Monday Market in Vancouver: Coming into Spring

Increasing Action in Vancouver, Washington

Market Snapshot 2009/02/08

More homes for sale, more homes under contract this week. There are 3306 homes for sale in the Vancouver area. Up from last week's 3265. There are 476 contracts on their way to transfer of title, up from last week's 463. That meeans the ratio closed just a tad (or maybe a smidge). This increase in numbers is typical for the time of year (post Superbowl!).

But I noticed something odd... There were only 27 sales recorded last week. Two weeks prior we had only 18 record, and 44 last week. Compare that to the average for Novemer in the 50s and last week of December being 61 and see what you come up with. The first two reasons for the decline in numbers that I can come up with is that 1) Agents are not recording sales in a timely manner, or 2) Those pending sales are failing to complete in a timely manner (or at all). If so, then what?

Busy, busy. I'm talking to lenders and appraisers that are keeping busy with all the re-financing going on. Perhaps their backlogs are slowing up the closings on the purchase and sales?

I'm a little concerned about the number of closed sales. Based on the number of pendings, I should expect to see more consistent numbers of closed sales. My company (Keller Williams Premier Partners) provides great training on keeping the transactions going. If you're a real estate agent, call me and I'll tell you how you can get the training for free, without leaving your current brokerage. If you're a consumer, looking to buy or sell, be sure your agent has had the training and education to know how to keep your transaction bullet-proof! Or, just call me. I took the training!

Whether you're looking for your first home, or possibly your last, or selling either of them, I have the patience and experience to help you find the best choice in Vancouver Washington. Working with a professional real estate agent (me!) who listens to your needs and works as a trusted advisor to get the best solution to your housing needs will give you a new attitude about real estate. If you are concerned about living a more sustainable lifestyle, Vancouver Washington may be the city for you. I specialize in knowing the neighborhoods in Vancouver Washington that have great walkscore ratings. Whether you want the low-maintenance condo lifestyle, a home that gets you off the grid, or a home that is something in between in Clark County, I can help you find just the right home and neighborhood. If you're looking for homes that have been certified as green, you'll want to know I keep informed of the newly constructed homes and their various green certifications. Visit my website for more information.