STOP LISTENING to the negative economic news! Spokane consistently ranks in top twenty lists in national magazines like Forbes, Money Magazine and others. I am a local Spokane Builder specializing is Home Additions. My company, R&D Construction, also builds custom homes. The fact that our local market place is substantially more conservative means that our market does not have the roller coaster peaks and valleys that larger markets have. Certainly, 2008 is not nearly as robust as 2006/7; however, we have not slipped into a local recession either. Local production home builders responded to cooling new home sales quickly by dramatically reducing the number of new home construction starts this 2008 season. Donna Henry, a top Spokane real estate agent with Exit Real Estate North (www.donnasellsspokane.com) recently stated that the current inventory of new homes should be absorbed into the market place by the fourth quarter of 2008, which will steadily increase both demand and prices of new homes in 2009. In 2007, Spokane, WA was the 7th highest destination spot for U-Haul rentals. What does this indicate? Spokane is a highly desirable place to live, play and raise a family, and will continue to be so for many years. Investing in a new home or remodeling your existing home couldn't be a better choice, NOW, while interest rates are low and many construction companies have less demand than in previous years. Submitted by: Robert Henry, President of R&D Construction 509 489 2640. http://www.RDSpokane.com