Surge in home sales
Home sales soared in Snohomish County last month as buyers tried to beat the upcoming deadline for a federal tax break or to invest thanks to prices they haven’t seen in five to six years. There were 865 homes sold in the county in March, a 68 percent increase from a year ago. Pending sales in the county, meaning the deals were signed in March but not closed, rose 77 percent from last year, the highest in the Puget Sound area. “It was absolutely amazing,” said Diedre Haines, regional managing broker for Coldwell Banker Bain in Snohomish County. Haines said her three offices and 75 agents sold a total of 115 properties last month, breaking their monthly sales record set in May 2001 of 114 transactions.
Wing tests successful: The Boeing Co. reached another important milestone Wednesday as the company moves toward delivering its first 787 Dreamliner later this year. Boeing called the “ultimate load” tests it performed on the new jet’s wings and fuselage a success. In late March, Boeing had put enough pressure on the wing of its 787 to replicate 150 percent of the most extreme forces the airplane is ever expected to experience while in service.
Boeing deliveries: Boeing’s jet deliveries fell 11 percent in the first three months of 2010, compared to the same period last year. Boeing said Thursday that it delivered 108 jets in the first three months of 2010, down from 121 in the same quarter of 2009. But the company’s net orders rose in the first quarter to 83, compared to negative four orders in the first three months last year. Boeing trails rival Airbus in jet deliveries so far this year. Airbus delivered 122 aircraft in the first quarter. However, Boeing leads the European company in net orders over the first three months. Airbus posted 60 net orders, compared with Boeing’s 83.
Mike Benbow, Herald Writer
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.