Housing Blogs

A journalist I respect suggested to me that, if I was going to devote space to the various financial travails of Rep. Laura Richardson, it is only fair that I give her Democratic opponents a chance to comment on her behavior. She is, after all, on the ballot next Tuesday in Califorinia’s 37th Congressional District.

Today Peter Mathews, a college professor challenging Richardson in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, accused her of "a pattern of financial irresponsibility,…
Original Source

GAT Mac asked to see a breakdown of price movement by neighborhood and I’m happy to throw that graph together. The prices are a three-month moving average and you can see how the city is split up with the first picture.…
Original Source

WHY DO realtors ALWAYS SHOUT WHEN THEY SPELL OUT THE WORD realtor?A bit paranoid maybe? Or is it because REALTOR isn´t a real profession?Enjoy… And no, you don´t have to be nice…Yeah right … blame it on the REALTOR’s for bring the house prices down … Blame the economy on the REALTOR’s too for that matter. You have to be a real IDIOT to think and say such a statment … blaming it on REALTORs … give me a break.If your going to say such stupid comments first educate yourself on the topics first….
Original Source

On Friday, the FDIC announced the 4th bank failure of 2008, and the 2nd failure in May. The FDIC estimates that the failure of First Integrity of Staples, Minnesota will only cost the FDIC Insurance Fund $2.3 million. This is a small amount compared to the estimated cost to the fund of $214 million - announced earlier in May - associated with A…
Original Source

Readers suggested a topic on when it is a good time to buy a house. “Are there areas where it IS a good time to buy? Here in Riverside, CA., I’m not so sure. We have put a few offers on homes, but we are offering LESS than asking, not more like most people.”
“The problem for us is nicer homes at lower prices are coming in 1 or 2 at a time and then there are multiple offers where everyone bids asking and higher. So, do we keep offering less (because we have to anyway) for these nicer homes, wait till fall/winter, or settle for less?”
…
Original Source

Probably just another over-leveraged homedebtor looking to get out from under an unsaleable debt-trap… The timing is kinda o…
Original Source

Taos real estate is heavily involved in the vacation home market. Our average listed home price is more than $400k, and we all know that there isn’t an influx of job seekers into the area. This is a market that attracts those desirous of a beautiful and fun place to vacation, with possible full time residence at retirement.
…
Original Source

Good morning. It’s threatening to be a gloomy one on the Westside, but I’m sure it will burn off soon.  Without further ado, Pieter Severynen’s T…
Original Source

The Bradenton Herald reports from Florida. “Foreclosure filings in May for Manatee County numbered 446, down slightly from April’s record-setting 495. By noon Friday, filings for the month had already reached 431, according to Manatee County Clerk of Court. Just four hours later, 15 more foreclosures had been filed, bringing the number to 446.”
…
Original Source

From Reuters yesterday:

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Friday that he does not expect another "bubble" in world markets for a long time, and that central banks at any rate do not control the long-term interest rates that can be related to bubbles….
Original Source

TAOS HISTORIC MUSEUMS
La Hacienda de los Martinez
E.L. Blumenschein Home & Museum
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
30 May 2008
CONTACT:
Morris Witten, Executive Director
575-758-0505      director@taoshistoricmuseums.org
INSIDE LOOKING OUT: TWO TAOS PUEBLO IMAGE MAKERS EXHIBIT OPENS AT MARTINEZ
HACIENDA
Taos - Taos Historic Museums presents Inside Looking Out: Two Taos Pueblo
…
Original Source

For developments far from the center of town, apparently the potential of a large cobroke isn’t enough to entice agents any more. More and more often, the builders are offering to kick in with gas money- this D.R. Horton offer being the most I’ve seen so far.  Usually the builders just offer a one trip gas card: [Thanks L!]
…
Original Source

…
Original Source

One of my hundred or so news feeds this morning was about Folia, a gardening social network. The link is to the 5a USDA zone page, of which Taos is supposed to be a part. I’m only a casual gardener when I have time, so you’ll know better than I whether this site might be of value, or just fun.
…
Original Source

Runaway gas and food prices are the most visible signs of inflation storming back in to the American economy.  The scepter of high inflation will certainly limit the Fed’s ability to stave of recession with further rate cuts.  As prices go up workers demand more money to keep up with the cost of living which is like pouring gas on an open inflation fire.  If the Fed is seen as too weak in controlling inflation consumers begin to expect it which drives this upward-spiral psychology.
…
Original Source

Our colleague P.J. at Housing Wire is being a shill for Countrywide again. I intend to pile on before Gretchen Morgenson gets on the case.***************Says Housing Wire:L…
Original Source

Please post off-topic ideas, links and Craigslist finds here….
Original Source

This is hot off the press, folks. According to Dream Homes Magazine, La Jolla homeowners gained 315% in the last decade!…
Original Source

The UK housing bubble was a tame affair compared to the Irish one. The numbers are just extraordinary:Over the last ten years, national house prices have increased by 270 percent, compared to an increase of just 30 percent in the consumer price index. …
Original Source

When you step back and take a look, all these bubbles were really just low-interest-rate-enabled hot-money speculative hedge-fund driven attacks.First they went after the dot-com stocks. That was pretty fun….
Original Source