A Bend commercial real estate broker who just returned from a national convention says a tight credit market is still affecting many businesses. Ron Ross with Compass Commercial Real Estate Services in Bend says the overall mood across the country seems to be one of cautious optimism: "Potentially a new normal; where we have slower growth, higher vacancy rates, lower lease rates, and a long slow recovery; but I think recovery is a key word cause we're actually seeing some of that.” Ross represented the Pacific Northwest in the national business meeting. The next semi-annual gathering is in October in hard hit real estate market: Phoenix, Arizona.