Let's be honest for a minute. The property market is on its knees.
This isn't unique to Merseyside, or even the North West. Every area of the country has seen a reduction in sales.

With just a few days to go before the start of the new Premiership season, this is the time of year when football supporters are at their most optimistic.
Despite the almost inevitability of Manchester United or Chelsea being crowned Champions at the season's end, and Liverpool and Arsenal filling the other two Champions League places, fans of other clubs can still dream of cup success (Portsmouth did it last season), qualification for the UEFA Cup, and at the very least look forward to the opportunity of seeing a number of new players that their club has recruited during the summer.
Unfortunately, as an Evertonian, I share none of this excitement or optimism. Despite finishing 'top' of the other Premier League last season, having arguably the best manager in the League other than Ferguson and Wenger, and with a fan base that most football league clubs would die for, my team has experienced a summer of inertia that is very difficult to accept or understand.
The least of the disappointments, for me and many Blues, was the Government's decision to 'call in' Destination Kirkby- the proposed joint venture between Everton and Tesco that would see the club move beyond the city boundaries and establish a 50-55,000 seat stadium.
My head has always thought that this was the only practical option for Everton Football Club. We have no prospect of raising the sort of finance required to develop a new stadium on our own, or indeed re-develop our beloved Goodison Park, and the partnership with a Tesco is essential if we are to access that necessary finance.
However, like many who shared my attitude, my heart was never in it, and so I wait with bated breath to see what Liverpool City Council are now going to do to help Everton find an alternative site. Having, as I understand it, failed to identify a viable location since the Kings Dock proposal went belly up, I am intrigued to know what the council will come up with.
But, as much as I believe Everton have been somewhat let down by the local authority in the past, the 'call in' decision does demonstrate the risk that was attached to the 'no plan B' approach adopted by the now departed Chief Executive Keith Wyness.
Though Destination Kirkby is not entirely dead, it is unlikely that Everton or Tesco will relish the prospect of coughing up significant dough for an appeal that, even if successful, will present them with a development opportunity that will cost multi-millions more than was initially budgeted for.
It is the situation on the field, though, that is most depressing for us Blue noses. Having finished fifth last term, we were promised that resources would be made available to give us a real chance of pushing into that elusive top four again.
That raised supporter's expectations of a spending spree of between £40-60 million, for that is the type of investment required to have any chance of achieving that aim.
As I write, Everton have added nobody to the playing squad, and indeed have lost five first team players, Lee Carsley, Andy Johnson, Manny Fernandes, Tommy Gravesen and Stefan Wessels.
The club continues to be linked with several players, most notably Portuguese mid fielder Moutinho and Brazilian striker Wagner Love (what a great name). But, until I actually see these guys running out in the royal blue at Goodison Park, I won't be getting too excited.
Most worrying of all, David Moyes has yet to sign a new contract. With only twelve months to go on his existing deal, we have been told since last Christmas that a new five year offer was going to be signed 'imminently'. Hopefully, it is only a coincidence that Manchester United have yet to appoint a number two to Alex Ferguson!