Barry Long

Wow! I can't believe our local newspaper wrote something nice about the real estate market in Tri-Cities last sunday!

We all know you can't put lipstick on a pig and 2008 was dismal at best. But there were over 2700 homes and to be honest that was down over 23% from 2007. The great part was everybody picked up their toys out of the sandbox and left. Builders stopped building, sellers waited to put their homes on the market and what happened? The sales numbers dropped but the median and average home sales prices only declined 1 to 2%! Thats AMAZING!

The economy in Benton & Franklin counties looks to be shaping up pretty nice. While we are all glued to the newspaper and TV to see who's getting fired next our Hanford area site continues to BOOM! Lockheed Martin just scored a $5 BILLION CONTRACT! Which means MORE JOBS! HERE!

The medical field is growing like CRAZY! Kadlec hospital is adding the Doug & Lori Watts Neonatal intensive Care wing for babies and lets not forget they just added 10 new operating rooms and 64 patient beds. KGH is looking to grow too!

Spring is right around the corner! I can feel it already! Even though it's 19 degrees this morning I'm taking Jake & Hanna out for a walk this morning and great the day head on!

I'd like to say congratulations to the Elder Family! We are signing papers today on their 1ST NEW HOME! Great family that got tired of renting! Took advantage of the City of Kennewick Down Payment Assiatance Program, got a great rate from my lending partner and they are now HOMEOWNERS and they are paying less than they did in rent! How cool is that!

Lastly are you thinking of shopping for a new home? Do it the easy way. Search on-line using the Home Buyers Scouting Report. This is a great website that allows you to search without having to go to different sites to find out where the schools are, what's close by, mapping, home prices, more. You'll get email alerts on new homes in your parameters that have come on the market, you can schedule showings and save your seached homes plus you won't get bugged with TONS of phone calls from realtors you don't even know. It's your site, your privacy, and it's waiting for you. Email me today and I'll get you signed up!

Email me at Barry@EverstarRealty.com

See ya soon!

Bear

Today is Wednesday January 21st, 2009. Well! We made it! A new president...lots of people shaking their heads and wondering why the economy isn't fixed yet. I'm going to give President Obama another day and see what happens.

Hey! We didn't get in this mess overnight and it's going to take some time to get out of it.

Went to a really cool seminar yesterday sponsored by one of my lending partners Prospect Mortgage. They are members of the Home Buyers Scouting Report! This very cool interactive tool will allow you to do your home search from 1 website, save your searches easily and on-line communication with your lender and your agent. very simple to use!

If you need more information on the Home Buyers Scouting Report just send me an email or call me!

Checked the MLS this morning and our market in Tri-Cities is looking good! About 1400 active Single Family homes on the market currently. 46 homes SOLD! since January 1! Not Bad!

I'm heading out to pay my renewal for membership in our board today. 650 agents in our area. Betcha that number will come down by the end of the month.

I'm in it to win it!

More to BLOG SOON!