Mason City, IA - Springtime is the best time to buy a house according to most realtors, but across the country housing sales are lagging.
Housing sales experts say nationally it's taking about ten months to sell a home. In resort area's like Alexandria, Minnesota houses that used to sell in 48 hours now take a month. A realtor in Rochester tells us the average house sits on the market for at least six months, and in Mason City the time line for most homes is about four months. The long delay can affect families and finances.
Larry Eckblad is one of the lucky ones, his home in Alexandria will likely sell in about a month, but for him find a home in Mason City, where he now works, is a little more difficult.
"Because my oldest daughters handicapped we need a bedroom on the main floor, we also want to be in the country and you know we have a budget," he said.
Eckblad's wife and two daughters are still up north so his youngest can finish out the school year. He says things aren't quite falling apart but they're not exactly easy either.
"It's more stressful for my wife and kids. They have all the duties to do," he said.
Between tight budgets and rising anxiety things can get pretty heated when families are forced to deal with a slow housing market. Eckblad says not being with his "three ladies" is what bothers him.
"The missing them is the problem, but you know, what are you gonna do," he admitted.
Eckblad is happy to put up with the hardships to find the perfect house, at least for a little while.
"We're being a little picky at this point cause we're not real pressured yet in another month I'll be a lot less picky,"
