This article sparked a thought I had been wondering about lately.  I have been noticing, with a slowing in the real estate sales market and new housing starts (new home construction) down, why is it I am having a tough time getting handymen and contractors to either do work for my clients or give reasonable bids.  Everyone I talk to is still really busy.  Reading 69% of homeowners are likely to make renovations or improvements to their homes in the next year sheds some light on the picture.  The shift has been made from trading up to a new home or an upgrade to the more affordable renovation or improvements.  I myself am included, though for different reasons. 

The other item I see as a plus is the good old, “Buy On Bad News, Sell On Good News” theory.

“…most Americans aren’t planning to buy a new home any time soon. Only 27 percent said they’re likely to purchase a house in the next five years.”

In another article about Hawaii’s Extreme Home Prices :

“Local economists Paul Brewbaker of Bank of Hawaii and Carl Bonham of the University of Hawai’i Economic Research Organization have said they don’t believe O’ahu home prices will decline significantly, in large part because of expectations for continued job and population growth, rising personal income, flat interest rates, and a steady supply of buyers interested in second homes.

Last month, Brewbaker and Bonham predicted a 3 percent decline this year for O’ahu’s median single-family home sale price to $611,000 from about $630,000 last year. They predicted that the drop would be followed by a slow rise back to $630,000 by 2009.

Moody’s Economy.com forecasts that O’ahu’s median home price will decline 0.6 percent this year, followed by small gains to $634,710 by 2009. ”

Also read Hawaii Homes Sales Bucking National Trend