When NAR announces the December home sales figures on January 25, they will show a sizeable jump in activity. Does that mean the housing recession is over. Not necessarily; it may simply reflect the warmer than average weather in most of the country in December. Housing numbers are seasonally adjusted, meaning they are multiplied by a factor that accounts for historical weather patterns. If a given month is significantly above or below "normal" temperatures, the numbers will be skewed. The extremes of weather most often occur in December and January, so these are the most unreliable numbers. Don't believe them. Is the housing recession over? Yes and no (how's that for an economist's hedge?) Sales will stop sliding and will really turn up in most markets and for the nation by late winter or early spring. Unfortunately, we have another six to eight months before prices follow suit.