The Housing Bubble Blog

Examining the home price boom and its effect on owners, lenders, regulators, realtors and the economy as a whole.

Reminiscent Of 2005, It's Always Going To Go Up

The Sun Sentinel reports from Florida. "South Florida's housing market keeps getting better, at least for sellers. Values are on an upswing this year as a lack of available properties give sellers more negotiating power. Most market observers insist that prices have hit bottom, though some analysts...
Read more (49 comments)

An Emotion-Laden Aspect Of Happiness

Readers suggested a topic on renting. "The other day I saw another warning notice of rent non-payment on the door of an apartment in my building. If that person doesn’t pay up, they’re out in 30 days. Or less, since I’m guessing they missed the current month’s rent. But we never hear about the...
Read more (92 comments)

More Or Less To Be Grateful For?

Readers suggested a topic on comparisons. "Do Americans have more or less to be grateful for than they did in 1980? That’s the time the old post-New Deal liberal order, unions and industry were starting to collapse, precipitating the era we have been in since, or had been through 2007 or so. It’s...
Read more (62 comments)

Flashbacks To 2006

The Desert Sun reports from California. "California’s poverty rate of 23.5 percent is the highest of any state in the country, according to new information from the U.S. Census Bureau which factors in government programs to assist low-income people and families that aren’t included in official,...
Read more (48 comments)

Paying People To Buy Houses

Readers suggested a topic on the "fiscal cliff" and tax changes. "Which of the three doors will be chosen to resolve the fiscal cliff crisis? 1. Full sequestration? 2. Compromise solution? 3. Postpone the resolution deadline? Isn’t it natural for the Republicans to use the mortgage interest...
Read more (65 comments)

When The Crisis Comes, Who Will Pay For It?

It's Friday desk clearing time for this blogger. "A 2008 Senate report, titled 'A Good House is Hard to Find', found that 'the average house price in the capital cities is now equivalent to over seven years of average earnings; up from three in the 1950s to the early 1980s.' As the commodity boom...
Read more (67 comments)