Carmel residential sales have shown a marked improvement in the first four months of 2011 as compared to the same time period in 2010. Carmel Sales YTD April 30 2011.  As we discussed in a previous analysis of the San Francisco Bay Area markets, Northern California is showing steady improvement.  Historically this has been a leading indicator of better times in our local Carmel marketplace. For the first four months of 2011 there have been 72 sales compared with 46 in 2010. Carmel Sales YTD April 30, 2010.  It appears that buyers are sensing and becoming more comfortable that we may be at the bottom, or at least close enough to enter the market and negotiate a deal.