What Would We Do Without These Guys?

Readers suggested a topic on the latest political showdown. "How will the sequester affect your local housing market if it happens? In particular, will it have an effect on real estate markets in areas with heavy concentrations of federal workers, like San Diego and Washington, DC?" One asked,...
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Pushing The Bubble As Far As Possible

It's Friday desk clearing time for this blogger. "There are growing concerns around the country about the potential of another housing bubble. Home prices are rising too fast, some economists say, especially in areas like Boise. Median home prices for Ada County are showing a 33 percent increase in...
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A Market Held Aloft By Speculative Psychology

The Montreal Gazette reports from Canada. "Friday’s report from the Canadian Real Estate Association demonstrates that national home sales continue to be significantly lower than those of a year ago, but that virtually all of this decline happened abruptly last August, reflecting a tough squeeze on...
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Does Debt Matter?

Readers suggested a topic on debt. "The basic concept held by a large faction in government is that debt simply does not matter. People accept the currency as having value. If the Fed could finance all of the government debt and there is no sign of the markets becoming roiled, it’s all good....
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Short Memories Of All Things Past

It's Friday desk clearing time for this blogger. "'Housing is not a light switch, it isn’t flipped on and off ... it’s more like a dimmer switch,' said economist Elliott Pollack. 'The lights are clearly coming on but we still got a long way to go.' Another 40 to 50 percent more to go for housing...
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