Welcome to HopOffTheFence, the home for NSBAR's consumer awareness campaign about the health of the North Shore - Barrington Area real estate market. Locally, consumers are hearing a great deal of mixed messages about the stability of the real estate industry on a national level. Thus, many are sitting on that proverbial fence about whether to buy or sell a home.

Through this campaign, it's our goal to truly educate consumers, real estate brokers and agents, and news media alike about what's happening here at home in our local market.

Here in the North Shore - Barrington Area, the grass is green on both sides. So jump off that fence and stand proudly next to one – the white picket variety seems to work well.

First time buyers: Learn the details of how you can get a $8,000 tax credit for a home purchase closed before December 1, 2009.