when this economic is finally over.

With the weather turning cooler and gardens showing their less vibrant side, it is a good idea to prep your yard for prospective buyers so that they look well maintained and easy to take care of.

When they say that the most important aspects of real estate are “location, location, location”, it’s not a joke. However, it might be more accurate to say that the key is proximity. Proximity to the neighborhood elements which are important to you will not only make your surroundings more liveable but can also add value to your home.