According to this KX News article, the real estate industry in North Dakota is doing reasonably well.  While there were slightly fewer homes sold in the Bismarck area this year and although they sold for slightly less than they would have the prior year, agents and builders cited in the article indicated that North Dakota was a bright spot in the nation. 

From the article:

(VanMiddlesworth) “I don’t think it’s the economy as much as it is the national media that’s spooking people.” And Van Middlesworth stresses again locally real estate is still a good investment…

For the first time ever the Bismarck Mandan Board of Realtors is running ads stressing the strong local housing market. They say it’s to combat the national media.