2013 could be the best year for real estate in western Washington in years. Here are some of his predictions for the new year:

1. More buyers and sellers return to the housing market. 
2. Home sales increase 12-17 percent while home prices increase 3-9 percent. 
3. Inventory of for-sale homes will hit bottom. 
4. Higher-priced listings begin to sell more. 
5. The number of distressed properties continues to drop. 
6. Multiple offers on properties will become more common in highly desirable areas. 
7. Short sales rise, reaching a peak. They begin to become less of a bargain as banks watch increasing prices closely. 
8. Mortgage rates rise slightly by year's end from record lows. 
9. Lending remains constrained for home buyers. (See Data Below) 
10. Home affordability remains at record highs.  

Recently released data showing what it took to get a mortgage in 2012. Sixty-two percent of applicants last year were for refinancing and 38 percent were for loans to purchase a home. Applicants, on average, received an interest rate of 3.90 percent. 

Among the findings:

• Average time to close on the loan: 48 days
• Average down payment: 21 percent
• Average credit score: 748*
• Debt to income: house payment averaged 23 percent and total debt 34 percent

*About 37 percent of 200 million Americans have credit scores of 748 or higher.