Tax credit, WSU budget heat up housing market

Whitman County’s real estate market has seen a marked increase in activity over the past year.

Home sales during the third quarter of 2009 were 16 percent higher than the same period in 2008, according to a housing market report issued earlier this month by the Washington Center for Real Estate Research.

New home construction also rose, with the 28 building permits issued during the third quarter a 22 percent increase over 2008.

Glenn Crellin, director of the center for Washington State University, credited the federal first-time homebuyer tax credit for kicking up real estate activity.

“Absol...