If you think you are getting a deal take a peak on the street view of google maps.

And both cities saw unemployment stay below 6.5%, even though nationally unemployment peaked at nearly 11%.  

Seattle is such a great city, but the price of entry seems to be at a real peak right now and it's getting more and more populated to the point that my work commute has over doubled in travel time due to the horrible traffic.

You can always find some doom and gloomer claiming that this is the end, but are we perhaps finally past the peak of the Columbus real estate buy-up of recent years? 

Additionally, often times the ideal exit point is after value adds have been completed, the AGI is stabilized and at or near it's max peak.

It still makes so much sense because compared to other areas, the median home price is still reasonable, per night rate is relatively high, and our season is one of the longest with Nov-Dec adding 60 available nights of almost peak season rates because Christmas is so popular here.

Or say bye-bye.I keep my garages rented on a month to month 'License to Park' agreement and do my best to prepare for such events.

Many mid-sized cities have already seen a 30% decline from the peak and we haven't even hit the traditionally slow winter season yet.

It's too early to buy - even for LTH, IMHO as we're just coming off a peak market.Now, if you know how to get creative, like @Doug Pretorius suggests with taking over existing financing (buying on terms) you might have some success.  

Median prices have dropped about 8% since the June peak, but that is within our normal seasonal pattern (spring peak to winter trough 12-15% every year) and therefore not an indication of prices adjusting down.However, competition is slower.