The monthly sales statistics generated by VIREB always contain some interesting information. Much like a treasure hunt, a little digging will produce a few bright and shining nuggets of data that tell us a lot about the local marketplace. For example last month there were 86 Single Family (Acreage) properties listed on the MLS® system – down four percent from the 90 listed in January 2012. As a point of interest 13 properties of this type were reported sold last month. In addition 14 Full Duplex properties were listed in January, up 75 percent from the number listed a year earlier while 62 Manufactured / Mobile Homes on Pad were listed – up 13 percent from January 2012. In addition 158 lots were listed last month which is up 126 percent from January 2012. However only 17 lots were reported sold which is down 19 percent from a year earlier. Board totals for listings of all types were pegged at 1,689 in January, which is up six percent from the 1,589 listed during the previous January. The total dollar value of all real estate sales recorded so far this year (as of January 31) was just over $2 billion, down approximately nine percent from the same point in 2012.