You may have noticed, sold signs popping up in your neighborhood, as shifts in the housing market take hold.News 12's Lisa Cownie takes a look at what's behind this positive economic trend.From "For Sale" to "Sold", signs of the times are changing in the Mankato area, as the housing market sees a bump heading into what is normally a slow time of year for home sales."One driving force is the first time homeowners tax credit, an incentive that gives buyers up to $8,000."Chad Borgmeier says, "It is enticing people to purchase homes. It is helping first time home buyers, which is then turning those people into buying other homes. So it is helping the Domino effect."According to the Blue Earth County Assessor's office, 449 homes were sold in the market in 2008, a dramatic decline from 2007. After a slow start to 2009, 215 home sales have closed so far this year.Jim Beal, of J Beal Homes in Mankato, credits the program, as well as a decline in home prices, for jump starting the housing market here.Jim Beal says, "It's very exciting. I mean, you know, it's free money, so it is setup so that they don't have to pay it back."This incentive is set to end November 30, but there is talk of extending the program. Borgmeier says to beat the November deadline, anyone looking for a home should have the process started by mid-October.Beal is optimistic that even if the program ends, Mankato's housing market will stay on the upward track.Jim Beal says, " We feel the market is starting to come back a little bit. Out there is some positive news. In the Mankato area there is a lot of potential for what we see happening out here. We feel we are slowly coming back."In Mankato, Lisa Cownie, News 12.