Washington

Seattle-area homebuyers have a bit of good news as the middle of the housing market continues to come down from what one local housing economist calls last summer's "sugar high."

Buyers looking for higher-end homes in pricier cities like Seattle and Bellevue aren't paying any more than they did a year ago. Meanwhile, those shopping around for something resembling a deal, perhaps in Tacoma or Everett, are still confronted with the same old hot market from years past.

Blue Lion Capital, which has been critical of the Seattle company in recent years, has nominated two individuals to become directors.

The tightest housing markets in the U.S. are unwinding in time for the key spring selling season, giving buyers an edge for the first time in years, a Trulia study said.

While home prices in Spokane County, Wash., were on the upswing in March, sales dropped dramatically compared to last year.

After a powerful winter storm dumped snow on Thurston County, Wash., in February, pending sales of single-family homes fell by a double-digit margin.

This week's deal will prime the pump for another $2.5 billion in loans Freddie Mac plans to securitize in the next two to three years.

As the Seattle-area real estate market has slowed over the past year, it's clear things have gotten better for buyers of the region's priciest homes. But people looking for anything resembling affordable housing haven't had the same luck.

The Seattle company has a letter of intent to sell its home loan centers to Homebridge Financial Services.

The average price for a Spokane, Wash.-area home rose to $256,000 in January, as low numbers of properties for sale continued to put pressure on prices.