The Union Leader reports from New Hampshire. "State revenues were off by 6 percent in August, pulled down by a plummeting real estate transfer tax and sagging rooms and meals returns. The biggest disappointment to budget writers is the real estate transfer tax."

"Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Don Hill said the real estate market has peaked and is now in decline. 'The real estate bubble is broken. The high mortgage rates don't help,' he said."

The Providence Journal from Rhode Island. "The real estate agent who finds a buyer for a $5.8-million house in Jamestown will receive a 2007 Mercedes CLK 350 convertible. The Mercedes is an extreme perk, but many sellers, at all levels of the market, are offering a little extra to help reel in buyers, and motivate their agents."

"Often, the incentives come after several months on the market, and more than one price reduction, have failed to produce a buyer. For people who need to sell their houses and have a deadline, it's a frustrating experience, said (realtor) Wendy Wagenbach."

"'They just feel like they're just giving and giving and giving at this point,' she said. 'Buyers are just taking their time' and 'the people who are under the pressure [to sell] are really kind of frantic at this point.'"

"Janet Neff, a sales associate in North Kingstown, says she has not witnessed any unusual concessions by sellers other than 'the willingness to reduce' the price of their property. 'I don't perceive it as a bad market at all,' even though 'we're flooded with inventory right now,' she said."

"Neff said it's not necessarily a bad thing that buyers have the time to shop around and compare properties before making an offer. Neff said, sellers 'are giving me longer listing times' to sell their houses. 'It's really impossible to sell a house quickly without really dumping it,' she said."

"Wagenbach said motivated sellers, who have to move for a job or who have made a financial commitment to purchase another house or condo, are doing 'whatever it takes' to sell their property."

The Ridgefield Press from Connecticut. "'Real estate is a cyclical business,' said Richard Walter, president of the Ridgefield Board of Realtors. He and fellow real estate agents in town 'are finding that prices have leveled and are coming down somewhat.'"

"As of June 1,305 single-family homes were on the market, up from 203 as of the same date in 2005, Mr. Walter said. While not as drastic as the imploding real estate bubble predicted by some financial analysts, the dip in the housing market here means that now 'is not a time to speculate' on homes in town, Mr. Walter said."

"As for selling, Mr. Walter was still upbeat, though somewhat less effusive. 'Homes will sell as long as they’re priced right.' When it comes to choosing an asking price, Mr. Walter said sellers should let themselves 'be guided by their Realtor’s recommendation.' Of course, Mr. Walter added, keeping an available 'house looking good' can’t hurt.'"