As the far-reaching economic consequences of the popping of the housing/credit bubble unfold, local governments are feeling the pain. Snohomish County faces a $9 million shortfall for 2009, forcing a hiring freeze. While down in King County, Ron Sims just announced that 255 jobs will be cut. Financially ailing King County will send layoff notices…
Category: News
News, current events, etc.
Redfin Cuts 20% of Staff
It looks like the tough real estate market has finally caught up to our favorite local real estate search innovator and discount broker Redfin. From the corporate blog: Today Redfin laid off roughly 20% of our employees. Unlike other startups, our industry’s recession started a year ago, when home prices first plunged. Since then, we’ve…
Construction Defaults Over 10%, Tacoma Condos Empty
A few more articles from this week about how dramatically the local real estate market has slowed. Puget Sound Business Journal: Construction defaults rise in Seattle area The latest data on local new-home sales and construction-loan delinquencies illustrate the market forces underlying the growth in mechanics’ lien filings. Delinquencies of single-family construction loans in the…
Congress to the Rescue
September Reporting Roundup
Here’s the NWMLS press release that accompanied yesterday’s numbers: Pending Sales Up 4.1 Percent From Year Ago, Total Inventory Unchanged Home sales around Western Washington during September rose 4.1 percent from a year ago, reversing a 19-month pattern of declines. Members of Northwest Multiple Listing Service reported 5,982 pending sales (offers made and accepted, but…