While blue skies and picturesque lakes certainly drew people to this valley, its postcard-perfection hasn’t been enough to stave off the effects of worldwide economic trouble. The first signs came when water-cooler talk changed from estimating real estate gains to lamenting losses in retirement plans and higher costs for just about everything. Legitimate concerns about the state of the economy made consumers nervous and more thrifty, despite assurances of “strong economic fundamentals” from Canada’s mortgage economists and political leaders. And then came the more literal signs. For Sale boards started to pop up in front of houses and never left. Home owners and speculators who once bragged it only took a week or so to sell their houses or condos are now just boasting “reduced” or “new ... 11/16/2008