In May 2010, pending transactions were down slightly in Massachusetts from the same time last year (3-6%). Month-to-month, there was a sizable decrease compared to April 2010 (16-17%). The deadline to qualify for the tax credit was April 30, and is the explanation for the significant decline in number of contracts signed from one month to the other. A few months ago, predictions about what would happen to the housing market once the tax credit expired were much more pessimistic than a mere 17% decline. Now, absent the government stimulus, the number of transactions shrank by less then 20% -- it's clear that the housing market has the potential to run on it's own steam again, and maybe at a more sustainable level.