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Just curious to know if and how much gas prices are effecting anyones sales and the number of new clients they’re getting. Gas prices have a huge effect on everything in our area since we are very rural and more tourist oriented.

I live in the city, where I suppose many people are affected more indirectly if they don’t own a car, but the TV news stories are suggesting that in the next few years the price will go up about a dollar to $2.40 a litre.

I don’t think I’ve seen anything that would compare with that possibility.

I believe gas prices have an effect on the economy in general, and thus make potential buyers more hesitant about purchasing a new home as well.  It is amazing how interconnected everything is at times.  I know that the high gas prices are making it more expensive for me to drive clients about to different locations.  I try to do more virtual touring to those that do not seem horribly serious about buying any time soon.

I’d expect that it would also affect the location people are considering when buying a home. If they’re closer to work, they have fewer travel expenses.

And I don’t think that the gas prices are going to drop significantly and stay there.

There is no way that gas prices are not going to affect the market. Unless you work for one of the major agencies, you have to pay for your own gas. Housing is down gas prices are up, it is screwing up everyone.

And people are losing their jobs because of gas prices, indirectly.

I just saw an article in the paper today about companies laying off people who worked at companies that supplied auto parts to the closing GM auto plants.

I have had more people decide to get in the car with me to go see a round of houses rather than drive themselves.  Before people insisted on driving themselves around, but I think the price of gas has more couples willing to take the back seat.

A few years ago, in this area, it was very chic to buy a country estate about twenty miles outside of town.  Now everything is for sale out there, and the townhouses in downtown have seen price increases.