Summer is here and the temperatures have been sizzling. It is also the time of year when the real estate market gets flooded with new listings.

"Normally every spring we usually pick up. This year it was a little bit earlier because of the nice weather we had during the first quarter. We were a little bit worried going into the second quarter that things would slow down, as they did in 2010, but we're seeing a nice, steady incline of sales. It's been really steady for the last couple of months," said realtor Willie Miranda.

According to Miranda, homes aren't sitting on the market for as long as they did at the same time last year. The reason is actually pretty simple.

"There are less listings out there and more buyers out there. So, the demand for properties has increased and we're starting to see homes sell a lot quicker now that the demand has increased. We're starting to see about a two to four percent increase in the actual average sale price, because buyers are paying more as there is less for them to bid on, and we're starting to see multiple offers again, which is great," said Miranda.

No matter what time of year it is, if your house is on the market, you want it to stand out. Make sure to put your best foot forward and clean up the yard and make it presentable. Although it's been dry, and the grass might not exactly be green, there are certainly steps that you can take to ensure your house makes the right first impression.

"In the summertime, landscaping and that curb appeal is very important for a homeowner. You still want to make sure your lawn is cut. You want to have good landscaping, putting flowers out is important, keeping things not overgrown. Sellers still want to continue to do that," said Miranda. "If you have a pool or something out in the backyard that you like to show off, than really show it off. That will make the difference between a house getting sold and not sold, when compared to three or four other homes out there that have the same like qualities."

While the market certainly hasn't recovered to the point where houses were selling in a day, Miranda went on to say that the outlook is good. Small, but steady and consistent improvements over the last few years are something to smile about.