Regional real estate economics that will influence Whidbey Island in 2000 continue the pattern established in 1989.
Corporate profits appear to have topped out with price-earnings ratios at historic highs.
Mortgage and other interest rates continue their twenty-year decline. Mortgage rates rose slightly during May and June of 1999 on inflationary fears, but seem poised to drop to seven percent - possibly even lower. The banking and securities problems that have affected Asia for the past several years appear to be ending, except for Japan with their unique problems. Nothing in this recent Asia situation is undeserved - fraud, corruption and collusion in banking and securities has caused their difficulties. If real reform is initiated, the Pacific Northwest will generally be spared a severe downturn despite our very high reliance on Asian trade.