The first of two Friday desk clearing posts starting with the US. "Local housing industry experts said the red-hot Colorado Springs real estate market is finally cooling off after several years of record sales and construction. Last week, the website realtors.com rated the 80922 ZIP code in northeast Colorado Springs as the second-hottest nationally for home purchases but that likely will change as 'for sale' signs become more common."

"Bill McAfee, of Empire Title, who has been closing home sales since 1991, said he doesn't expect a market correction to be as significant as during the 2008 economic recession. 'The market was so hot, it really had nowhere to go but down,' he said. 'What we saw the last few years here, and particularly this year, is nothing we've seen before.'"

"The changing trend could help buyers like Aslan Guthrie, who closed on a home Thursday after looking for almost a year. 'I finally got someone to accept my offer on a house that I liked,' he said. 'I guess other people offered more when I tried before. It's been quite an experience, and I'm glad it's over. I found what I wanted.'"

"Western Washington had the largest supply of homes in three years this August, according to Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Buyers also saw fewer bidding wars. Northwest MLS director John Deely said many buyers are showing more caution and presenting offers with standard contingencies. These would include inspections and financing provisions."

"'Sellers should be careful to avoid overpricing as savvy buyers are wary of properties pushing (on) the upper end of the market,' Deely said. 'Properly priced properties will still see heavy activity in this market. Sellers of homes that linger on the market are reducing their prices to spur activity.'"

"Land sales appear to be slowing in Phoenix. According to research from Colliers International, land sales were down 25% in the first half of the year, compared to the second half of 2017. Pricing in the first half of the year also slowed, dropping 25% compared to the median price in 2017."

"'About 60% of all land sale in our market are for residential development,' says Pete O’Neil research director of the Greater Phoenix at Colliers International. 'We have seen that prices are growing in the overall housing market, but new home prices aren’t really growing. We are not sustaining the momentum when we were at the absolute peak, which turned out to be the end of last year'"

"North Texas' housing market isn't what it used to be. After several years of surging sales and runaway prices, the Dallas-Fort Worth home market is leveling off — even declining in some neighborhoods. But one part of the D-FW market that shows no sign of a slowdown so far is super high-end housing."

"You can't say the same for the middle of the home market, which has slowed this year in many North Texas communities. 'It makes sense given how hot the middle of the market had been for so long,' Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale said of the D-FW market. 'It may take you a little longer to sell your home, but it will still sell.'"

"The San Fernando Valley real estate market may be shifting as buyers have “hit a wall” trying to find an affordable home, according to a recent report from the Southland Regional Association of Realtors. Analysts say the buyers are hesitant to purchase a property while waiting to see whether prices will drop after years of almost constant growth."

"About 190 condos that changed owners in August marked a 28 percent drop from 2017. Condo sales during the first seven months of this year were down about 14 percent compared to last year. The report said there was a total of about 1,520 active home and condo listings, a 10.7 percent increase from a year ago."

"Home hunters face more properties to choose from as the inventory of active listings reported at the end of last month posted its first double-digit increase in more than three years. A boost in active listings generally benefits potential buyers, analysts say."

"'The market might be transitioning to more of a buyer’s market with downward pressure on prices,' said Tim Johnson, CEO of the 10,300-member association. 'We are not seeing all of the elements yet, but the first sign what we are seeing is increased inventory and fewer sales.'"

"Vince Sheehan, a broker with ReMax Gold real estate, which has offices in Novato and Mill Valley, said the Marin market continues to be strong despite a slight slowdown due to rising interest rates and buyer wariness over the future trajectory of home prices."

"'I think there’s more talk of 'are we at the top?' he said. 'People are cautious now, and I think the affordability is a part of it. Some people are worried prices may come down or correct — and they’re not jumping into the market like they were six months to a year ago.'"

"He said there is still high demand and multiple offers in Marin for 'houses that are completely done, and that don’t need any work.' But homes that are fixers or that need updating and that are priced at the high end of their potential price range 'are not getting offers, they’re just sitting.'"

"He said that was different than in the spring when 'everything was selling.'"