The Housing Bubble Blog

KVUE reports from Texas. "You don't have to drive far to get a feel for Austin's hot housing market. But you may have to drive far to find something you can afford. 'We tell our people you drive until you qualify,' said Jonathan Stilley, who works with Private Label Realty and is an Austin Board of...

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Mortgage Broker News reports from Canada. "Brokers are wary about the high level of HELOCs in Canada, and the long-term effect they could have on household debt. 'I think HELOCs are detrimental to the housing market; people are running themselves up in debt and at least with a mortgage you pay it...

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WFAA reports from Texas. "In the past four years, homes in Dallas-Fort Worth have gone from a median sale price of $149,000 to $215,000. 'If you do not want to pay top dollar or over top dollar, now is not the time to buy. You are going to pay a pretty penny to own a property in D-FW,' said Leah...

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The Orange County Register reports from California. "Sometimes it seems to be increasingly China’s world, and we just happen to live in it. Yet, a funny thing has happened on the way to global domination – the Chinese are coming here with their money, and, often, with their families. Rather than...

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What do you predict for the future? From six months ago. "Interest rates stay in a holding pattern even as the fed ends QE. Treasury rates also stay in a holding pattern. Junk bonds fall as oil prices tank and a mini stock market turmoil develops as losses in junk bonds make some investors sell off...

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It's Friday desk clearing time for this blogger. "Zhou Liangjun was pumped. For nearly a year, he watched as the Shanghai Stock Index soared. The government seemed to encourage investment in equities, particularly as the country’s housing slump intensified. So early last month, he took half of his...

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A report from Agence France-Presse. "Leading global producer Australia on Tuesday lowered its forecast for iron ore prices as Chinese steel production eases, but said export volumes were expected to grow as suppliers ramp up output. 'China's steel production is forecast to contract in 2015 and 2016...

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A report from Realtors.com. "For the fifth consecutive month, the number of houses under contract are up—and it’s the most activity we’ve seen since the height of the housing boom, the National Association of Realtors® reported. NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index for May increased 0.9% over April to...

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The Helsinki Times reports from Finland. "Over 300,000 homes are without a permanent resident in Finland. How is it possible that Helsinki has enough vacant properties to accommodate the entire population of a small town? And why are there nearly as many vacant properties in Helsinki relative to...

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The Memphis Daily News reports from Tennessee. "Hampered by a severe lot shortage, homebuilding activity in Memphis and Shelby County slowed considerably in May, with builders starting and selling fewer new homes than last year. Steady demand, coupled with low inventory, higher lot prices and...