RGSBroker

Has Wall Street Lost Its Edge?

Damn good article.....especially your reflections about the middle class. We are in pivotal times and it will be interesting to see if the "super wealthy" recognize the danger of a shrinking middle class before a proletariat style uprising takes place. Signs of it are already apparent in the Obama phenomenon.

Updated January '08 Case-Shiller Housing Data

Your article makes no sense and does a diservice to the S & P/Case-Shiller index. When you write "these number" what numbers are you talking about? The index does not lag by 3 months and what does this mean: "If things have begun to get better, these numbers will be the last to show it." It seems like you think these lousy numbers portend a better market. Crazy!

How Counter-Productive Is Realtor Association Spin?

Barry,

As a seasoned real estate broker I'm sorry to say I agree with most of your comments. What you miss is that most Realtors work for sellers and those sellers won't hire you if you are not an advocate for the value of their home. In fact, if you try and explain the facts of life according to Barry you get tossed out on your ear. Its going to take two more years for the decline to unwind because home sellers are slow to react to the market. Many are like a deer staring into headlights on a dark highway at night. They wait and wait but eventually jump out of the way and move on with their lives.

Keep up the good work.

Pending Home Sales Down 19.6%

In many areas business is down 30% to 40% when compared to '06 and '05 numbers. When we get to '09, year over year sales will be flat but that's not very exciting given '09 will be compared to a lousy '08. 2010 will be steady and 2011 will start to burn down inventory. Of course that assumes a favorable rate environment which may not be available given our skyrocketing deficit and inflation.