The Housing Bubble Blog

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The News Press reports from Florida. "Missing garage doors. Boarded up windows. Dug up landscaping. Holes in roofs. Projects started, then abandoned. For lack of a better term, call it the 'new blight.' Homes, throughout the county, in gated communities, well-to-do subdivisions and starter-home...

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The North County Times reports from California. "Analysts said last week that North County homeowners can expect little relief from President Obama's $275 billion housing bailout, based on details the White House made public last week. For openers, few local homeowners will qualify for a new...

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Readers suggested a topic on ethics and the housing bubble. "Looney Tunes Topic # 1: 1. Is it acceptable to be a 'professional' without being 'ethical?'" "How does the above question relate to the following people?" Real estate agent Escrow agent Mortgage broker Appraiser Bank loan officer 2. What...

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Readers suggested a topic around the current "crisis" and the housing bubble. "I would like to see some discussion about the difference between “truth” and “conventional wisdom.” We are currently seeing revisionist history, by blaming subprime mortgages for the meltdown, while ignoring the 900 lb...

Please visit the HBB Forum. Post off-topic ideas, links and Craigslist finds here.

OK folks, I could use some topic suggestions for this weekend. Here are some comments from the last countdown thread. "1. Regardless of the protests from Washington and Wall Street that ‘they never saw it coming’, many folks here did. It actually WAS as plain as the nose on your face when examined...

It's Friday desk clearing time for this blogger. "Drive into the sprawling development of stucco starter homes in this Phoenix suburb by the San Tan Mountains and the first thing you notice are the 'For Sale' signs. The next thing is what many of them say: 'Bank-Owned Home.' Jinae Nielsen, 24, with...

Please visit the HBB Forum. Post off-topic ideas, links and Craigslist finds here.

The News Journal reports from Delaware. "President Barack Obama on Wednesday pledged $75 billion to help homeowners at risk of default. In September, Delaware saw its percentage of loans 30 days past due hit 4 percent, nearly a full point above the United States average and the ninth-highest rate...

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Bloomberg reports from California. "It has taken Susan Erb just three years to see the value of her Merced, California, home plunge by more than half to $350,000. Next month, her mortgage payment jumps 20 percent to $3,321 and she knows she can’t afford it. Her bank won’t rework the loan unless she...

The documentary film crew will be doing interviews with HBB attendants on Saturday the 21st in our meeting room. They want to allott about 30 minutes per person, and asked if we could schedule groups for the morning and the afternoon. For those who will be there, please start considering if you...

Please visit the HBB Forum. Post off-topic ideas, links and Craigslist finds here.

The Charlotte News reports from Florida. "Even with foreclosures, short sales and the overall recession, local real estate markets appear to be doing better than might be expected. Homes that offer a real bang for the buck can be found -- for those who have the cash or the credit rating to get a...

Please visit the HBB Forum. Post off-topic ideas, links and Craigslist finds here.

The Gazette reports from Colorado. "When Kelly Deutsch and her husband began having financial trouble late last year, they did what many families have tried to do - refinance their two mortgages, both of which have adjustable rates. Deutsch lost her job as a medical assistant in September. Her...