Sales in February were the strongest since 2005, even surpassing 2006 numbers! Wow. Some sources cite pent up demand, the consensus around our office is the lack of availability, especially in the more desirable areas. On a related note, 68 homes sold for $900,000+ on the Eastside in February. Could we be back to an 80,000+ year, four-county?

The U.S. Census has just reported that home ownership has reached its lowest point at 64% since 1990. Washington State is 63.2%. As the chart shows, this number has reached as high as 69%, and the desire for home ownership is still a goal for almost all upwardly mobile Americans.