A report from the Mercury News in California. "Bay Area home sales ground down in October, with seasonal slowing and further indications that buyers are taking a wait-and-see approach before plunging into a record-setting market. CoreLogic analyst Andrew LePage said price growth has slowed as buyers pulled back from sky high price tags. 'There’s been a psychological shift in the market,' he said. 'It can only go up, up and away for so long.'"

"Homes sales in October were the lowest for the month since 2011. Overall sales in Bay Area counties have dipped, year-over-year, for the last five months. Local agents report less interest in open houses and more sellers forced to lower prices. Price cuts and longer sale times have become more typical, but most agents are unwilling to yet call it a buyer’s market."

"'We’re at a point now where I think salaries just can’t keep up with home prices,” said Tim Ambrose, president of the Bay East Association of Realtors. 'Buyers just can’t go that high any more.'"

"Buyers are less active during the holiday season, he said, but sellers are typically motivated if they are selling in November and December. 'The market is changing,' Ambrose said. 'I’m noticing it throughout the Bay Area.'"

"San Jose agent Jeff Hansen said the market for condos has cooled in recent months. Identical units are fetching less than they did in the summer peak. But Hansen added, 'It’s not a horrible time to be selling. It’s still a seller’s market.'"

"Mark Wong of Alain Pinel in Saratoga had a seller negotiate with a low-ball offer and reach a deal that satisfied both parties. But he said it’s not quite a buyer’s market. 'The prices haven’t come down yet,' Wong said. 'Not yet.'"

"Homes in the middle and high-end of the market are moving more briskly, LePage said. About 8 in 10 homes in the Bay Area sold for more than $500,000. Bargain hunters and first-time buyers stayed away, with sales of homes under $800,000 dropping 16 percent and under $500,000 dropping 21 percent, according to the company."

From the News Tribune in Washington. "This week’s Five Spot — Five ways homeowners might react to news that house prices fell faster in the Pierce-King-Snohomish metro area than anywhere in the U.S. during the past few months."

"1 Panic. Call your Realtor, scream 'the end is near, I’m moving to Ellensburg!' and insist she take all necessary measures to sell your home by Christmas."

"2 Relax. Accept that it’s an inevitable correction in a hyperinflated market, sit down with a glass of scotch and cue up the classic rock tune 'Spinning Wheel' on your iPod. ('What goes up, must come down ...')"

"3 Set your property apart by boosting curb appeal. Try a fresh coat of paint, lawn gnomes or giant letters spelling 'HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?' in your front yard."

"4 Find someone to blame. Candidates include President Trump, Gov. Inslee, the Seattle City Council, Amazon and God."

"5 Be glad you live in Pierce County. Home prices dropped less here than up north, and compared with a year ago they’re still up 11.2 percent."