A positive outlook for the Elkin area housing industry has led Johnsie Hudspeth, owner of Century 21 Hudspeth Properties to remodel her real estate business.

She has just completed doubling her office size as well as remodeling the interior wireless technologies system.

"I have agents that have been with me working out of four by five foot cubicles and doing a tremendous job for the company, and I thought it was time for them to have a better work space," Hudspeth said. "2007 was our most productive year in sales volume and number of properties sold." Hudspeth attributes the high numbers to an excellent sales team but also the inherent value within the Elkin and Yadkin Valley areas.

"We have a lot to offer potential buyers within our 15-mile radius of Elkin. There is an amazing hospital, the efforts of the arts council, library and recreation department, we have a golf course, wineries and a beginning tourism market," Hudspeth said. "People look around and see this would be a great place to live."

As a longstanding member of the Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce and one time member of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership board, Hudspeth said that she can be so positive about the area and real estate because she knows how much there is to offer potential buyers.

Hudspeth does not agree with all of the negative attention the housing market has been receiving lately. "The media has done the entire real estate business a great disservice by frightening potential sellers and buyers with worries about the economy."She said that the media scare seemed unfounded nationally and particularly in our area. New building took a hit because of the cost of materials, but people still want to move into this area, Hudspeth said.She also says it is a good time for people to obtain loans if they have the standard criteria met, namely employment and the means to pay a down payment and monthly loan payments."I believe it is a good market for both buyer and seller right now." Hudspeth said, "Sellers have been scared into thinking they won't get their worth right now because people are not looking to buy. We have buyers ready and willing right now that don't have as much to choose from because of that scare."She is encouraging people to put their houses on the market if they are ready to sell."Our employment rate is not as bad here as some places and loans are available in Elkin and surrounding areas," Hudspeth said. "We have not had anyone turned down for a loan recently."Hudspeth added that as markets and employment opportunities open up in surrounding cities like Statesville and Winston-Salem, she believes that Elkin will look like a very attractive place to live rurally while commuting to the bigger city.With expansion, Hudspeth is hoping to attract a few more sales associates to her Century 21 business. She said she is ready to grow in a controlled positive way with people who would like to enjoy the opportunities here. They will be having an open house for the community on Tuesday."It's a really good place and time for my business to expand to be in good shape for the growth I see coming," Hudspeth said.