As the local and regional real estate market continues to steady itself following the economic recession, one glaring problem remains in Hall County: the need for affordable housing. “We really are in desperate need,” said Tommy Howard, chief operating officer at The Norton Agency real estate firm in Gainesville. Howard said he remains cautiously optimistic about the local real estate market heading into 2017, and the overall market has been strong this year with lots of homes trading hands during a robust summer sales season.