Some analysis from the Regional Multiple Listing Association tells us that the market has been up and down without too many highs and lows. That means things were steady not too fast and not too slow, however living the market you know that it has been slower than fast.

The inventory is what I have been keeping an eye on and not just all inventory but quality inventory. In the heart of the Gorge it is low and we just do not have that much to choose from. That makes what we do have a good value at current prices. Bob Anderson

Closed and pending sales

increased dramatically when

comparing January 2010 with the

same month in 2009. Pending sales

increased 38.5%, while closed sales

jumped 73.7%. On the other hand,

new listings fell 12%.

Pending sales also increased 16.1%

(36 v. 31) when comparing January

2010 with December 2009. However,

closed sales fell 13.2% (33 v. 38) and

new listings increased 58.7% (73 v.

46) driving inventory to the highest

it’s been since April 2009.

At the month’s rate of sales, the

627 active residential listings would

last approximately 19 months.

Sale Prices

The average sale price for January

2010 was up 5.7% compared to

January 2009, and the median sale

price increased 18.9%. Compared with December 2009,

average sale price increased 24.7%

($263,900 v. $211,600) and the median

sale price was exactly the same

($220,000).

Courtesy RMLS