Daryl Datus

The credit is working," 355,000 to 400,000 transactions directly attributable to the credit made a significant dent in the housing inventory and will help to stabilize home prices. Further, the credit has provided a huge indirect benefit to local governments, shoring up property tax bases in particularly hard-hit areas.

data shows estimated that every home purchase pumps into the recovering economy about $63,000 - the equivalent of one new job added to the employment figures.

Thats huge for the locals!

The is the threat of more foreclosures coming to the market caused by mortgage rate resets, job losses, and by lender's unburdening themselves of additional properties to take advantage of today's more stabilized prices could disrupt the fragile recovery. This is where the greed comes to play for the bankers!

In a "normal" market, optimal housing inventory is about six to seven months, When the tax credit was enacted in February, inventory was 9.1 months.

Because of the spurt in homes sales since then due to the tax credit, inventory declined to 8.2 months in August, closer to "normal" than at any time since 2007

size matter? The challenging economy as well as a desire for a greener lifestyle has forced some to question their view of how much space they really need.

Smaller doesn't always mean less expensive.

Mason and kitsap countys are no different, buyers are looking for smaller homes and down sizing in this economy

Indeed, there are television shows dedicated to flaunting the luxury of reduced spaces. The small home movement is hardly a novel concept look at those in Seattle and New york apartments, they love that life style!

Home Sizes and Home Buyers

• Median size of homes purchased in 2008: 1,825 sq. ft.
• Median home size, first-time buyers: 1,580 sq. ft.
• Median home size, repeat buyers: 2,030 sq. ft.
• 17% of all buyers reported making compromises on home size

With Congress moving quickly on a number of key issues
Why momentum is building - both in Congress and the Administration - in support of extending and possibly expanding the $8,000 first-time home-buyer tax credit.

The best is yet to come, dont hold your breath lets get buyers committed to contract now!

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Part of the problem is that the media is running all kinds of stories about how smart consumers ask real estate agents to cut commissions. Eventually, the news can died down and consumers, for the most part, forget about commission-cutting.

But watch out, It's going to come back. People will ask agents to cut commissions simply because they're desperate and they need us to.

It's going to be up to us to show them the value we provide. Our commission is a cost of doing business. We are experts, not deceptive salespeople. We have resources, strategies, tactics, and knowledge that is worth the fee paid to us.

If we buckle and let them slam us around, we're not only doing a disservice to ourselves but also to every other agent out there.

Don't fall into the trap of believing that the sky is falling based on anecdotal reports. You don't know exactly what's going on within any given company.

What it all comes down to is attitude. Watch yours. Attitude is more important than you can measure when it comes to becoming a successful real estate agent.

Stay away from people who are piling up the negative news on you. There's enough of it going around. You don't need to hear any more of it.

It is the agent with the best attitude that generally survives and thrives.