BOSTON -- A national real estate expert said Monday that the Massachusetts region could soon start moving in a positive direction.

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that while the news is positive, there's little sign of progress in hard-hit areas.

"First, I got separated from my husband, so I am in the middle of a divorce. Then on top of that, I got laid off in January," said Dorchester homeowner Michelle Anthony, who is on the verge of losing her home.

The worst news was her sub-prime mortgage rate. Within three years, her monthly payment doubled to just less than $3,000 per month.

The chief economist for the National Association of Realtors offered a ray of sunshine to his New England members.

"The worst in the sub-prime foreclosures is probably peaking at this point, but most of the mortgages -- 90 percent of the homeowners -- are not exposed to sub-prime loans. A vast number of neighborhoods are doing fine," said Lawrence Yun, of the National Association of Realtors.

"I am very encouraged, as a matter of fact. I think he had a lot of good messages for all of us as Realtors in the region," Duxbury Realtor Georgia Taft said.

"We are in the middle of a five-year downturn, so if we are at the bottom, we are going to start coming up. That is great," Orleans Realtor Linda Collins said.

In fact, Yun predicted that most of New England will see home prices stabilizing and possibly seeing a modest increase.

"By 2009, I think we will be back to normal. In that case, people can anticipate a 4 percent to 6 percent price appreciation," Yun said.

Anthony, however, does not live in one of those neighborhoods, so she is getting help from the Neighborhood Assistance Cooperation.

"It didn't look like it was getting any better to me. A lot of people are in the same situation that I am in," Anthony said.

Massachusetts is just below the national average when it comes to foreclosures due to sub-prime mortgages.