Tacoma Real Estate Blog

Matt keeps an elliptical exercise machine in his modest office. It takes up half the space, but it is handy. Recently, while he was on a phone call, I absentmindedly walked on his elliptical machine, waiting for his call to end. To this day I can’t explain what happened next. My theory is that my knee locked. I very suddenly careened backwards off the contraption, reaching frantically for something, anything, to break my fall, but found nothing. I went headfirst into a closet door, which slammed shut. This probably broke the fall, but produced a terrible racket. David, who we keep upstairs (because he talks too loud to work among us) came running down the stairs to see what just happened, and he slipped on the bottom step. So put yourself in Matt’s place for a moment. It must have been difficult to finish that call, to keep his composure as BOTH of his business partners were literally laid out on the ground moaning and quite possibly injured.

I feel like the past few years has been a lot worse than falling down stairs or off an elliptical machine, but the fact is we weathered it, and during the process we have gotten more efficient, developed a strong camaraderie, and maintained a sense of humor. In an odd way I am thankful for the downturn—and thankful that it seems to be ending, so we can put what we’ve learned to good use.

If you are noticing more “sale pending” signs around Tacoma, you’re right. Things have picked up in the past month and a half. When I consult the numbers, I see some interesting things. There are about as many pending sales as there were at this moment in 2010. In reality it’s not busier! But here’s the good news. There is less inventory. That was one of the problems before; too many homes for sale and not enough buyers. As the balance shifts back, we will see a stabilizing effect on pricing, even modest appreciation. It is important to note that we had a stimulus last year; a first time homebuyer tax credit. This year, the market is walking without that crutch.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

-Tom