Real estate valuation, appreciation and market activity have been and always will be very localized. Because each region of the U.S. is a microcosm with its own employment, geography and housing market dynamics—in contrast to California, Nevada, Florida and Arizona—Washington, Oregon and Idaho homeowners are faring well.

These days, the ups and downs of the real estate market are in the national news every day. But many parts of the country, like the Pacific Northwest, do not have the same negative news as other states.

Real estate has always been one of the most solid investments in the country. Real estate has less volatility than the stock market and over the historical long-term it remains a guaranteed return on investment. Take this example from the National Association of Realtor’s Lawrence Yun: “If a buyer were to put down $10,000 for a down payment on a typically priced home in the United States at a typical appreciation rate of five percent…(he/she) would see a return of $110,300 after 10 years. The same $10,000 invested in the stock market appreciating 10 percent annually will result in $23,600.”