Seattle's housing market is entering spring with more listings and softer prices, but many buyers still aren't biting.

Why it matters: Affordability has long been a top concern here, so it's notable one of the country's most expensive markets just saw one of the biggest home price drops among major metros, per recent REMAX data.

State of play: Active listings across Washington surged year over year in February, with most counties posting double-digit inventory gains, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS).

• Mortgage rates briefly dipped below 6% last month for the first time in years, but that didn't do much to boost sales.
• Closed deals still fell year over year, per NWMLS.

Zoom in: Single-family home inventory in Seattle jumped nearly 34% from a year ago.

• Median prices on those homes held relatively flat, but condo prices fell as sales dropped nearly 10%.
• The same pattern is playing out across King County, where listings are rising much faster than sales.
• On the Eastside, where the median price hit $1.4 million, listings surged nearly 50%.

Plus: More deals are falling through. Home sale cancellations around town have increased since last year as buyers have pulled back amid economic uncertainty, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported.

The big picture: What's happening here lines up with national trends. Zillow says home values across the U.S. are barely rising and more homes are sitting on the market longer.

💸 Yes, but: The rich are still buying, often with cash, John Manning of REMAX tells us, and appropriately priced homes in desirable neighborhoods go fast.

• A roughly $1 million Beacon Hill home just got 15 offers within a week of hitting the market, per Manning.
• "But it's not a good thing when only the wealthy can buy houses," he says.

The bottom line: Hesitant buyers may have more on their minds than just costs, what with tech layoffs, high unemployment rates and larger geopolitical issues at play.

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As jet fuel costs rise, travelers are bracing for airlines to raise ticket prices — making already expensive trips feel even more daunting.

The big picture: Travelers aren't powerless against rising fares and can still find opportunities to avoid even the worst price hikes, experts say.

State of play: The price of jet fuel rose to $4.26 per gallon on Thursday, up from $2.50 the day before the Iran war began.

Here's what to know about booking cheaper flights.

Book now: The Points Guy Sean Cudahy tells travelers to book as soon as possible to avoid rising fares, especially in June and July, which are already among the most expensive months to travel.

• Most U.S. airlines allow travelers who book anything above basic economy to change or cancel flights, making it easier to lock in prices now, he said.
• Cudahy also recommends using airline points to book, since most U.S. carriers will refund miles and fees if plans change.

Be flexible: Even without fuel price hikes, traveling during less popular times can lead to cheaper fares, Expedia travel expert Melanie Fish tells Axios.

• Flights in August, for example, can be cheaper, as many families travel earlier in the summer before the next school year begins.
• Travelers can also save up to 8% by booking flights on Fridays and up to $130 by booking domestic trips 15 to 30 days in advance, Fish notes.

Plus: You can also save by using Google Flights to scout the cheapest fares and setting alerts to monitor fare drops.

Go deeper

🔌 Washington utilities are increasingly offering programs that can remotely adjust home thermostats, water heaters and EV chargers to reduce electricity use during peak hours as power supply tightens. (Seattle Times)

🚍 Repairs to RapidRide G's faulty platforms are expected to cost about $650,000, adding to the tab for Seattle's newest bus rapid transit line. (Capitol Hill Seattle Blog)

⚡️ Everett-based Helion, a nuclear fusion company, is in advanced talks to supply electricity to OpenAI as the AI giant looks to secure power for the future. (Axios)

Spring has us roaming Western Washington again and here's one of the places we love.

• See if you can name this spot using just a few poetic clues.

Earth splits the river in two below,

green rushing where cold waters flow.

High above, on steel and sky,

we hover near where eagles fly.

Once trains crossed here for loggers' claims,

now wanderers with wheels know its name.

A narrow span over canyons steep

where local teens and twilight meet.

Hit reply with your answer or email us at [email protected] to flex your adventure cred.