As the rest of  the country sees drastic reductions in prices, the Northwest Real Estate Market has seen a slight increase:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/350266_housing07.html

Ten people were lined up outside of a Ballard Craftsman just before an open house two Sundays ago, and three more arrived just after the doors opened.

“I’ve been hearing it’s better for the buyers now,” said Patti Studley, a Seattle resident who has looked at homes for about a year. “I feel a little bit of an advantage.”

Local real estate professionals say they have seen increased activity since the start of 2008, but January statistics the Northwest Multiple Listing Service released Wednesday still show a sluggish market, with an uptick in year-over-year house prices and the first condominium price drop in recent years.