Happy Memorial Day!

Not that I need any holiday to validate any of my days, to celebrate, not to work, or to eat alot. If I really really need an excuse to celebrate, I probably can declare festivity on any given day like what George Costanza's dad Frank on "Jerry Seinfield". To work or not to work is NOT a question when you are self-employed - You can fire yourself and get a day off. My insatiable appetite for food matches that of Andrew Zimmerman "If it looks good, eat it!".

Holidays are holidays because of their historical, cultural and religious significance, and their traditional observance. So in that essence, there are no substitutions for them. But...come on. Honestly, how many of us even know the significance or observe the tradition of a holiday. Just as Christmas becomes more about Christmas shopping and Christmas decorations, Memorial Day is more about heating the barbecue grill than about commemorating the dead. To me, the reason why holidays are different than non-holidays is that not one but the collectives are doing the same thing. On that day, you are not the only one who celebrates, kicks back and eats alot. We all do! We had pork ribs, steak, corn, shollets, bell peppers on our grill. Life is good!

This section is supposed to be my real estate blog. Should I be talking about the weather and the real estate? Not really. 1. I don't want to sound like a broken record (yes, the May real estate market is still slow) 2. I got sidetracked by the holiday thing (I had too much fun to repeat 1.).

(Starfish on our Fudge Point beach on the Memorial Day)

April 2009 Sales Statistics

Swined out yet? If you are like me, sick and tired of the blown out-of-portion reports about the swine flu, make sure to look at the fine prints of daily news for the real news. Here is what's not in the headline news but it's definitely a piece of important news for all home owners and home buyers in Washington state. NWMLS published the sales statistics for April today. For the first month since last year, statewide, for the month of April this year, listing inventory is reported the lowest but pending sales see rebouncing. The pending sales rise is credited to improved affordable houses on the market and historically low interest rate, plus $8000 first-time home buyer credit. Mason County lagged behind the statewide numbers in April pending and sold listings.

For Mason County

Active Listings - 161 in Apr 09 vs 200 in Apr 08; Inventory down: 16.13%
Pending Sale Listings - 70 in Apr 09 vs 77 in Apr 08; Down 9.09
Sold Listings - 46 in Apr 09 vs 69 in Apr 08; Price drop -30.50%