Market statistics are a snapshot in time as to how the real estate market is performing. A stock broker diligently watches the market to spot trends, so he/she can advise you as to when the best time to buy a particular stock, and the best time to sell some of your existing stock. You should be able to consider your real estate agent as your trusted real estate advisor, much like how you trust your stockbroker to advise you when the time is right to buy or sell. The single most important asset that your agent has, or should have, is continued knowledge of the overall market.
You may notice from my town blogs that I research and publish weekly and monthly analyses and trends of the real estate market in Easton, Fairfield, Norwalk, Trumbull and Westport, besides giving useful tips and advice on the CT Home Blog. I research statistics on neighboring towns, and offer a quarterly report on each town biography page as well.
Unless you pay close attention to market trends, the best time to buy or sell may not be very clear, and again, watching the real estate market is similar in more than a few ways to reviewing your investments on NASDAQ or the NYSE. Remember, we only start at the town level, and different parts of town will have their own different real estate markets, and your home, or the home that you want to buy, has its own individual "market", which can and will be different than even the exact same house next door, so your market is very specific.
Pricing your home to sell in any market, and purchasing a home at the right price comes right down to the details on the state of market, and how those details positively or adversely affect the home's price. Getting the most out of the sale of your home, and getting the best price on your purchase is something I've got years of experience doing. Feel free to check out some client testimonials, and when you need a real estate advisor that you can rely on for the most accurate and up to date information, plus the tip top negotiating skills you deserve, just contact me :)