While Trade-a-Plane asking prices have always been higher than found elsewhere, it does seem that asking prices everywhere have been coming back up lately (last four months) for some types of aircraft. The sweet spot to buy was about two to three years ago, when people were freaking out and some were selling in desperation. That window of opportunity appears to be over. 150s are not yet back to 2006 levels, but with so many high wing Cessnas exported over the last few years due to the exchange rate shift it is possible they could rise higher than 2006 in the next year or two.
One of my dream airplanes has been a Yak-52. In 2006, you could get one fresh off the boat, needing plenty of work to get it airworthy in the US, for about $65k. Today, you can buy a flying example sporting a nice paint job and with plenty of engine time left for less than $40k. It appears that the market for full aerobatic (limited range and utility) aircraft will remain depressed for a while longer.
