evergreen16

Rail Transport: Why Can't We Learn from Europeans?

Good luck with building trains in US. Seattle is building light-rail and it takes more time than soviet era 5 year plans. And we're not talking about rail system similar to european - just few miles and two branches, that maybe done in 10 - 15 years, if there is no delay.
As redicules as that sounds, the worst thing is that the train is so slow, that it's slower than a bus on a rush hour today. Don't even ask about the price tag.
While in Europe, I see metro system connecting every part of the city any where you want to go, not just downtown like in US. Every year they extend the rails to many other parts of the city at fraction of the cost in US.
Something is very wrong here.
This of course is a huge disadvantage for US. Terrible transportation options leave us the only choice to sit in the traffic and polute like there is no tomorrow.
We need to stop and think.

Chinese Housing Datapoint of the Day

It must be true. People used to live in old neighborhoods in the city, but the communists razed those buildings and paid people some money and moved them to the far suburbs into those cheap highrises. If you realize, that condo in the middle of nowhere in Alabama can cost less then 20K, in the Red Country it can be even much less.

Shiller on Housing Speculators: If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em

wow - what an idea, what a rip off.

Housing Bust: Some Markets Steadying as Others Increasingly Suffer

Mad-hedge-fund-trader - your comments are quite funny. Did you have the time to read what you wrote?
The RE volume is up, because most units are snatched at 10-40% of the price? Where did you come up with that? 10-40% discount would be more realistic. What you are suggesting is, that prices didn't drop at all, but only because of some flippers that get their RE for a song, the averages look low...

So if you have nothing better to do, than to scare others and create panic so you can profit from it, at least, try a little and get your facts straight.

Thanks for nothing.





On Jun 25 04:48 PM Mad Hedge Fund Trader wrote:

> With the emphasis on suffering. Since I have been pelted daily with
> predictions that residential real estate has bottomed for the last
> 18 months, like hail in a Midwestern summer thunderstorm, I feel
> a public duty to tell you that is just not the case. Now that the
> state and federal moratoriums are off, foreclosures are accelerating.
> There are over a million Option ARM and Alt-A loan resets about to
> hit the fan. Since many owners will not see positive equity in their
> homes in their lifetimes, banks are seeing more walk always. The
> run up in mortgage rates from 4.5% to 5.5% has yet to hit the market.
> Some 18 million homeowners divert 50% of their incomes to pay for
> housing, double the 25% that is considered healthy, and many of them
> are losing jobs. While the volume of units sold has rebounded, the
> action is dominated by speculators, flippers, and bottom feeders
> bidding for properties at 10-40 cents on the dollar, not exactly
> a sign of health. Call me when Ozzie & Harriet Nelson come back
> to the market. I listen to industry insiders call the bottom of the
> Japanese real estate market for 15 years, until they finally died,
> and the market is still a fraction of its 1990 high. I thing we are
> closer to the bottom than the top in terms of price, but closer to
> the top than the bottom in terms of time. You can take that to the
> bank.

Housing Is Bottoming, Along with the Economy

I personally find this green pessimist (Radardoc) from Merced, Ca, quite annoying.
Get over it, brother. Your view out of the window may be desolate, but if you have no idea what's going on in the entire country, please, do not disturb when adults are talking.

Behavioral Thoughts on Home Buying

After reading few of these fear-and-gloom comments, one has to wonder - who are those kids writing these comments?
Are they just bored high-school kids that just have fun firing back at peple without the ability to understand the subject at hand?
It's funny how they think they are the smartest, untill they eventually grow up and realize they were dead-wrong.

A Tale of Two Economies: U.S. vs. China

Sounds like a typical communist propaganda. Great Job, but accidentally you posted it here, not in China... oops. Get real man, either move to China, they'll be happy to take you in to the "party". Or if you cannot afford to move, at least visit the library and broaden your horizons by reading some non-propaganda materials.
Good luck with controlling your rage and try to get some sleep at night...

Las Vegas Homeowners Lose Their Bets as Home Prices Fall

You just said that it 'stinks' for homeowners, but then you say it's a good opportunity for homeowner - so which is it? As you can see, homeowners are suffering. No opportunity here. And because prices are falling, no renter will jump in until prices stabilize (read: bottom out), because they don't want to loose money. Read up on Deflation, please.

Real Estate: Rentals and Sales Prices Out of Sync

This article is complete BS. According to the chart above, the House prices already fell entire 2% from the top.
Now, in reality, the drop is already more than these 21%, and prices have returned below 2003 levels. Looks like it's time to come up with some new charts! Because if you correct the House price curve, it will show you, that rents are already higher? Why don't you take it home as an assignment and show us some real data where rents stand!

Home Prices Still Dropping - Just Not as Fast

Everybody wants to buy at the bottom and sell at the peak. But it is our own psychological and emotional volatility that creates this market volatility. Because of that we create the booms and busts, and for the same reason, we always miss the high and low points.
This is why those few that go against the chatter, become ultra rich and the rest got nothing.
And by the way, as you said, when economical activity increases, so will interest rates. And if you didn't make the choice by then, you'll end up paying much more. Higher price + higher interest + you'll be competing with other people trying to affordable housing before it's too late, again. So good luck to you all!

Case Shiller: Spinning a Downward Spiral

I read these comments and all I can say is: Sorry, you guys, but wake up! Times are changing. While every one of you street guys would love a free house, the fact the matter is, the prices in US are now much lower then even in eastern Europe where people make pocket change.

Housing: The Ship Is Turning

All these Nay-Sayers are just refusing to follow the latest developments. Situation have changed. You need to look at the numbers. Surprisingly, Sacramento, CA is running out of houses for sale, and that is a real shocker. Consumer confidence is quickly rising. Banks are making money. Yep, the times have really changed.

Top Ten Online Real Estate Websites

what happend to redfin.com? The best research site?

As Mortgage Rates Plunge, 30 Year Fixed Rate of 3.5% Seems Likely

DougM - it doesn't matter where rates go in five years or even tomorrow. The bank borrows the money for less then 1% and gives it to you for the 3.5% at the same time.

The Truth About Mortgages

henarl is Making a valid point. Most of the people actually had no or very small down payment.
In addition, a lot of people took advantage of Less-then-interest financing, so they were already paying less then rent on their house.
And finally, after they stopped making payments, they could stay in their house for around 1 year for free!
That is still not the end for some, as a lot of people take whatever valuable on the house with them, like copper pipes, cabinets, facets, appliances, carpeting etc.
So add it up and you'll see that a lot of these folks actually made nice fortune...