Tag Archives: Housing+sales

Is Real Estate’s ‘Irene’ in the Rearview Mirror or Ahead: July’s Pending Home Sale Numbers

The news wasn’t all bad… however whenever someone starts a sentence like that, you know the news isn’t very good either, so I’ll keep this brief: Pending home sales numbers as reported by the National Association of Realtors for the … Continue reading

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Some Things Are Certain In Life

As I sit here on a friend’s sun deck in Rancho Palos Verdes overlooking a foggy Pacific Ocean and the outline of Catalina, I realize that despite the chaos on Wall Street, the Euro Zone and the now empty halls … Continue reading

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‘Glad That’s Over With, Now Let’s Get Back to Business

Wow.  What a couple of weeks.  I like most Americans, was barely able to function as our government acted more like my children that my leaders.  I haven’t blogged in a while in large part because I just couldn’t muster … Continue reading

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Buyers Are Like Employers

One of my best friends has been out of work for nearly 3 years.  He’s a controller type, book keeper maybe, for the construction industry.  He’s either over qualified because employers think he will seek greener pastures as soon as … Continue reading

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What We Can Learn From Humphrey Bogart

I was watching my favorite actor, Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon the other night and what struck me is how analogous his characters like Sam Spade, The Big Sleep’s Philip Marlowe, Key Largo’s Frank McLoud even The African Queen’s … Continue reading

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It’s About Time! Prices Rise Says Case-Shiller!

In 2006 Robert Shiller made a bold statement.  He said prices could drop 20% or more when the housing bubble burst.  At the time I thought he was a blow-hard lunatic.  The market showed no signs of slowing and demand … Continue reading

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Lions and Tiger and Bears, Oh My!

Fed chairman Bernanke’s assessment yesterday for continued slow growth was not what the doctor ordered.  Clearly the economy is getting better, but at a projected 3% growth, not nearly fast enough to help the millions of un- and under employed.  … Continue reading

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Foreclosures Plummet! but…

Foreclosures plummeted 33% nationwide from a year ago according to Irvine based RealtyTrac.  In Ventura County that number declined 18%.  Most economists believe this reflects a slower process from the banks rather than an easing of distressed sellers.  I personally … Continue reading

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Looking For and Finding The Silver Lining

“I sound like a broken record”, my mother used to complain when I was growing up, and  I am feeling this way myself since I must be the only one reading these economic reports in their entirety and gleaning the … Continue reading

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Swimming Up Stream

Two men and a woman have to cross a raging river.  If they try to cross, they will surely perish.  Suddenly a voice from heaven says “I will grant you each one wish”.  The first guy says, “Give me the … Continue reading

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