Jan. 26, 2006 - No Bubbles Bursting Yet

 True, closings Dec. 05 are down most everywhere compared to Dec. 04 closings. But a second wind has kicked in. 

Kirkland Dec .05 closings at 127 were down from 154 in Dec 04 - BUT currently in escrow a whopping 206!  

Bellevue more even keeled. Dec 05 at 175 down from 195 in Dec 04. Currently in escrow 200. 

The high end is holding its own so far with 27 escrows in Kirkland over a mil and 20 in Bellevue, so no bubbles bursting there yet. 

The low end is a scramble. New listings are being gobbled up with multiple offers as fast as they hit the market. A few of them didnt deserve to be jumped on and I had my buyers pass them by, but someone grabbed them anyway. 

One of the reasons Kirkland is way up in current escrows is because we have yet another group of displaced persons being kicked out of their apartments for a condo conversion in downtown Kirkland. Those people are scrambling for new digs and those who dont want to chance being displaced again are buying instead of renting again. 

So no bubbles bursting yet. Question will come when new inventory starts popping in at higher levels when the sun ever decides to come back and stay awhile. If the high end inventory doubles, as I expect it will, the low end will do just fine, but Im still not sure about the $1.3 million plus crowd. 

Oh, forgot. I popped into my old stomping grounds over by Green Lake. Same trend there. 76 closed Dec. 05 vs. 119 Dec. 04 with 136 currently in escrow. 

Kirkland stilll leading the pack with 206 now in escrow vs. 127 closings in Dec. 

Go Kirkland…I mean Seahawks. Actually Im a Sonics fan. Did anyone catch Ray Allens 30 foot shot in double overtime to win the game on Sunday?!?! It was a beaut!! And tonights win gives us the first back to back win in awhile. Go Sonics!