Typical King County family can now afford averaged priced home, according to the Seattle Times.

The Seattle Times has a great article that shows the typical family earns $81,965 and can afford the median house price of $387,500, the best figures for the typical family since 2004. This is in large part to the median price dipping due to less expensive properties being purchased at a higher rate than more expensive homes and the low interest rates, which could increase. Buy now while the buying is good. Click here to read the Seattle Times article on house affordability in Seattle.

7.2% increase in national home sales over last month, the biggest jump in over 10 years.

The Seattle Times reports that this increase is the biggest in over 10 years. 1 out of every 3 homes was purchased by first-time-buyers, which is the biggest driver to the entire housing market. Without first-time-buyers it would be hard for move-up-buyers to buy their next house. Click here to read the entire Seattle Times article on increase home sales.

Fed says the economy is leveling out. Rates still great.

The Federal Government appears to be pulling in some of the "life preservers" used to stabilize the economy while still keeping rates low. Click here to read the entire Seattle Times article on the Feds efforts.

Freddie Mac is showing a profit - a sign for better times to come?

The Washington Post reports that Freddie mack will not be asking for additional funds from the government, maybe that's a sign that recovery is on it's way. I also have a great Q & A with the interim CEO, John Koskinen, which I'll try to find and publish. Click here to see the entire Washington Post article on the status of Freddie Mac.

Unemployment rates dips a hair.

Though the number of layoffs increased the unemployment rate dipped as some people stopped looking for work. The number of people who lost their jobs, 247,000, was the smallest monthly loss since last August. Click here to read the entire New York Times article on the U.S. jobless rate.

July sales are up but median prices are down. Another article about July activity.

Here is another article about what I had posted yesterday; July sales are up but median prices down. This article has some great graphs to show the activity. Click here to see the entire Seattle Times article on the increase of sales.

Sales are up to the same level as August 2007, the month the real estate market melted.

Though median prices have come down, which isn't surprising since most of the purchasing activity is in the lower range of homes, the number of sales is up - 10.6% higher over July 2008. Click here to read the entire Seattle Times article on the increase of home sales.

California, Arizona and Florida show signs of economic stability.

Three of the 4 states that have been the hardest hit by the real estate meltdown show improvement. Michigan is the only other state that is not recovering. Sales in California and up 20%+ year-over-year and foreclosures down. Prices have increased 3 months in a row so it looks like a trend is starting. As I've said before, unemployment will continue to rise as that is one area that recovers last. Click here to see the Associated Press article as printed in the Seattle Times.

Realestalkers - watching your dream home for years until it finally comes up for sale.

It's true, some people see a home they love and wait for years to finally buy it. I have a friend who bought a Paul Hayden Kirk designed home about 7 years ago. When she bought it there were 2 other buyers who had also put in bids but she got the house. One of them wrote her a letter after she moved in, asking her to contact them if she ever decided to sell the home. Her life changed 5 years later and she contacting them, letting them know she wanted to sell the home. They bought the home after waiting 5 years for their dream home. Click here for the entire Seattle Times article on Realestalking.