| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010 12:25 pm |
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Business 
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Recession, weather drag on home sales Take what's typically the worst month for home sales. Add a recession. Then put in a couple weeks of terrible weather that paralyzed travel.That's what real estate agents faced in December in Snohomish and Island counties. So it's no surprise that home sales were so terrible that they dropped by nearly 36 percent in Snohomish County and 20 percent in Island County in comparison to a year ago, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. "December typically has a slowdown in sales due to the holidays, but the recent snowfall compounded this seasonal slowing," said J. Lennox Scott, chairman and chief executive of John L. Scott Real Estate. He and others in the business are hoping that sales will get a bit of a boost this month as a result. Dick Beeson, a Tacoma broker, said continuing low interest rates should also help, noting they've fallen in the low 5 percent range and lower. "This is a stimulus package we can count on and one that works," he said. "Banks are finally getting it and so are buyers as they realize their buying power has gone up." In addition to falling sales, prices also dropped in December. In Snohomish County, the combined median price for homes and condominiums was $307,000. That's a 9.6 percent drop from a year ago, when the median in the county was $339,675. For just single-family homes, the median was $318,694. For condos, it was $260,000. With the lower prices, condos were definitely more popular with buyers last month. Sales fell, but only by 19 percent, much less that the drop for single-family homes. And prices for condos actually rose, increasing by 12.8 percent in comparison to year-ago figures. |
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- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood
- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last
- Boeing's 747-8 takes off after weather delay
- Plan for I-5 closures this week
- A new bowling alley for Monroe?
- Lake Stevens man homeless after fire
- I-5 bridge joint may give you a jolt, but it isn't damaged
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood
(10) - Vote on school levies by Tuesday (9)
- Everett police officers cleared in 2008 shooting death (5)
- 1949 travel aid shows how few places blacks were welcome in Washington (4)
- I-5 bridge joint may give you a jolt, but it isn't damaged (4)
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries (4)
- Three politicians who want Gregoire's job in 2012 (3)
- Toyota has powerful D.C. friends (3)
- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last (3)
- Life story: Man fought depression courageously, family says (3)
- Edmonds educator, famous announcer dies
- Mill Creek to appeal ruling on annexation
- Through the air, with the greatest of ease
- E-W thriving under new coach
- The path to citizenship
- EUUC puts on ‘Pants & Shoes’
- Wolfpack wins the ‘Battle'
- Lynnwood’s annexation plans OK’d
- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
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