You can count with my best wishes on that. There are a few areas in Yakima that have experienced the price change you being waiting for and others that have hold their market prices very well.

Work with a realtor that can get you the facts in the particular areas of your interest.

I am here to help

Here are the numbers I run in Yakima month to month. Please e-mail me if you would like to see the numbers in a chart.

Yakima Residential Real Estate Market

2005
Month - Homes Sold - Avg. Price($)
January - 106 - 134,727
February - 124 - 130,142
March - 160 - 135,490
April - 152 - 127,105
May - 139 - 143,982
June - 175 - 148,577
July - 177 - 150,978
August - 184 - 144,809
September - 208 - 141,251
October - 153 - 149,076
November - 160 - 144,813
December - 178 - 146,451

2006
Month - Homes Sold - Avg. Price($)
January - 109 - 138,232
February - 114 - 133,619
March - 164 - 135,776
April - 177 - 140,359
May - 190 - 150,456
June - 174 - 180,502
July - 162 - 155,096
August - 217 - 174,092
September - 185 - 158,702
October - 170 - 152,206
November - 142 - 157,495
December - 136 - 168,692

2007
Month - Homes Sold - Avg. Price($)
January - 108 - 153,961
February - 106 - 144,118
March - 186 - 161,313
April - 139 - 160,979
May - 207 - 169,182
June - 195 - 171,024
July - 168 - 189,356
August - 186 - 185,870
September - 151 - 172,416
October - 145 - 160,495
November - 139 - 189,055
December - 98 - 175,768

2008
Month - Homes Sold - Avg. Price($)
January - 93 - 160,283
February - 113 - 149,235
March - 134 - 172,478
April - 133 - 175,348
May - 167 - 179,120
June - 132 - 166,829
July - 148 - 174,789
August - 144 - 174,330
September - 139 - 157,442

* Statistics gathered by Cory Bemis from a database of home sales provided by the Yakima Association of Realtors and the MLS of Yakima

FYI - Yakima was specifically highlighted the other day on the Today show as being one of very few places in the country that aprreciated last year.

Prices haven't dropped much at all in Yakima because real estate was so undervalued there for so many years. I believe Yakima has had the best performing real estate in Washington for the last two years once the bubble in Wenatchee burst. This town has become more that a whistle stop on the way to TriCities and it is gaining fame for its vinyards and wineries. Two years ago you could get a 10,000 sq ft permit ready lot on the fairway at Apple Tree for $85,000. If you want to test the wisdom of waiting go price a lot like that now, if you can find one. If all you care about is cheap, you can still get a minifarm in Odessa for $125,000.

Hello, Cherese,

Perhaps they already dropped before you started looking; as prices started down over two years ago. Prices have leveled out in some parts of the state. My suggestion is that you find a Realtor there in Yakima who can pull up numbers for you, both present and past. Then you'll have a true picture. This is the best time to buy in years, because there are plenty of choices, very little overbidding, and the interest rates are low. If you wait a few more months, it could be just the opposite.

Good Luck,

Jean Bradford
Associate Broker, ABR, GRI,CRS, CRB
John L. Scott RE
Silverdale, WA98383