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Herald Editorial Board

Bob Bolerjack,
Opinion Editor
bolerjack@heraldnet.com

Carol MacPherson,
Editorial Writer
cmacpherson@
heraldnet.com


Allen Funk,
Herald Publisher
funk@heraldnet.com

Kim Heltne,
Assistant to the Publisher
heltne@heraldnet.com

Send letters to the editor by e-mail to letters@heraldnet.com, by fax to 425-339-3458 or mail to The Herald - Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.

 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Wednesday


81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored...
USO singer's voice still charms them in Edmonds
Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme C...
Tuesday


Fire destroys Emory's restaurant
Peggy Pritchard Olson always put Edmonds first
Camano Island burglaries spike: Is Colton back?
Monday


Tree clearing, mud slide angers Everett neighbor
Later start for school day unlikely in Marysville
Hopes for Snohomish excursion train may hinge o...
Sunday


Glacier Peak freshman overcomes jitters to win ...
Gay marriage issue can wait, say Referendum 71 ...
Cities across south Snohomish County see tax re...
Saturday


Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Ti...
Suspect identified in Seattle police killing
Mountlake Terrace thrilled by high school's fir...
Friday


Officer Timothy Brenton. Gone, but not forgotten
Person sought in officer's killing is shot in head
Thousands to pay respects to slain Seattle poli...
Thursday


Tale of 1916 Everett Massacre retold in style o...
Reservist survived Iraq but not his return to c...
Swine flu suspected in infant’s death
 

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Published: Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Bring 'big picture' back to the housing market

Riding the economy's inevitable ups and downs used to be easier when investors held dear the concepts of holding "the long view" and "the big picture" rather than interpreting every daily report as a "trend."

For example, people used to buy a house or a condo, and live in it. Now, people purchase an "investment" and track its economic blips everyday. If it hasn't appreciated 15 percent in a year, what good is it? Is it time to refinance? Time to sell? Time to move in?

"The housing peak is over," said Todd Britsch, president of Bothell-based New Home Trends, which tracks construction. "These type of frenzies come around every 20 years."

Instead, the region will see a normal and healthy housing market, Britsch told The Herald.

Similarly, Business Editor Mike Benbow wrote about the seemingly contradictory news that a day after Forbes magazine declared the housing market in the Seattle area the most stable in the nation, local statistics showed that home sales in Snohomish County had dropped 31 percent from a year ago.

That's not conflicting news.

"It looks like the market has kind of taken a deep breath and just corrected itself a little bit," said Nathan Gorton of the Snohomish County Camano Board of Realtors.

A slowdown in a growing market is nothing to get worried about, in the big picture. What's worrisome is witnessing brand-new subdivisions turning into ghost towns as the mortgage crisis takes it toll in other parts of the country.

The fact that the market here is correcting itself is a good thing. The stricter environmental rules approved by the County Council in August, that went into effect Oct. 1, are also a good thing.

Other proposed changes, including a 20-percent increase for all county building permits, and a quadrupling of a transportation fee crucial for improving traffic in the most congested parts of the county, are also needed.

Despite some gloomy sounding reports, it appears we are headed toward a more healthy and normal housing market and balanced building growth.

1. Emory’s owner fears fire was arson
2. Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme Court
3. Vatican ponders the souls in space
4. 81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored in Snohomish
5. Hope dims that Olympics will boost region
6. Student hit in crosswalk to return
7. Smokey Point to celebrate end of roadwork
8. Death on Edmonds waterfront ruled a suicide
9. Help for young moms may continue
10. Semifinal slate sealed on ‘Dancing With Stars’
Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
Bazaar Fever
Hawks proud of historic season
Olson always put Edmonds first
Honoring student veterans
‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop
Mavs build early lead en route to easy win
Prep football games of the week (state playoffs)
Tears of laughter, tears of grief
Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide
The Enterprise Online Newspaper


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