I have had several people come up to me recently (knowing that I’m a real estate broker) and breathlessly ask “So  .  .  .  how are you doing?”

It’s like they just can’t wait to say “You poor thing, you!” because I’m in real estate.

When I (honestly) tell them I’m doing well, they look at me with disbelief.

I’m fortunate to have a loyal base of past clients who refer their friends to me, and I have many clients who have completed several transactions with me.

I have three closings between now and December 4^th and I’m actually looking forward to the upcoming holidays so I can catch my breath and plan for next year.

One of those closings is a listing that I sold this past weekend after only two weeks on the market.

I’m glad that we again have a market where buyers and sellers actually need someone with experience who can guide them through the complex process of buying or selling a home.

Believe it or not, there are actually serious, qualified buyers out there who want to be homeowners.

Those buyers are buying the homes in top condition that are properly-priced.

I don’t view our present market as “bad”; I view it as getting back to reality.

BTW – If you run into me, please don’t say “You poor thing, you!”, okay?

Here’s a breakdown of available homes and YTD sales for Burney Glen subdivision in Meridian, Idaho:

Available:

• Available Listings: 12
• Average Asking Price: $282,570
• Median Asking Price: $289,540

Pending:

• Pending Sales: 1
• Average Asking Price: $380,000
• Median Asking Price: $380,000

2007 YTD Closed Sales:

• # Closed: 6
• Average Sales Price: $314,506
• Median Sales Price: $307,250

2008 YTD Closed Sales:

• # Closed: 4
• % Change: -33.3%
• Average Sales Price: $284,475
• % Change: -9.6%
• Median Sales Price: $286,950
• % Change: -6.6%

Note: Data derived from Intermountain MLS on 10/27/08.

Here’s a breakdown of available homes and YTD sales for Lochsa Falls subdivision in Meridian, Idaho:

Available:

• Available Listings: 59
• Average Asking Price: $294,656
• Median Asking Price: $285,000

Pending:

• Pending Sales: 4
• Average Asking Price: $281,050
• Median Asking Price: $274,700

2007 YTD Closed Sales:

• # Closed: 46
• Average Sales Price: $308,820
• Median Sales Price: $305,000

2008 YTD Closed Sales:

• # Closed: 41
• % Change: -10.9%
• Average Sales Price: $297,418
• % Change: -3.7%
• Median Sales Price: $283,500
• % Change: -7.0%

Note: Data derived from Intermountain MLS on 10/28/08.

Here’s a breakdown of available homes and YTD sales for Baldwin Park subdivision in Meridian, Idaho:

Available:

• Available Listings: 17
• Average Asking Price: $252,023
• Median Asking Price: $239,900

Pending:

• Pending Sales: 1
• Average Asking Price: $199,900
• Median Asking Price: $199,900

2007 YTD Closed Sales:

• # Closed: 13
• Average Sales Price: $286,092
• Median Sales Price: $278,000

2008 YTD Closed Sales:

• # Closed: 23
• % Change: +76.9%
• Average Sales Price: $231,337
• % Change: -19.1%
• Median Sales Price: $213,500
• % Change: -23.2%

Note: Data derived from Intermountain MLS on 10/27/08.

Here’s a breakdown of available homes and YTD sales for Bridgetower subdivision in Meridian, Idaho:

Available:

• Available Listings: 41
• Average Asking Price: $327,549
• Median Asking Price: $334,500

Pending:

• Pending Sales: 1
• Average Asking Price: $228,500
• Median Asking Price: $228,500

2007 YTD Closed Sales:

• # Closed: 72
• Average Sales Price: $375,027
• Median Sales Price: $350,000

2008 YTD Closed Sales:

• # Closed: 38
• % Change: -47.2%
• Average Sales Price: $361,595
• % Change: -3.6%
• Median Sales Price: $335,950
• % Change: -4.0%

Note: Data derived from Intermountain MLS on 10/22/08.

Here’s a breakdown of available homes and YTD sales for Paramount subdivision in Meridian, Idaho:

Available:

• Available Listings: 47
• Average Asking Price: $310,755
• Median Asking Price: $316,900

Pending:

• Pending Sales:8
• Average Asking Price: $273,818
• Median Asking Price: $267,000

2007 YTD Closed Sales:

• # Closed: 69
• Average Sales Price: $352,102
• Median Sales Price: $349,900

2008 YTD Closed Sales:

• # Closed:50
• % Change: -27.5%
• Average Sales Price: $311,178
• % Change: -11.6%
• Median Sales Price: $303,000
• % Change: -13.4%

Note: Data derived from Intermountain MLS on 10/22/08.

The new center will include space for retail shops, restaurants, and banks.

Fred Meyer plans to create 230 jobs with the new store, resulting in a weekly payroll of $100,000.

The new state-of-the-art school features 260,000 square feet on 55 acres and is an awesome, imposing structure!

Rocky Mountain High School will be the district’s 5^th high school, and is on schedule to open next Fall.

The building is now 80% complete and will include a championship gymnasium, a 600-seat auditorium, a video tech lab, and a combination art, band, and orchestra/choir suite adjacent to the auditorium.

Also included are multiple science labs, a pre-engineering room, championship track, tennis courts, volleyball court, soccer field and practice area, and a football stadium with artificial turf.

The school’s principal, Mike Hirano, has already been hired, as well as two of the new school’s vice principals.

Here’s more information about Rocky Mountain High School.

P.S. They didn’t have schools like this when I was in high school!