The Olympian reports from Washington. "South Sound median sales price increases for homes year-to-year have dropped from 28 percent in February to 5 percent last month, the Olympic MLS reports."

"Median sales prices have dropped in five of the first nine months this year, peaking at $262,488 in July and finishing at $249,575 in September. And the inventory of homes for sale has nearly doubled this year to 1,764."

"Russell Saimons, a financial adviser in Seattle, said he eventually wants to buy a home but 'it probably won't happen for two to three years' because he expects prices to keep coming down."

The Mail Tribune from Oregon. "The median price for Jackson County homes rose 5 percent in September, after dropping for the first time in 22 years during August. With countywide inventory 171 percent above last fall's level, buyers are biding their time. New home sales are down by about 30 percent this year in the county."

"Rick Harris, former president of the Oregon Association of Realtors, and an agent in Ashland, said Jackson County isn't experiencing the severity seen in some regions. 'Statistically we're an anomaly from the prices you see from Poughkeepsie to Pocatello,' Harris said. 'Oregon has already made the adjustment and we're starting to stabilize.'"

The Newport Times. "Starting Friday, Oct. 27 and spread over three consecutive days, 17 different new homes from Roads End to Depoe Bay will be open for 16 hours. (Realtor) Dave Davis was inspired to start what he believes to be the first-ever tour like this in north Lincoln County by a number of things."

"One of them, he concedes, is a housing market that doesn't see new construction selling as fast as it used to. 'Our inventory is up,' he said. 'There are more new homes on the market than I think we've ever seen in Lincoln County in the last four years.'"

The Oregonian. "The frenetic pace of sales and price appreciation that catapulted Portland's urban condo market the past two years has calmed. 'Everybody knows it's not appreciating like it has in the past,' said real estate agent John Cooper. 'Whether it's leveled off, or will level off soon, or hit the skids, no one knows. But it's not good now.'"

"In the city's core neighborhoods, the Pearl District, downtown, Northwest District and South Waterfront, dozens of buyers are shooting for a quick resale instead of living in their units, adding to a growing supply on the market."

"Many fear the urban condo market is poised for a steep decline in prices and volume, as it saw in the early 1980s. And individual speculators, known as flippers have added to the mix. 'Last year at this time in the Pearl, there might be 11 active resales, and we were just in awe,' said Judie Dunken, a condo specialist. 'This year, we have closer to the 100 mark.'"

"Several buildings are under construction with 50 percent or more of their units reserved with nonrefundable earnest money. Condo buyers, especially those who bought to flip their units, are worried about the potential for oversupply, said Cooper. Cooper helped a customer sell a South Waterfront condo development a few months ago when only 15 others were available for resale in building. This week, 40 units in the RMLS system are up for resale."

"'One thing that made my guy nervous was he knew as more people closed on their units, they would be putting them on the market,' Cooper said."

"At least one investor has lowered his asking price in recent weeks. Agent Judie Dunken said she is listing a townhouse unit in The Meriwether at South Waterfront for $999,900, down from $1.17 million."

"A growing gap between expectations of buyers and sellers now is complicating the market, Dunken said. Buyers see lots of units available and want to negotiate prices down, while sellers want to replicate appreciation rates of years past, she said."

"'It's tough because they're absolutely beautiful units,' Dunken said. 'But they're priced as if a buyer came to town and had $1.4 million to spend.'"