About Walla Walla County, WA

Well I am gearing up for a good year, whether or not our market cooperates! Here is the January 2010 market statistics.

Although our Market has had some activity we put 88 new listings on our market in January (All Areas) and sales were down from December.

Number of listings on the market increased for Walla Walla and College Place in almost all areas Except 300,000-349,000, 375,000-399,000, 500,000-579,000 and 1,000,000+

And sales increased in the 175,000-224,000 price range most likely driven by the 1st time home buyer and home owner tax credit market. Although sales remain stagnant in the 300,000-374,000 price range and the 400,000-499,999 and of course the 700,000 and up price ranges.

The good news is the %change in the sales price over last year is only down 1% but that is also counter balanced by a decrease in sales by 41%. Indicators of our market suggest that this could be a strong year for sales although the sales price numbers might continue to drop slightly.

I'll admit it, the last couple of months have been hard. Not just professionally but personally. It all started with a nagging fear of our "slow season", then just wentdownhill from there. Maybe its the weather I thought, it has been really cold and gray. Maybe its the market, after all it is so slow here. Maybe its the impending holidays....my rationalization went on and on.

Then I thought, maybe it is me? So I decided during this slow season to refocus my self and take some time to Re-vamp my business and recharge my thinking. Sometimes we all need a little down time to reflect.

I reflected on why I do real estate and came to the conclusion, that is the one constant in my business that part never changes, I care about my clients and genuinely want to work with them. No matter how good or how bad the market is this part never changes, and this is what motivates me. So now I am motivated but I still needed goals and direction for this next year to keep me moving forward and here is what my Top 10 goals are:

1. No buyers? Find buyers, get out there socialize with people I am around all the time and meet new people. I wont find buyers unless I actually look. Its not like buyers are just flocking to agents in hoards right now.

2. Make professional connections- I have my regulars in the industry that are my "go to" guys for lending and inspections but why limit myself in my comfort zone? I set out on a mission to find some new "go to" guys to widen my circle. What I found was some excellent programs that could fit my buyers needs.

3. Find my Niche- Because the market has changed my previous "niche" was a dead in the water right now, and what I have found with a major influx in the first time home buyer is that I really enjoy working with first time home buyers. I have a lot of knowledge and a passion for the process and love sharing both.

4. Get Educated!- My goal this year is to take as many classes as possible with the end result being a more educated me. Refreshers on things I already know but may need a new perspective on, or the things I don't know as much about but should.

5. Re-Organize- For the most part, I am pretty organized but I need to really get organized. My files could be more together, and my systems much more advanced. Sticky notes all over the place just aren't cutting it.

6. Market like mad- I love marketing, and I pride myself on my ability to market my properties effectively. There is always room for improvement though and marketing techniques I haven't tried.

7. Brand Myself- This is probably one of the most imprortant to me. I need to focus on getting a cohesive structure together and this goes hand in hand with marketing.

8. Balance- My work is important to me and so is my family. It can't bee all or nothing in either area. I need to work at creating balance in all areas of my life.

9. Stick to my values- Just because things are tough doesn't mean checking your morals at the door. In a market like this what people need and want is honesty and not the sugar coated kind.

10. Visualize- I know what I want and now I have to put it into action. Being able to see the results of my efforts will continue to motivate me everyday and keep me focused on the goals. Something good can always come out of something that seems not so good at the time.

Now I have set my goals for 2010, and I really feel (and know) this is going to be a good year. Do you?

Amanda Ewoniuk

Preferred Properties Land and Homes

Walla Walla WA.

wallawallagrapehavens@q.com

mywallawallahome.com

preferredww.com

This is an interesting website with statistics on the Washington Housing Market, State wide and by county. Put together by the Washington State Real Estate Reasearchcenter out of WSU. I pulled statistics for just Walla Walla County, but you can also search by any county in the state.

1. Home Resales are WCRER estimates based on MLS reports or deed recording (Real Market Data LLC)

2. SAAR means data presented at Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates allowing quarter-to-quarter comparison.

3. Building permits (total) are from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

4. Median prices are WCRER estimates. Half the homes sold at higher prices, half lower

5. Affordability index measures the ability of a typical family to make payments on median price resale

home. It assumes 20% downpayment and 30-year amortizing mortgage. First-time buyer affordability

index assumes a less expensive home, lower down payment and lower income.

Housing Market Snapshot

SARR %CHG

(Land QTR) (1Year Ago) Median Resale %CHG 1Year Ago Affordability

1st QTR Walla Walla 770 -25.2% -33.0% $181,100 -4.7% 146.5

2nd QTR WALLA WALLA 870 13.0% -20.2% $175,000 -5.4% 154.0

In Walla Walla County (Walla Walla, College Place, Touchet, Lowden) inventories are way up. Although the changes from a year ago reflect some what of an increase in activity. The median house prices fell from $181,100- $175,000. We will probably continue to see declines in the median price range until some of the inventory is liquidated. The first time home buyer has been a major driving force to our current market.

Do you want the good news or the bad news? Nothing that starts this way ever ends very well does it? I always opt for the bad news first in hopes that the good news will make the bad news not seem so awful. The truth is, I am not sure the good news is much better than the bad news. So sit down while you read this because the truth hurts.

This economy has effected everyone. (And if you say it hasn't affected you, than you must live on mars) As an Real Estate agent my day is usually filled with a roller coaster of emotions. The happy and ecstatic clients that just bought their new home, the frustrated sellers who's house isn't selling, the angry buyer who lost financing and my least favorite the distraught homeowner that is looking at a bleak future that includes possibly loosing their home because of circumstances beyond their control. The worst part about this scenario is there are a multitude of vultures ready to kick them while they are down.

The biggest problem is those vultures are usually scammers ready to capitalize on your mis-fortune. It is really easy when you are looking at what lies ahead to not look at the whole picture. Companies out there can make promises that seem like an easy fix to your predicament, when in reality they are counting on the fact that all you heard was "I can save your home" and not the part about the downside to what they are offering. Most of the time the fine print is so small it looks like a smudge on the paper. That is why having a neutral party with-out financial interest in your situation would be a really helpful tool. Whether it is a family member or close friend, someone who is not emotionally invested will be able to help you make wise and clear decisions.

The good news is there are options for you. Although, these are tough life altering options, you do have options. Talk to your real estate professional about what options might work for you. Then take the time to weigh all your option and the affects that it will have in your life. Your real estate agent is the "neutral" person who will have the knowledge and tools to give it to you straight and be able to help you find reputable resources that wont end up scamming you. So remember, if it seems to good to be true....it probably is.

Read this article from the Fedral Trade Commissionwith good information on Real Estate and Foreclosure scams.